At Robbins Family Farms – we strive to raise the most natural, free-range, healthy and antibiotic-free turkey, with no added hormones. In addition, our turkeys enjoy roaming in their pasture on the ranch, which includes all varieties of vegetation that a wild turkey would find in its natural habitat. That means a more natural and healthy bird, and you are sure to taste the difference!
Our turkeys begin life on our farm as day old chicks and begin feeding on a non-medicated wild game bird starter for the first 6 weeks. At 6 weeks of age, we supplement them with Idaho grown sweet corn and peas to help develop their digestive systems. These seeds are all guaranteed genetically modified organism (GMO) free to ensure you are getting the most natural product we can raise from feed to final turkey. In addition we feed them pumpkins, butternut, acorn, and spaghetti squash from Wissel Farms in Nampa, Idaho, that are grown without commercial fertilizer. We also feed them apples, plums, pluots, and other various fruits from Williamson Orchards and Vineyards in Caldwell, Idaho. We also move them to pasture on the ranch at 6 weeks, once their immune systems are developed and they are big enough to withstand changes in the weather and keep from being eaten by birds of prey.
Our pasture was developed following the wild turkey mentality. It was planted with Pennington’s seed mixtures for wild turkey which include millets, grain, sorghum, buckwheat, chufa, white clover, prairie grass, soybeans, iron clay cowpeas, sunflower, and a little sweet corn to create an abundant food source and excellent cover.
Our pasture is nearly a 4-acre area that is fenced to keep predators out, not the turkeys in. The birds enjoy the free range with multiple fresh, well-watering stations and free-range shelters that they can enter and exit at their leisure.
We basically pamper our birds and allow them to exercise, eat, forage and live on pasture on the ranch like a wild turkey would. This habitat and rearing process equals a fabulous tasting turkey, with a texture that is unforgettable and well worth spending a little extra money to buy a fresh local product grown right here in Idaho.
All of our turkeys are processed at Countryside Poultry Processing, a high quality, state-inspected facility in Fruitland, Idaho, by John and Gerry Kelly. Our birds are then delivered to you – fresh, local, and ready to eat. No additives or preservatives are added at any point during processing.
We have also partnered with Tri-city meats to help us get our turkeys fresh from our farm and ranch to your dinner table or favorite restaurant either with or without freezing.
Our turkeys are currently being served in Caldwell at Bon Appetit catering, and the College of Idaho. In Nampa at Brick 29 restaurant. In Boise at the Bittercreek Ale House, Red Feather Lounge, The Fork Restaurant, Boise Co-op Deli, and Salt Tears Coffeehouse and Noshery. They have also been served in Twin Falls at the Local Dish Market and Cafe. In addition we also served over 1000 people in the summer of 2011 at the Boise Co-op member appreciation dinner at the Idaho Botanical Garden. We have also sold fresh, free-range, turkey eggs collected off our pasture during the spring and early summer months of 2011 and 2012 at the Boise Co-op.
For the 2012 Thanksgiving season, turkey tasting will occur on November 9th from 3 – 6 p.m. at the Boise Co-op where you can taste in advance the quality of our product before committing to buy one for Thanksgiving.
Robbins Family Farms turkeys can be purchased by individuals for the 2012 Thanksgiving season through the Boise Co-op (472-4516) in Boise, Porterhouse Meat Market,Deli and Catering (938-1441) in Eagle, Wissel Farms (467-1880) in Nampa, Homestead Natural Foods (337-4780) in Middleton and online, Bon Appetit (459-5117) in Caldwell, Atkinson’s (726-5668) in all 3 stores in the Sun Valley area, Nourish Me and Julie Foods (928-7604 ) in Ketchum, Alpine Pantry (634-3326) in McCall, and any other retailers serviced by Tri-City Meats.
Supplies are limited and fresh turkeys will be available for purchase starting Monday, November 12th. Arrangements should be made in advance and as soon as possible to get your name on a list with one of these retailers to reserve a fresh, free-range, never frozen, turkey for Thanksgiving.
For the 2012 Christmas season, turkeys will be available starting Dec 17 at the same locations. Call your retailer for more information on how to reserve one.
Restaurants and businesses interested in purchasing turkeys should call Jeff Robbins directly at 208-871-0295. Supplies will be available into and through 2013 for retailers and restaurants.
Robbins Family Farms Newest Turkey Addition as of February 2012