Turkey is the largest poultry of all those raised in homesteads. But unfortunately, despite the rapid weight gain, summer residents do not breed it too often. It's all about the prevailing opinion about the difficulty of caring for this living creature. Meanwhile, raising turkeys in the country is actually quite simple. The main thing is to first become familiar with the rules for caring for this bird.
How to choose a breed
Almost all turkeys raised on private farms quickly gain weight. Breeding any breed is thus considered quite profitable. However, most often, summer residents keep turkeys:
- Bronze North Caucasian. Male birds can weigh up to 14 kg, and females can weigh up to 7 kg. Oviposition begins at ten months of age, and its duration is about 6 months per year. Over the entire period, one turkey can produce up to 80 eggs.
- White broad-chested. Turkeys of this breed can reach a weight of 17 kg, and turkeys - 7 kg. One female lays up to 120 eggs per year.
- Bronze broad-chested. The weight of males of this breed reaches 20-25 kg, and egg production is about 90 pcs. per year.
These three breeds of turkeys are considered the most productive and hardy.
What should a poultry house be like?
Whatever breeds of turkeys are kept on the farm, laying the floor with a thick layer of sawdust or straw is a mandatory procedure. In order to reduce the likelihood of infectious diseases, this litter should be changed at least twice a year. It is best to do this in autumn and spring. Before laying hay or straw, the floors should be sprinkled with slaked lime.
There should not be more than two turkeys per 3 m2 of poultry house area. Windows are usually located on the south or southwest side. It is also advisable to hang several fluorescent lamps in the house. However, this must be done carefully. 14 hours of light in winter in a warm barn can trigger egg laying.
Feeders and nests
In order for raising turkeys in a private backyard to be successful, the poultry house, of course, should be properly equipped. You can take any feeders for turkeys. There are no special requirements for their design. Chicken, for example, would work very well. The only thing is that the sides of the feed container should be no lower than the bird’s chest. Otherwise, the turkeys will spill the food. Therefore, chicken feeders will have to be either placed on stands or hung.
The same applies to drinking bowls. It is better to install them higher. You can use, for example, a small table. The bird will jump on it and drink. This way you can avoid pieces of litter and droppings getting into the water.
Nests in turkey houses are usually made with batteries. That is, they install 2-8 pieces on top of each other. There should be one nest for 4-5 turkeys. Install the batteries in the darkest place of the barn.
Perches for turkeys are made from thick poles and placed at a height of about 80 cm.
Most turkey breeds can easily withstand even the most severe frosts. However, it is still worth making sure that in winter the air temperature in the poultry house does not fall below 5 degrees. To do this, use very thick bedding. In summer, the most comfortable air temperature in the barn is considered to be 22 degrees.
A special area should be fenced off next to the poultry house. Walking is something that turkeys especially need. Breeding this bird will be successful only if the area is large enough (the same as for geese). It is best to plant a paddock with alfalfa or clover.
Turkey growing complex
In the second year of breeding, the farmstead will most likely contain two generations of birds. In this case, the barn will need to be expanded, thereby turning it into a mini-complex. The fact is that turkeys different ages They do not get along with each other at all and should be kept separately.
A large poultry house can simply be fenced off with chain-link mesh. The same should be done with walking.
Experts also advise separating young males and females. However, most owners of private farmsteads do not see any particular need for this. If turkeys grew up in the same herd, they most likely will not fight even at the sight of turkeys.
Breeding Features
If the owners want to not only grow, but also breed turkeys themselves, for example using an incubator, for every 8-10 female turkeys, one male should be left.
Turkeys begin to incubate eggs around March - April. These birds are very good mothers. The brooding instinct is well developed in most breeds. Many owners of private farmsteads even place eggs from chickens, ducks and other poultry under their turkeys.
In the first days of incubation, the turkey should be removed from the nest from time to time and brought to the drinking bowl and feeder.
Breeding turkeys at home, as you can see, is a procedure that has some of its own characteristics, but is not too complicated. It is best to keep turkeys away from other birds. Their character is quite aggressive, and their weight and strength are large.
Buying turkey poults
If the owners decide to start breeding turkeys for the first time, they will, of course, have to buy young animals. The most best place purchasing chicks is considered a poultry farm. Turkey at large enterprises is raised to be purebred and according to specially developed methods.
If there is no poultry farm nearby, chicks can also be purchased at the market. In any case, when buying turkey poults, you should pay attention first of all to their appearance. The chicks' butt should be dry and their down should be clean. You also need to look at the wings. They should be pressed tightly to the body. Another sign of a healthy chick is a toned tummy.
When purchasing, you should also knock on the wall of the box in which the turkey poults are sitting. The chicks must run towards the sound. Such behavior indicates well-developed reflexes and vitality.
Purchased turkey poults must be transported in a closed box made of thick cardboard inside the car.
Egg incubation
Thus, we have figured out how to buy turkey chicks correctly. Breeding of this bird, however, can also be done through fertilized eggs. Of course, only if the farm has the appropriate equipment.
