When it comes to Christmas Turkeys, we believe the best turkey breed is the Bronze – the name of which refers to its attractive bronze, almost black plumage.
At Shires Farm, we begin our Christmas Turkey journey with day-old bronze turkey chicks, or poults, arriving in July. These young chicks are carefully nurtured in small groups under heat lamps, which we gradually reduce as they grow stronger. By the time they hit the four-week mark, they no longer need artificial warmth and are moved outdoors to enjoy the fresh air and the glorious British summer in our purpose-built poly tunnels.
By eight weeks old, our free range turkeys are ready to roam across 25 acres of lush fields. Here, they bask in the sun, dust bathe, and forage naturally, developing strong muscles and rich flavours, the hallmark of truly free range Christmas turkeys.
We feed our Christmas turkeys a unique and nutritious diet. In addition to foraging, they enjoy seasonal herb off-cuts from our specially designed hay racks and a high-quality cereal-based feed sourced from a local mill. This diverse, balanced diet, full of fresh herbs, ensures our turkeys are healthy, happy, and full of flavour.
As November approaches, our turkeys have grown into beautifully plump birds, thriving on their herb-rich diet (consuming nearly a tonne of fresh herbs weekly!). Their natural, free range upbringing results in moist, succulent meat—perfect for your Christmas dinner or any festive feast.
At Shires Farm, we take great care to process and game-hang our turkeys on-site to enhance their flavour. The result? A deliciously tender turkey that guarantees a memorable holiday meal. When you choose a Shires Farm turkey, you’re not just getting any bird—you’re choosing the best free range turkey for your Christmas table!
At Shires Farm, we believe in providing our free range turkeys with the very best, and that includes a fresh, herb-rich diet. Twice a week, we receive bundles of around ten different herbs from Edward’s aunt and cousin’s farm in the nearby village of Sand Hutton. These sustainable, waste herbs not only minimise food waste but also offer a unique variety of flavours and nutrients.
The herbs range from chillies, mint, thyme, oregano, and tarragon, to fennel, marjoram, parsley, coriander, and chives—although one herb, sage, is notably missing as our turkeys won’t touch it! Incorporating fresh herbs into our turkeys’ diet isn’t just about nutritional value; it’s also a way to stimulate their natural foraging instincts. Our birds love pecking through the bundles, selecting their favourite herbs to eat.
This diverse, herb-enriched diet plays a key role in producing the moist, flavourful meat our free range turkeys are known for—perfect for a succulent Christmas turkey or any festive feast. By choosing a Shires Farm turkey, you’re ensuring your holiday meal will be full of flavour and ethically sourced from a sustainable, herb-fed flock.
Along with our chickens and roosters, our turkeys also demonstrate the same advantages of the herb supplement.
Whilst they don’t taste of herbs, the addition of herbs to their additive free cereal-based diet, encourages and enhances the natural flavours of the bird, bringing depth, dimension and a distinguished flavour too.
