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Heritage Turkey (Narragansett, Bourbon Red)

Heritage Turkey (Narragansett, Bourbon Red)
Starting at $159.99
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Starting at $159.99
Known for their heavy breasts and dark, richly-flavored meat, our Heritage Turkeys come from authentic, slow-growing Narragansett and Bourbon Red breeds -- not hybrids. A seasonal favorite for Thanksgiving and the holidays, our heritage turkeys are humanely raised on small farms, fed a wholesome diet of non-GMO corn and soy, free from antibiotics, growth hormones or animal by-products and are air-chilled and hand-processed to ensure you receive the highest quality and best-tasting heritage turkey possible. Scroll down to learn more.

*Servings based on 1.5 pounds per person.

DELIVERY:
All orders ship via FedEx Overnight. You choose your delivery date - up to 30 days in advance. Orders placed before Noon ET, Monday-Thursday can be delivered the next business day.

One of the most compelling reasons to choose a heritage turkey is the flavor. These old breeds are known for their heavy breasts and rich-tasting meat. At D'Artagnan, we offer true heritage turkey, never hybrids of heritage or modern breeds. Our turkeys are either Narragansett, the oldest turkey breed in the U.S. and renowned in New England, or Bourbon Red, named after Bourbon County in Kentucky, where the breed originated.

Another reason is to choose heritage is to preserve the old breeds. The "eat them to save them" approach may seem counterintuitive, but the only reason a breed survives is its usefulness.

These Narragansett and Bourbon Red birds were the prized turkeys of yesteryear, but are no longer common, having been largely displaced by Broad-breasted White turkeys in the last century. Unlike their modern cousins, heritage breeds grow at a slower pace, which is inconvenient for factory farms on a strict schedule. This slow, natural pace means that they eat more food, and cost the farmer more in the end.

Heritage breed turkeys have dark feathers, which can result in noticeable pinfeathers in the flesh. And they are not as large as the modern birds, engineered to grow to enormous size (so large that they cannot naturally mate, unlike heritage birds, which can, and do, mate).

Our heritage turkeys are raised on small farms, with great care and attention paid to their welfare. Antibiotics and hormones are never used, and their feed is non-GMO. They are air-chilled, which preserves flavor and texture, and doesn't add water weight to the bird. This translates to a superbly clean bird that yields a naturally firm and moist meat with authentic turkey flavor, and a crispy skin.

If you believe, as we do, that a happy turkey is a tasty turkey, then a heritage bird is the one for your table.

Just the facts

  • 100% natural, farm-raised heritage turkey
  • Slow-growing Narragansett and Bourbon Red breeds
  • Grain feed of non-GMO corn and soy
  • No antibiotics or hormones
  • Air chilled for best flavor and no retained water
  • Hand processed
  • Ships in an uncooked state
  • Product of USA
  • Note: There may be small pinfeathers in the flesh, which are easily removed with needle nose pliers, tweezers, or your fingers
  • For Thanksgiving orders delivered on Nov. 16, 17, or 20, fresh birds will have a use or freeze by date of Nov. 26, 2018

Today you can enjoy the authentic taste of traditional turkey because our farmers raise them the right way. The turkeys are grain-fed with non-GMO corn and soy. No antibiotics or hormones are ever used, and each bird is processed by hand to ensure quality. Our turkeys are also air-chilled, which translates to a superbly clean bird that yields a naturally firm and moist meat with authentic turkey flavor.

D'Artagnan heritage turkeys are from Narragansett 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.

For basic cooking instructions, Download our Turkey Cooking Guide.

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.

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.

Our Heritage Turkey

When it comes to turkey, the old ways are often the best ways. We offer true heritage Narragansett and Bourbon Red breeds, known for their heavy breasts and dark, rich meat. Our birds are raised at a natural pace in spacious conditions to provide the authentic taste of turkey, the way it was meant to be.

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