Incubation of turkey eggs lasts 28 days. You can find out what conditions should be created for the proper development of embryos from the table.
| Incubation day | Humidity | Temperature | Ventilation | Turn |
| 1-6 | 56% | 37.8 gr. | - | 4 times a day |
| 7-12 | 52% | 37.5 gr. | 1 time per day 5 minutes | |
| 13-26 | 37.2 gr. | 2 times a day for 20 minutes | ||
| 27-28 | 70% | 37 gr. | 1 time per day for 10 minutes | - |
Feeding turkey poults
Before reaching the age of 9 weeks, the chicks need special living conditions. During this period, only the highest quality feed should be used. You also need to carefully monitor the air temperature in the poultry house. The room is prepared in much the same way as for chickens.
The same applies to such a procedure as feeding turkey poults. Chicks bred in an incubator will have to be taught to eat and drink on their own. In order for the young animals to awaken the pecking instinct, you should tap your finger on a board with cottage cheese or crumbled eggs poured on it. Turkey chicks are taught to drink by carefully lowering their beaks into the drinking bowl.
In addition to eggs and cottage cheese, chicks can be given yogurt and finely chopped greens. Well, of course, you need to feed them millet. The water for small turkey poults is heated to 24 degrees.
From the tenth day of life, you can start giving ground greaves, bones and boiled offal. Whole grains are included in the diet of young animals at the 7th week of life. From nine weeks of age, homemade feed mixture can be included in the diet. At the same time, the chicks usually begin to be walked.
How to feed an adult bird
The diet of growing turkeys consists mainly of dry grain and wet mash. Millet is given in the morning and evening. During the day, the bird is fed a mixture of chopped grass with a small amount of bran. The mash is placed in feeders and left there all day.
Feather Trimming
This procedure should definitely be carried out with adult turkeys. The fact is that they are very good flyers. You need to trim the flight wings and only on one side. This procedure is quite complicated, and therefore experienced poultry keepers usually advise beginners to invite a veterinarian to perform it for the first time. In the future you will just need to repeat his actions.
How profitable is it to breed?
Of course, all the intricacies of keeping turkeys cannot be considered in one short article. However, we still hope that the information presented above at least helped someone make a conclusion about whether it is worth keeping a bird such as a turkey in your backyard. The price of its meat is very high. Of course, all housewives know about this. So in any case, turkey breeding can be considered quite profitable. However, perform several important conditions for successful cultivation you still have to. Of course, you will need to build a spacious barn, fence off the paddock, make or purchase feeders and drinkers, etc.
In many ways, the profitability of a home turkey farm also depends on how much grain costs in a particular area. So, it’s up to the owners of the farmstead to decide whether or not to keep a bird like turkeys, the breeding of which is, although technologically simple, but quite troublesome.
An industry in poultry farming such as turkey breeding is becoming increasingly popular. As a business it is quite profitable. However, you should understand everything in great detail. At home, as well as on household plots and on private large farms, turkeys, the breeding of which is not very difficult, feel excellent.
This bird is most valued for its dietary meat, which is very juicy and tasty. Therefore, for some aspiring businessmen, growing it can turn into an excellent way to generate income.
Not chickens, but turkeys
Breeding of this bird began in America. There it was domesticated about ten centuries ago. The turkey bird arrived in Europe only in the sixteenth century, after Columbus’s fourth voyage. When this traveler landed on the American coast, he was sure that this was India. Apparently, this is why this large American bird was named so. A turkey or turkey is a beautiful and majestic representative of birds, although it is flightless.
This bird loves freedom and large space. Majestic and at the same time the largest and strongest domestic bird, the modern turkey (the breeding and maintenance of which requires certain knowledge and skills) is calmer and slower than its wild ancestors.
Description
The process of domestication of this bird entailed the creation large quantity new breeds that differ from each other mainly in plumage color and weight.
Despite the meat nature of turkeys, their eggs, down and feathers are also valued. Their carcasses contain more than fifty percent meat, about fifteen percent subcutaneous fat and more than ten percent internal fat.
Turkeys, whose breeding on an industrial scale for the purpose of obtaining eggs is unprofitable, are characterized by rapid growth with minimal expenditure on feed.
Characteristics of the bird
Like chickens, turkeys are considered big-legged. However, they do not rake the ground with their feet and do not graze like the latter. Turkeys do well on pastures and on field crops, which they do not damage because they do not dig anywhere with their limbs. There they run around and find suitable food.
Anatomical structure
The legs of turkeys, long and strong, are adapted to cover fairly large distances. Very interesting especially the rapidly growing shin bone, tarsus and tibia. Turkey ankles contain strong and hard bones that make it possible to carry large mass bodies, covering fairly long distances. The muscles on the lower leg of this bird contain a lot of zinc, which perfectly strengthens bones and tendons. That is why its meat in the human diet is an excellent source of this element.
Breeds
There are a great many breeds of turkeys. These are white broad-chested, and heavy Big-6, and BYuT-8, etc. Many of them were bred artificially. One of the most popular are the broad-breasted white turkeys, which are considered to be native to the United States.
