Turkey Q & A
At The Fatted Calf we field many turkey queries as we approach Thanksgiving. Here are the official answers!
What is a heritage turkey?
Real Heritage turkeys are allowed to mate naturally, unlike their industrial counterparts which must be artificially bred. They are slower growing and live a more natural life which makes for a more flavorful and juicier bird. Some of the heritage turkeys raised on Good Shepherd Ranch come from bloodlines dating back to the mid 1800’s.
Where do the turkeys come from?
For the past 20 years The Fatted Calf has sourced our Thanksgiving turkeys from Good Shepherd in Lindsborg, Kansas where they receive the best possible care from farmer Frank Reese. Frank fell in love with turkeys on a visit to a nearby farm at the age of five. He began raising birds in the 1950′s, has maintained and improved his flock over the years and now has the oldest continuous strain of standard bred turkeys in North America.
What makes Good Shepherd Ranch turkeys better than those other so-called “heritage” turkeys?
Frank Reese and his turkeys truly are one of a kind — no one breeds poultry better than Frank who stays true to 19th century Poultry Standards of Perfection. His rare Standard Bronze, Bourbon Red, White Holland, Black, Narragansett and Slate are renowned for their flavor. According to the USDA, Frank Reese remains the only farmer allowed to use the name “Heritage” on his USDA label thanks to certification by the oldest agricultural organization in North America, the American Poultry Association. Some other producers that claim to have a “heritage” flock actually cross breed the turkeys with more commercial breeds. Good Shepherd Ranch was also the first turkey farm to be certified by the prestigious Animal Welfare Institute. All of Frank’s birds live a long and slow growing outdoor life that results in healthy and delicious turkey for your Thanksgiving table.
What do the turkeys eat?
The turkeys are pastured, meaning they are raised outdoors on the Kansas prairie. No pesticides or herbicides are ever used in the pasture or on the farm. Their outdoor lifestyle means that they eat more grass resulting in higher levels of the good omega-3 fatty acids. Turkeys can't survive on pasture alone so their diet is supplemented with an all vegetarian, antibiotic and growth hormone free grain feed. The grain is milled just down the road from Good Shepherd Ranch at Custom Mills, an Amish grain mill.
When do I need to place my turkey order?
There is no cut off date for ordering a turkey however, every year we sell out of turkey. We need to place our order with Good Shepherd Ranch in the next few weeks and while we are pretty good at predicting how many of each type of turkey we might sell it really helps us if you place your order as early as possible. Some sizes sell out faster than others. Should you need to change your order at a later date we can almost always accommodate you.
How big of a turkey will I need?
We recommend between 1 and 1 ½ pounds of turkey for every person at your Thanksgiving table. For example, if you are cooking for 8 adults, we would recommend a 10 to 11.99 pound turkey. That might seem like a lot but keep in mind that the yield on a turkey once it is cooked and carved off of the bone is only about half of its original weight before cooking.
What if I need to change or cancel my order?
We are generally able to accommodate changes and cancellations up until November 20 and until that time we can provide a refund or store credit. However, we cannot guarantee accommodations to change requests after November 20 and for cancellations after November 20 turkey payments are only refundable if we are able to resell your turkey to another customer. If you do need to cancel your order after November 20 and we are unable to resell your bird we can freeze it for pick up at a later date.
Celebrate Turkey Diversity
The turkeys we enjoy today are the direct descendants of wild turkeys indigenous to the Americas. As these birds were domesticated, many different breeds were developed for a variety of characteristics. These unique breeds, recognized by the American Poultry Association, are what we call "heritage". In the mid 1900's, as poultry production moved from the farm to the factory, these slower growing, colorful breeds could not compete with more modern breeds selected for traits that fit modern, genetically controlled, intensively managed, efficiency-driven production. Compared to these industrial turkeys, Heritage turkeys such as the Bronze, Narragansett, White Holland, Bourbon Red and Black have a flavor profile that is deep, rich and nutty. Celebrate turkey diversity by ordering a Good Shepherd Ranch turkey this Thanksgiving or by donating to the Good Shepherd Conservancy today!