Free-Range Turkey

We are Sold Out for the 2011 Season

Please check back in 2012!

Whole Turkey – $45.00

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a “Heritage” Turkey? Why Do You Raise Them?

How do Turkeys on Olive Hill Live? What Does Pastured Mean?

What do the Turkeys on Olive Hill Eat?

Have More Questions We Didn’t Cover Here? Contact Us!

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What is a “Heritage” Turkey? Why Do You Raise Them?

Like Heritage Chickens, Heritage Turkeys are defined by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as naturally mating, slow-growing, long-living, American Poultry Association recognized breeds. Many of these breeds, like the Narragansett Turkeys we raise play an important part in the United States’ history and are in danger of extinction as they are replaced on most farms by fast-growing hybrids more suited to rapid, inexpensive, mass-production of meat.

We raise Heritage Turkeys, rather than their commercial counterparts the Broad-Breasted White and Broad-Breasted Bronze, in order to keep with our mission of producing humane, sustainable, affordable foods for local families. We chose Narragansett Turkeys specifically for their docile temperament, incredible foraging instincts and their historical significance. Narragansett Turkeys were developed in Rhode Island and, in the early colonial years, were the basis of the turkey industry.

How Do Turkeys on Olive Hill Live? What Does Pastured Mean?

Pasturing is a practice regularly used on alternative poultry farms like ours in order to contain birds while still providing them ample access to their natural diets and the great outdoors. We pasture our turkeys — which means we house them in mobile fences that are regularly rotated to continually provide fresh grasses, weeds, bugs, roots and bugs for forage — because unlike chickens who most often choose to stay relatively close to home, turkeys have a much greater tendency towards wanderlust. Given the opportunity our turkeys will happily leave the safety of our farm and watchful eye for days at a time. As much as we desire the most natural life possible for our birds, we must strike a balance that gives them a happy healthy existence and protects them from predators at the same time — and the turkeys don’t mind too much.

What Do The Turkeys on Olive Hill Eat?

While on pasture 24/7 our Turkeys actively forage for grasses, weeds, roots, grubs, and bugs. All grain-based feed we offer is locally milled by a small, family owned business here, is entirely plant based and contains no animal by-products or preservatives.