In the 1940’s the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Millville initiated a program to develop a small to medium size market turkey. The new buff-colored birds, called “Jersey Buffs”, were developed through pedigree breeding and selection from crosses of Black, Bourbon Red, and Broad Breasted Bronze varieties. The Genotype for a Jersey Buff is (BB rr), black-based and homozygous for red.
The Jersey Buff has rich reddish-buff colored body feathers. Tail feathers are white with a light buff color which can extend halfway down the tail. Primary and secondary wing feathers are white with buff shading. Poults are a solid tan color with a white face at hatch.
They have a clean carcass when dressed. The Jersey Buff has not been recently selected for production attributes, including weight gain, and many birds will be smaller than stated. The hens have been known to be good egg producers. Careful selection for good health, ability to mate naturally, and production attributes will help ensure the survival of Jersey Buff turkeys.
Approx. Weights: Old tom 28 lbs. and old hen 14 lbs.
Notice the yellow face mask which is a sure indicator of a black base
