Enjoy the natural goodness and delicious flavor of an authentic traditional heritage turkey at your holiday meal.
D'Artagnan heritage turkeys are from Standard Bronze and Bourbon Red stock, which are two original, slow-growing breeds that have been largely replaced by Broad-breasted White turkeys in modern agriculture.
Heritage turkey breeds were developed for specific traits over generations, and our old breeds have been recognized as the “Standard of Perfection” by the American Poultry Association. Both have been identified by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as genuine heritage breeds. In order to qualify as heritage breeds, the birds must naturally mate, have a long, productive lifespan and a slow growth rate. These old breeds cannot be pushed to grow quickly the way factory-farmed turkeys are.
All of this is to say that D’Artagnan heritage turkeys are the real deal; the breeds we offer are selected for their heavy breasts and richly flavored meat.
Today you can enjoy the authentic taste of traditional turkey because our Amish and Mennonite farmers raise them the right way: in a totally free-range and sustainable environment, with full access to the outdoors. They feed on native grasses, seeds and insects, with a grain supplement of corn and soy. No antibiotics or hormones are ever used and each bird is processed by hand to ensure quality. This translates to a superbly clean bird that yields a naturally firm and moist meat with authentic turkey flavor.
NOTE: Because our heritage birds are hand-processed, you may find small pinfeathers in the flesh. They are easy to remove with needle nose pliers, tweezers, or your fingers.
Ordering your Thanksgiving turkey
We highly recommend you plan ahead and pre-order your holiday bird as early as possible, as we often sell out.
Still need help deciding which holiday bird to buy?
Check out A Few Words About Our Birds for a quick rundown of each of our Turkeys, plus Goose and Capon, all on one convenient page.
Cooking your D'Artagnan turkey
Keep in mind that depending on several factors, including: size of bird, oven calibration, type of cookware used, recipe variations, and method of cooking, time and temperature will vary. We recommend use of a meat thermometer, instant-read or digital, when gauging doneness. Click here for Turkey Roasting Basics.How to order the right size turkey
We recommend that you estimate 1-1.25 pounds per person to determine the size of turkey you will need. (For example, an 8-10 pound turkey will yield 6-8 servings). If you would like to have leftovers, then plan on at least 1.5 pounds per person.
"Because wild turkeys are leaner and have denser flesh than their domesticated relatives, rub plenty of butter into the flesh before roasting, and baste the bird often as it cooks."
"This sausage stuffing, with a hint of herbs and bourbon, is sure to please. Share the bourbon love by adding a splash to the sauce and the pan juices for basting. This technique mimics the effects of a spit roast. "
