Canada Live Turkey Prices

Prices of other produce in the Livestock category in Canada: Live Horses, Live Donkeys, Live Mules, Live Cattle, Live Buffalo, Live Pigs, Live Sheep, Live Goats, Live Chicken & Live Ducks.

See prices of live turkey in other countries across North America: Canada live turkey, US live turkey, Anguilla live turkey, Antigua and Barbuda live turkey, Bermuda live turkey, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba live turkey, St.Pierre and Miquelon live turkey, United States Minor Outlying Islands live turkey, Cayman Islands live turkey & Greenland live turkey.

Turkeys are a popular Thanksgiving source of meat in both Canada and the United States

Roast turkey in particular is a traditional centerpiece for Thanksgiving dinners in both countries. The turkey is often seasoned, roasted, and served with a variety of side dishes such as stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and vegetables.

Dating back to the early colonial period, wild fowl, including turkeys, were likely part of the original Thanksgiving feast, fostering a historical association. They are practical for large gatherings due to their size. This is a perfect symbol of abundance and harvest—the core themes of Thanksgiving.

The turkey has become so deeply ingrained in the cultural and culinary traditions of Thanksgiving in North America that it's now the iconic symbol of the holiday meal.

Fully grown males average between 16 and 24 pounds in weight and go by the name of toms. Fully-grown females weigh between 8 and 16 pounds on average and are known as hens.

According to Statistics Canada, Ontario was the leading turkey production centre in 2022 with 71.4 million kilograms or 47.5% of countrywide turkey meat production.

Quebec is the second leading Province in turkey production with 19.7% of the market share.

Common turkey breeds in Canada

Here are some important facts about the tuekey breeds in Canada. First, it's important to note that there are two most common domesticated breeds in Canada: Ridley Bronze and Ridley Bronze

1. Ridley Bronze

Current price of Ridley Bronze turkey in Canada : US$ 6 per ib for 10-15 pound birds

This happens to be the only heritage domestic breed that originated in Canada. As only native breed among Canada’s turkeys, it's acclaimed for being highly suited to the cold climate of the country.

The Ridley Bronze turkey can be traced back to the 1940s when John H. Richardson first raised them in his hatchery. 30 years later, the University of Saskatchewan took up some of the birds from the owner and named them Ridley. The breed can weigh up to 16 to 25 pounds when mature.

2. Broad-breasted White

Current price of Broad-breasted White turkey in Canada: US$6.99 per ib for 18-22 pound birds

Perhaps the most common turkey breed in North American homes, the broad-breasted white turkey echoes its name. It is pure white in plumage with a big body mass. Its feed-to-meat conversion ratio is quite fast: the hens and toms reach the 30-pound weight mark in 20-24 weeks after hatching. A full-grown bird can weigh between 38 and 40 pounds, though some males can reach 45 to 50 pounds.

Apart from the above two, other domesticated turkeys include: Bronze turkeys, Bourbon red turkeys, Buff turkeys and the rare Auburn turkey.

Wild Turkeys

Wild turkeys in Canada fall under the Meleagris gallopavo species whose original habitat is the cold regions of North America. There are five subspecies but only two reside in Canada, including:

1. Eastern wild Turkey

Current price of Eastern wild Turkey in Canada: US$399.99 per 16-20 ib bird or $20 per pound

This subspecies is native to the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. It is medium-sized, with hens weighing 10 pounds while toms between 20 and 24 pounds. The birds are omnivorous by habit and eat nuts, acorn grass and fruits, and even insects. A male Eastern turkey has a glossy bronze to dark plumage with a fanning tail and a blue forehead. Females differ for their smaller size and less colorful nature.

2. Merriam’s Wild Turkey

Current price of Merriam’s wild Turkey in Canada: US$199.99 for an 8 to 10 lbs turkey or $19.9 per pound

Native to the American Northwest, the Merriam’s wild turkeys first graced the Canadian landscape in 1958, first in Manitoba. By 1962, they had reached Alberta province. The range has now increased throughout British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The name derives from Clinton Hart Merriam, the initial chef of the United States Biological Survey. The organization honored her by naming the turkey after her in 1900.