John Howe Turkeys: 50 Years of Craftsmanship & Family Tradition
Founded in 1976 by Ronnie and John Howe with a flock of just 25 birds, John Howe Turkeys is celebrating 50 years as a family-run farm dedicated to traditional, welfare-focused poultry farming. Based just outside Tenterden in the Weald of Kent, many things have changed over the last 50 years, but our farming ethos has remained focused on producing the very best turkey possible. The whole family is dedicated to upholding traditional farming values and caring for happy turkeys.
What Sets Our Free-Range Turkeys Apart
- Extensive Outdoor Space: Our birds enjoy an open-air life roaming grassy meadows and exploring 10 acres of woodland. They spend their days perching on branches, roosting on straw bales, and dust-bathing. At night, they shelter in deep-straw barns for warmth and protection.
- Slow Rearing for Full Maturity: Unlike standard commercial turkeys that are raised quickly for 9–13 weeks, our birds are reared slowly over 27 weeks. This slow, natural growth allows the birds to reach full maturity, building natural muscle and developing a delicate layer of flavor-rich fat.
- Wholesome, Natural Feed: Our flock thrives on a natural, cereal-based diet—including wheat, barley, and natural herbs—completely free from growth promoters or artificial additives.
- Artisanal Processing & Game-Hanging: Every bird is traditionally dry-plucked and game-hung for a minimum of 10 to 14 days. This time-honored process enhances natural tenderness, deepens succulence, and delivers an intensely rich taste.
- Self-Basting Quality: Because the birds mature naturally, they retain high moisture levels and develop natural intramuscular fat. This renders the meat self-basting and naturally juicy, reducing cooking time while delivering unmatched flavor.
Our Breeds & Quality Guarantee
We rear both Free-Range White and Free-Range Bronze slow-growing breeds to cater to every holiday table:
- Free-Range White Turkeys: Succulent and tender, ideal for those who love generous, flavorful breast meat alongside traditional dark meat.
- Free-Range Bronze Turkeys: Renowned for their rich appearance and slightly deeper, gamier flavor profile.
All our birds carry the Golden Turkey Quality Assurance Guarantee, reflecting strict adherence to high-welfare, traditional British turkey farming practices.
Comparison: John Howe vs. Standard Supermarket Turkeys
FeatureJohn Howe Free-Range TurkeyStandard Supermarket TurkeyGrowth Period
27 weeks (slowly matured)
9–13 weeks (rapid growth)
Environment
Free-range roaming in meadows & 10 acres of woodland
Restricted outdoor access or industrial barn rearing
Diet
Natural cereal-based diet; no growth promoters
High-protein feed engineered for rapid weight gain
Processing
Dry-plucked by hand and game-hung for up to 2 weeks
Wet-plucked, no flavor from being game hang, damaged top layers of skin which stop moisture retention.
Texture & Flavor
Succulent, tender, self-basting, cooks faster
Often dry, less flavorful, requires extra basting
