The
Black variety originated in Europe from Mexican turkeys
which had been imported beginning in the 1500's. These turkeys when crossed
with wild birds, were the foundation for the Bronze, Narragansett, and Slate
varieties. The Blacks should not only be black but also have a greenish luster throughout. The shanks of the legs and toes should be a dark lead or slate black in color. These are very prolific in egg production, and vigorous in protecting of the nest, if a person was unable to incubate the eggs these would be a better selection for setting hens. The toms are usually less aggressive than the hens.
These are a meaty bird and great for eating but the pinfeathers are of coarse black, which gives the carcass the appearance of being darker where the feathers were removed but this does not hurt the meat because it is only the pigment that is left in the skin from the removal of the feathers. Melon is what gives the pigment to the feathers and Mellon is in the follicle and the follicle is not removed in the plucking process.
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