Albino turkey

The wife and I were on a Sunday explore when this flock crossed the road in front of us. There were also 2 other partial white birds out of the frame. There seems to be alot of albinos here.
 
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z180/deadeyerik/000_0405.jpg
 

I'm merely wonderin' if those are escapees from a domestic turkey-raising farm ... I have NO idea if they can interbreed with the wild ones, but it would seem likely, to me ...

OTOH, "domestic" birds don't fly (much) ... so if this one can roost with the others, it's prolly a crossbreed, at least, if not pure wild stock ... (No characteristic "pink" eyes, so I'm gonna guess it's not a pure albino ... but ... any wildlife biologists around to enlighten us?)

Any turkey farms in your area, 'rik?

(I've got neighbors back home who raise 50,000-100,000 birds a year ... tho the 'yotes will pick off any that manage to get over the fence ... )

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

It would be a cool trophy. Whack one if ya can!

Hunt Hard, Hunt Safe and enjoy what you got in life
Paul Snyder
LM NAHC,NRA,SCI,DU

No turkey farms that I know of. Though maybe from a small farm. But that isn't the only flock with white birds, and not held to one area. I've seen quite a few white birds around. They may be escapees, or decendents. I couldn't say for sure. Not like I'm a turkey expert or anything.

Me neither, 'rik ... I wuz merely tryin' to cover a lot of bases, with my guesswork ...

If there's a lot of 'em around, it might be that there's a strong gene pool present, and the younger birds (white ones) have spread out and expanded the biological permutations ... if there's no large domestic production flocks, I'd doubt that a few from a farm or two would influence the demi-mutation enuf to enable that much diversity ...

I don't think domestics have beards, so that would be another indicator ... white bird, black beard ... that'd be really cool!

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

I haven't seen one with a beard yet, but then again I really never looked. That would be cool to have a black beard. This flock was all hens and young. The escapees Idea had crossed my mind before. But they are spread out quite abit. Now ya got me thinking about looking for one with a beard now. That would have to be a full mount.

Wild or an escapee, its still preety cool. I would not mind having one of them on my wall. Or even better in my deep fryer :0)
 

A friend at work told me today he has a bunch of turkey hanging out at his ranch last few days and asked if I was interested. He said one has a beard that drags on the ground. I think I'll take my blind over and set it up. I'm going to try to get one with my bow.

rik..if the bird is a white one, the beard will also be white.  A beard is nothing more than a modified feather, not hair or anything.  It would be really cool to get a white one with a beard though.  Good luck with your bow!!

Love playing that string music and sending a Muzzy flying!

It'd be pretty neat if they are not domestic, but I have often seen domestic mix with wild birds

Old Cowboys never die, they just keep riding the Range.