Tiny Texas Ranch
Your Source for All Natural Meats Raised The Way God Intended
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The number one reason we began raising heritage livestock in the first place was because of their taste. If we didn't feel they have something to offer, we would not spend the time or money to raise and care for them. We think the best way to raise any meat is on fresh green pasture and the heritage breeds do best in that situation. So for us, raising the commercial broad breasted Butterball style turkey just was not an option. If you prefer those, the stores are full of them but if you want superior taste in a safe and humanely raised turkey then you owe it to yourself to try our impressive Midget White Turkey.
HISTORY:
The Midget White was created in the early 1960's by Dr. Robert Smyth at the University of Massachusetts. This bird was developed by crossing the standard white turkey with the Royal Palm (another rare and endangered turkey) and the resulting offspring were meticulously selected for taste and meat quality. The result was a smaller version of the large breasted white with a superior texture and taste. Unlike the commercial white turkey that must be bred artificially, this bird mates naturally and they have a very docile if not friendly temperament. In spite of its quality, it was never accepted by the commercial operations due to it's smaller size so this breed almost became extinct.
TASTE
We became interested in raising Midget Whites after reading an article about their placing in a blind taste test. After all, our goal has always been to find the absolute best tasting varieties and then raise them to taste even better. If the Midget White is the best tasting turkey on earth, that's what I want. Here's a link to the article for your enjoyment: http://sifting-the-sandhills.blogspot.com/2008/04/heritage-turkey-taste-test.html
WHAT WE OFFER:
We are now committed to preserving and improving this bird through selective breeding. Many breeders simply gather the eggs from a flock and hatch them. Yes, they would have a larger flock of Midget Whites but in every hatching you will find a few superior, most average, and some just not so good. We keep only the top 10% of every hatch as breeders and the rest go for food. The resulting birds are of excellent quality. In order for this endangered breed to survive though, it takes people like you buying them to feed your family. What you will get is a lean, large breasted bird about the size of a small commercial turkey that has never been feed antibiotics or anything other than whole grains and all the fresh greens and bugs they can eat. There is a difference in the taste and texture plus ours do not have a saline solution injected at processing. If you have never tried it then you have no idea what you are missing.
HOW YOU CAN BUY YOURS:
We have moved the farm to the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas so if you are wintering in this area or are lucky enough to live here, contact us for the best Thanksgiving turkey you'll ever have. Simply send us an email with your name and phone number and we will contact you in time to plan you extra special holiday.
BREEDING STOCK:
We did not go into this for the purpose of selling live birds or hatching eggs but in order to save this rare breed that may be necessary. If you have even a half acre or so and want to become a serious turkey breeder, contact us and we will do all we can to get you started. You can't save the world but you can save this delicious breed of turkey.