Choosing your Christmas turkey is choosing the centrepiece of the meal that matters most all year. If a Herb Fed bird graced your table last Christmas, you'll already know why so many people come back to us. If you're new to Herb Fed, here's the story behind our turkeys.
Our Christmas turkeys are available while stocks last. Popular sizes always go first, so we'd recommend ordering early for the widest choice.
How it all began
Herb Fed started with a visit to a herb farm. Edward swapped a surveying job in London for the fields of North Yorkshire, inspired by Herbs Unlimited, his aunt's herb farm. That first Christmas, in 2009, he reared 200 turkeys. They sold out in weeks.
Today Edward and Emma lead the family farm at Easingwold, and we're still the UK's first and only producer of herb fed poultry.
Why are they called Herb Fed turkeys?
Alongside an additive-free cereal diet from a local mill, our turkeys peck through fresh herbs grown at Herbs Unlimited: parsley, chives, dill, coriander, thyme, fennel, tarragon and marjoram. These are trimmings and herbs past their best that would otherwise be composted. (Our turkeys are fussy, though: they'll happily leave the woody rosemary and sage.)
Foraging through the herbs keeps the birds busy, stimulated and content, and adds extra vitamins and minerals to their diet. And no, the meat doesn't taste of herbs. What you taste is a well-reared bird: deep, clean flavour and a proper texture.
Slow-grown, free-range and reared with care
Our bronze turkeys arrive as day-old poults in July and grow slowly through the summer and autumn, with space to roam outdoors, forage and behave naturally. Time is one of the most important ingredients in flavour: slow growth lets the meat and muscle develop as they should. Every bird is dry plucked by hand, the traditional way, which gives a beautifully crisp, golden skin when roasted.
When you choose a Herb Fed turkey, you're supporting:
- High welfare, free-range farming
- Slow-grown bronze turkeys
- A family farm in North Yorkshire
- Birds proudly reared and packed in the UK
"It's a cut above the average turkey."
Great Taste Awards 2026
A brief history of the Christmas turkey
Turkeys first arrived in Britain in the sixteenth century. Over time they took over from goose as the nation's favourite Christmas bird, and they've been the centrepiece of the British Christmas table ever since.
Which Herb Fed turkey should you choose?
Whole bronze turkey
The traditional Christmas centrepiece. You get both white and dark meat, so everyone has their favourite, plus plenty for Boxing Day and a carcass for stock and gravy. Best for families and larger gatherings.
Turkey crown
All the breast meat, on the bone. Quicker to cook and easier to carve, it's ideal for smaller gatherings, white-meat lovers and anyone short on oven space.
Turkey breast joint
Boneless and simple to carve, a breast joint is a lovely option for a smaller Christmas table.
How much turkey do I need?
Use these guides to find the right size. All our guides allow for leftovers.
Whole bronze turkey
| Weight | Serves |
|---|---|
| 4-5kg (8.8-11lb) | 5-7 people |
| 5-6kg (11-13.2lb) | 7-10 people |
| 6-7kg (13.2-15.4lb) | 10-12 people |
| 7-8kg (15.4-17.6lb) | 12-14 people |
| 8-9kg (17.6-19.8lb) | 14-16 people |
| 9-10kg (19.8-22lb) | 16-18 people |
| 10-11kg (22-24.3lb) | 18-20 people |
| 11kg plus (24.3lb plus) | 20 people plus |
Turkey crown
| Weight | Serves |
|---|---|
| Below 3kg (6.6lb) | Up to 5 people |
| 3-4kg (6.6-8.8lb) | 4-6 people |
| 4-5kg (8.8-11lb) | 6-8 people |
| 5kg plus (11lb plus) | 10-12 people |
Turkey breast joint
| Weight | Serves |
|---|---|
| 1.5-2kg (3.3-4.4lb) | Up to 6 people |
| 2-2.5kg (4.4-5.5lb) | 7-8 people |
| 2.5-3kg (5.5-6.6lb) | 9-10 people |
| 3-3.5kg (6.6-7.7lb) | 10 plus people |
For all our birds' sizes in one place, see our Bird Size Guide. And when the big day comes, our cooking guide has timings for every size.
Not hosting this year?
A Herb Fed turkey makes a generous gift. Order one for whoever's hosting Christmas and we'll deliver it straight to their door on 23 December.
Order early
Every year certain sizes sell out, and once they're gone, they're gone. Ordering early gives you the widest choice and one less thing to think about in December. The earlier you order, the more choice of sizes you'll have.
Order your Herb Fed Christmas turkey
Whether it's a whole bronze turkey, a crown or a breast joint, every Herb Fed turkey is slow-grown, free-range and reared with care by our family in North Yorkshire.
Order your Christmas turkey today and make this year's centrepiece one to remember.
From all of us at Herb Fed, have a very happy Christmas.
Edward and Emma
