Civil War turkeys

[major bill]

With Thanksgiving coming up my mind is on turkeys. I know that domesticated turkeys originated in Mexico 2000 years ago. Domesticated turkeys were taken to England and then back to Jamestown in 1608. So what were the domesticated turkeys like during the Civil War? I know one of the popular turkey breeds in the South at the start of the Civil War was the Chocolate Turkey. However, I have no idea what breed of turkeys most farmers raised or how common it was to raise turkeys before the Civil War. Perhaps turkeys at the time of the Civil War were simply turkeys. However, I suspect there were breeds of turkeys being raised by the start of the Civil War.

 

[connecticut yankee]

I don't know the answers to your questions but I DO know the Union soldiers appreciated their turkeys from home...

 

[major bill]

Would it had been common for farmers to raise turkeys?

 

[major bill]

I wonder how common it was for the average farmer to raise turkeys? Also does anyone know is wild turkeys were still being hunted in most areas?

 

[Copperhead-mi]

With Thanksgiving coming up my mind is on turkeys. I know that domesticated turkeys originated in Mexico 2000 years ago. Domesticated turkeys were taken to England and then back to Jamestown in 1608. So what were the domesticated turkeys like during the Civil War? I know one of the popular turkey breeds in the South at the start of the Civil War was the Chocolate Turkey. However, I have no idea what breed of turkeys most farmers raised or how common it was to raise turkeys before the Civil War. Perhaps turkeys at the time of the Civil War were simply turkeys. However, I suspect there were breeds of turkeys being raised by the start of the Civil War.

I was under the impression for many years --as a turkey hunter -- that the wild turkeys originated here in the part of North America that hundreds of years later became the United States and that the early explorers from Europe took them back to their countries to raise them with some trading them for spices and other goods in Asia.

 

[major bill]

Well there is a theory that turkeys were domesticated in Mexico and a second are where they were domesticated in the area that would become Southwestern United States. But as far as I know domesticated turkeys were taken from Mexico to Europe and eventually to England and the English in the late 1500s to early 1600s were sending domesticated turkeys back to North America. I believe North America had wild turkeys but domesticated turkeys originated in Mexico long before Europe explores came here.

I am not so sure European explorers could have domesticated wild turkeys and took them back to Europe.

 

[mofederal]

We have a lot of wild turkeys in Missouri. Hunting seasons also. Fall firearms all of October. Archery September 15 to January 15. Spring April 16 to May 6. There is also a two day Youth season (6 to 16). Turkeys are native to North America.

 

[Carronade]

We have a lot of wild turkeys in Missouri. Hunting seasons also. Fall firearms all of October. Archery September 15 to January 15. Spring April 16 to May 6. There is also a two day Youth season (6 to 16). Turkeys are native to North America.

Several years ago I was visiting an old family friend in the Catskills, and a large family of wild turkeys walked across the road in front of us. She told me the state wildlife department had been restocking them. Unfortunately the first time they tried this was right before hunting season....... Next time they closed turkey hunting for a couple of years to let them get reestablished, and now there are plenty for all.

 

[donna]

Good question. See thread:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/wild-turkeys-during-the-civil-war.123490/

 

[Copperhead-mi]

The turkeys are like fleas where I live. Many a time traffic gets backed up while a large flock takes their time crossing the road especially this time of the year.

 

[major bill]

I assume some farmer raised domestic turkeys at the time of the Civil War but am not sure there were large turkey ranches or anything.

 

[CharmCity1]

With Thanksgiving coming up my mind is on turkeys. I know that domesticated turkeys originated in Mexico 2000 years ago. Domesticated turkeys were taken to England and then back to Jamestown in 1608. So what were the domesticated turkeys like during the Civil War? I know one of the popular turkey breeds in the South at the start of the Civil War was the Chocolate Turkey. However, I have no idea what breed of turkeys most farmers raised or how common it was to raise turkeys before the Civil War. Perhaps turkeys at the time of the Civil War were simply turkeys. However, I suspect there were breeds of turkeys being raised by the start of the Civil War.

Bill, may I borrow this info for my Facebook group, Gettysburg Visions? Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

[archieclement]

Don't think turkeys were included in 1860 agricultural census, assume it was rather minor.

 

[major bill]

Bill, may I borrow this info for my Facebook group, Gettysburg Visions? Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sure, use what you like.

 

[JD Mayo]

Didn't the state of Mississippi not celebrate thanksgiving for years after the war? Also I know during thanksgiving at Petersburg there was cease fire so that the yankees could celebrate there holiday.