Are Copas turkeys happy? How are they looked after?
We maintain the highest standards, regarding space, diet & welfare conditions to ensure our turkeys have a healthy, happy life. Our farm, production methods & facilities are all independently inspected to guarantee this. They live on a delicious cereal based diet consisting of wheat, oats, soya, maize, sunflower oil…… All the goodness a turkey could possibly need. There are also cherry trees and cover crops for little snacks when they are out and about in the fields!
The turkeys like to be under cover at night and they take themselves into the polytunnels or we herd them into their sheds at dusk for bedtime. To help us keep the turkeys safe, we also have alpacas in the field to protect the turkeys against foxes and they are doing a great job!
Can I visit the turkeys?
Yes, we are very proud of our farms & are lucky to be located in beautiful Berkshire countryside so we have a footpath that is open to the public & runs right through the middle of our turkey fields. The turkeys free-range from Mid-July onwards but to see them in all their glory we suggest paying us a visit in September, October or November.
Why are Copas turkeys more expensive?
Due to the labour intensive, traditional methods of production used (such as dry-plucking each turkey by hand), our turkeys take almost three times as long to rear & cost three times as much to produce as standard turkeys but the result is the best turkey you can buy for your family this Christmas!
What is a “Bronze” turkey? Are they Free Range or Organic?
Bronze turkeys get their name from the feathers & there are many different breeds of bronze-feathered turkey in the UK. We have over ten different strains on our farm this year, including birds from Kelly Turkeys hatchery, Wirral Blacks & Devon Bronze breeds. However it is not the breed alone which determines the eating quality, it is a mixture of the age, diet, welfare & most importantly, whether it has been hung or not.
All our birds are cared for and reared to the same very high rearing standards whether free range or organic. The only differences is that the Organic birds are reared on land that has been certified as Organic, they are fed certified Organic feed and they have never been medicated.
What is the production process? Is it monitored?
All birds are processed under vetinary supervision by trained slaughter men, to the highest possible welfare standards. We use the traditional method for a small producer of stun to kill then bleed. We then pluck and dry age in our coldstore before dressing into an oven-ready product. To give the bird a lovely deep gamey flavour and soft, tender juicy texture we dry all age our birds. This artisan method gives you the best possible eating experience it’s a major part in their award-winning, deep flavour.
Unlike most seasonal producers production at our farm premises is continually monitored by the Meat Hygiene Service to guarantee food safety & licensed European-Approved Inspectors to assure production standards. We also have an independently appointed Vet on site at all times during production.
Is there an industry “Quality Standard” that Copas turkeys meet?
Our farm is independently inspected by both PAI and SALSA auditors. We aim to exceed all farm assurance schemes & welfare standards operating in the UK, including those of the TFTA (Traditional Farmfresh Turkey Association) regarding age, diet, welfare & production. Additionally, each Copas turkey carries our very own guarantee of quality, which includes a money-back commitment in the unlikely event of dissatisfaction.
