Royal Palm
Turkeys
A distinctive American turkey breed recognized for its bold black-and-white plumage at a smaller, more manageable size.
Breed Overview
-
Temperament >> Observant, Alert, Manageable
-
Egg Color >> Cream to Light Tan, Some Speckled
-
Egg Production >> Low to Moderate & Seasonal
-
Cold Hardy >> Moderate
-
Heat Tolerance >> Moderate
-
Broodiness >> Occasional to Moderate
-
Purpose >> Heritage and Small Scale Production
Why We Raise Royal Palms
We raise Royal Palm turkeys because they are simply enjoyable birds to live with. Turkeys are expressive, curious, and far more interactive than many people expect. They vocalize, respond to your presence, and develop distinct personalities within the flock.
Watching them move through their day—strutting, drumming, spitting, gobbling, and cutting—is a unique experience that never really gets old. The jens, in particular, are known for their cutting calls, adding another layer of communication and personality that makes spending time with them engaging and fun.
Beyond their behavior, Royal Palms are visually striking. Their bold black-and-white pattern is crisp, elegant, and unmistakable, and their more manageable size only adds to their appeal. Together, these qualities are a big part of why we chose Royal Palms to maintain at Cross B—preserving a turkey that combines beauty, balance, and practicality without excess. They are a beautiful bird to watch in motion, carrying presence, personality, and clarity of type in a way that stands out naturally.
Living With Royal Palms
Royal Palm turkeys are curious, observant, and highly aware of their surroundings. They engage with their environment far more than chickens do, often moving through space with intention rather than habit.
One important difference to understand is that turkeys will frequently seek high vantage points simply to look around, and not just to roost. They may hop onto trees, stock trailers, fences, or even the tops of vehicles to survey their surroundings. This behavior is natural and driven by awareness and curiosity, but it can be frustrating if you’re not expecting it.
Because of this, turkeys do best with clear boundaries and intentional setups. They are interactive, perceptive birds that notice changes quickly. For those who enjoy that level of engagement, living with turkeys is both entertaining and rewarding.
Stewardship & Breeding Work
For those interested in a deeper look at this variety at Cross B Hens & Heifers, Royal Palms are a breed we actively steward. Our focus extends beyond day-to-day keeping to long-term consistency, genetic understanding, and responsible selection across generations.
A Brief History of the Breed Variety
Royal Palm turkeys were developed in the United States and are best known for their distinctive black-and-white plumage and smaller, more refined build compared to commercial turkey strains. The variety was established through selective breeding rather than commercial production, with an emphasis on clarity of pattern and consistency of type.
Royal Palms were accepted into the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection in 1977, making them an approved variety for exhibition for those interested in showing heritage turkeys.
Unlike broad-breasted turkeys bred primarily for meat yield, Royal Palms remained a heritage variety, valued for appearance, manageability, and suitability for small farms and homesteads. Their lighter weight and active nature reflect a different approach to turkey breeding—one focused on balance rather than maximum size.
Today, Royal Palm turkeys continue to be raised by those who appreciate traditional poultry varieties and the unique presence turkeys bring to a farm setting. Their history is closely tied to small-scale breeding and hands-on husbandry rather than industrial production.
Our Program, Progress, and Direction
Our Royal Palm turkey program at Cross B centers on maintaining clarity of pattern, sound structure, and overall balance. These birds are evaluated as whole animals, with attention given to how pattern, build, movement, and temperament come together rather than focusing on any single trait in isolation.
The flock is managed as a closed flock, which allows us to better track consistency and evaluate progress over time within a known group of birds.
While Royal Palms are known for their bold black-and-white plumage, achieving a clean, consistent pattern across the bird takes care and patience. Pattern clarity, structural soundness, and overall presence must be balanced together, and progress is measured over time rather than forced quickly.
Our approach remains steady and practical. We aim to raise Royal Palm turkeys that are visually striking, enjoyable to live with, and consistent in type, while allowing them to remain active, expressive birds well suited to small-scale environments.
Why We Emphasize Hatching Eggs & Poults
For Royal Palm turkeys, we place greater emphasis on hatching eggs and poults rather than older birds. This approach supports healthier placement, allows birds to acclimate early to their environment, and helps maintain consistency within the flock over time.
We rarely place adult turkeys, which makes starting birds young the most practical and responsible option. Raising turkeys from hatch or early age gives keepers the opportunity to establish appropriate space, handling, and routine from the beginning.
Offering eggs and poults, when available, allows us to place birds thoughtfully while continuing to evaluate the flock as it develops. Availability reflects seasonal conditions and what the flock can responsibly support.
Following the Program’s Progress
As the program continues to develop, we share updates, photos, and seasonal progress through our social channels. This allows those who are interested to follow the evolution of the flock over time and see how long-term selection translates into visible improvement.
Pricing & Availability
Availability for Royal Palm is limited due to the seasonality of turkeys as a species in general.
Hatching Eggs
• $ 10 per egg
• Pricing reflects the 2026 season
-
Local pickup: Available by arrangement
-
Order size: Minimum 5 / Maximum 10
Availability is seasonal, reflects nature's timing, and is communicated once breeding pens are established and the ladies begin to lay. Quantities are limited and may vary each week.
Eggs are marked with both breeding pen and collection date for buyer reference. As a courtesy, one additional egg is included for every five eggs purchased.
Availability is announced by email when eggs are offered. Subscribing to our email list is the best way to receive notification when ordering windows open.
Poults
• Straight-run
• $25 each (0–2 weeks)
• $40 each (3–4 weeks)
• Pricing reflects the 2026 season
Poults are offered in limited, seasonal batches. Availability varies by hatch.
This breed is not sexed at hatch. Requests from specific breeding pens may be accommodated in limited situations.
All poults hatched on the farm are wing-banded at hatch for identification and tracking.
Availability announcements are sent by email when ordering windows open.
