Are jersey buff turkeys domesticated?

A historical breed of Turkeys, Jersey Buff, is known for the exquisite buff colour of their feathers. The background of the bird is debated as various varieties emerged at the same time for this bird. But the primary root is assumed to be the United States, where it acquired a great deal of prominence and became known to the world.

The primary breed involved in the production of the Bourbon Red in the 18th century were also Buff Turkeys. Buff Turkey has a rich reddish-buff plumage with white tail feathers crossed near the end with light buff.

Birds' flight feathers are usually lighter in colour and often white. Buff hens are of the same colour as toms but generally lighter in colour, especially as they age. Buff turkeys in the past have been very prevalent, perhaps for having a lovely carcass of light pin feathers.

However, creating the correct colour was difficult for breeders, so they produced the Bourbon Red for this reason. The Buff Turkey numbers have fallen sharply, and by the start of the twentieth century, they were assumed rare. Luckily, the variety's popularity has returned, but the bird remains scarce and is primarily used for small scale farming and exhibition purposes. 

The Jersey Buff turkeys have a very attractive light or reddish-brown plumage and are moderate to large birds. The most distinguishing features of these birds are the coloured plumage. They have white tail feathers with a light buff bar near the end. The primary & secondary wing feathers are white, with buff-coloured, pointed tips. They have bluish-white or fleshly shanks and toes.

One barrier to the success of the breed was the challenge of breeding birds in complying with the colour specification which needed for even buffs with light flight feathers. The colour of this bird allowed it to be processed more efficiently, though the breed was not selected for other purposes. The utilization of buff turkeys to produce the Bourbon Red variety began in the 1900s. The Bourbon Red was better selected for performance and more widely promoted, gained prominence, resulting in a decrease in buff quantities.

The Jersey Buff has very appealing reddish-brown wing feathers. The tail feathers are white and coloured slightly dark buff, covering half the length of the tail. The skin of both genders is bluish-white, while the beards are black, and the eyes are hazel.

For production features such as weight gain, the Jersey Buff has not recently been chosen, and many birds are smaller than specified. The hens normally produce a decent number of eggs. Proper selection of healthy, fertile, and productive chicks will ensure the survival and growth of Jersey Buff turkeys.