Buff

The Buff turkey is a historic light-colored variety of domestic turkey, often discussed with the Jersey Buff or New Jersey Buff lines. Its plumage is warm buff to reddish tan rather than bronze, black, or slate, with lighter wings and tail feathers in many birds. Buff coloring was once useful in American farm turkeys and contributed to the development of the Bourbon Red, but true Buff flocks have become uncommon and may vary from one breeder's line to another.

A Buff turkey flock is usually a conservation or hobby-breeding project, not a commercial meat strain. The soft color can be difficult to keep even, so breeding choices need to balance appearance with fertility, hatchability, growth, and hardy poults. They are managed like other heritage turkeys, with careful brooding, dry shelter, roosts low enough to prevent injury, and enough outdoor space to stay fit. Because numbers are limited, buyers should ask whether stock is from a maintained Buff line or simply buff-colored crossbred birds.

Colors: Black, Blue Slate, Bourbon Red, Bronze, Buff, Chocolate, Mottled, Narragansett, Penciled, Pied, Red Bronze, Royal Palm, Slate, White