This breed is distinguished by high meat characteristics, sufficient growth rate and good egg production. However, white turkeys, the breeding of which requires the creation of certain conditions, are very demanding in terms of feeding.
In this breed, experts distinguish three types of females: light, heavy and medium. Their main differences are reproductive qualities and meat precocity.
Another breed - the North Caucasian bronze - has been known among domestic poultry farmers for quite a long time. It adapts perfectly to pasture keeping. The wide body is elongated, with plumage tightly fitting to the body.
Breeding
Of course, turkeys are not as popular on the market as, for example, chickens, but their meat is also in high demand. Moreover, this figure is growing every year, especially in megacities.
Turkey breeding (as a business) can be started by assessing the demand for this product. The easiest way is to walk through food markets and ask the meat departments how much poultry they sell per day. In addition, it is necessary to imagine the level of competition, and also study the question of how turkeys, the price of which is considerable, are sold. If there is already a large poultry farm in a given region, then it is unlikely that it will be possible to compete with it. Therefore, it would be better to leave this idea and move on to something else. If you still decide to do this, you will need to register as a private entrepreneur and choose a tax system.
Premises
There are two types of raising turkeys - outdoors under a canopy and in specially equipped rooms. The first option is only suitable for residents of warm regions. In general, turkeys can withstand fairly low temperature conditions without any problems - up to fifteen degrees below zero. However, it will still be better if they are kept in comfortable conditions. Therefore, a well-equipped turkey farm is the best option. This is also worth considering.
And in the summer, when the temperature outside rises to fifteen degrees or higher, turkeys, the breeding and maintenance of which require certain costs, are transferred to the open air - with cages and a canopy over them.
Livestock
In each pen you need to stick to a certain number of birds. The livestock can be divided according to age. It is not recommended to keep more than fifteen birds in one cage that are not yet a month old, about 10 for two, and about 5 for older ones.
Taking into account the fact that the temperature regime should be maintained, it is necessary to take into account not only heating costs, but also the maximum insulation of the walls of the room, in order to be able to save at least a little in the future.
Market analysis
Like any other type of business, turkey breeding also requires certain investments. The business plan must clearly define the types of products produced. It is noteworthy that there are quite a lot of chickens and broilers on the shelves today. There is a lot of competition in this poultry industry. Whereas you can’t always see turkey in stores and not everywhere, which means that there’s really no one to compete with. Nevertheless, a novice businessman must determine a marketing strategy for his products.
The manufacturer can offer the consumer the following types of goods: eggs and offal, feathers and down, and, of course, meat. Products can be supplied not only to trading network, but also to workshops involved in the production of semi-finished products, to meat processing plants or to sell through our own retail network.
The key to the success of a newly organized farm will largely depend on a properly drawn up business plan. In general, according to experts, the cultivation of this large plant differs from all other types of agricultural activities: in in this case very high payback.
Main stages of the technological process
In addition to the premises, in order to successfully raise turkeys, a novice businessman will need to consider a whole series important requirements, without which it is impossible to achieve the normal functioning of this enterprise.
Main stages technological process the following:
Equipping the premises with all necessary communications, such as electricity and ventilation, plumbing. In addition, heating devices must be installed.
Establishing an automatic supply of water, and if possible, then feed: this is done in order to minimize the number of personnel working on the farm, and therefore significantly save on wages.
Ensure cages are cleaned regularly: It is essential to keep the cages as clean as possible.
Equipment of a special area for poultry walking.
The presence of a competent, certified veterinarian who will constantly monitor the condition of turkeys and begin to treat them at the first symptoms of disease, preventing widespread deaths.
Selection of only high-quality food: experts recommend giving as little as possible (or even eliminating) various additives that are positioned as accelerating the growth of chicks.
Observing all these basic and very important rules, the future entrepreneur will be able to establish the normal operation of his small enterprise, the profile of which will be turkey breeding.
Where to buy young animals?
It must be purchased only in special incubators. These are either specialized large enterprises that cooperate with many farms, or small private firms that breed certain breeds of turkey.
But despite the fact that it is indeed possible to inexpensively purchase high-quality livestock from such private companies, experts still advise turning to larger breeders. This will allow us to resolve in the future, when selling eggs or meat, the issue of a quality certificate and a veterinary agreement. As practice shows, it is in cooperation with such large incubators that less problems when preparing the relevant documentation.
It is also necessary to take into account the fact that adults differ in weight: this characteristic depends on the breed of the young. They are divided into:
- lungs, females of which weigh five, and males - about ten kilograms;
- averages: seven and ten, respectively;
- heavy - 15 and 31 kg.
The most popular and in demand are the first two varieties of birds.
Factory equipment and feed
When starting to raise turkeys, you must first purchase a standard kit. It should include incubators and automatic waterers, cages with feeders, heaters and lamps, as well as thermometers. All this ensures normal conditions. A special point in the business plan is the expense item, that is, the funds that will be used to purchase feed and mineral supplements.
Application of the most modern technologies will allow the future businessman to mechanize his production, as well as create conditions for the life of this poultry that will help to obtain only high-quality products. It is very important to think in advance about how to care for them. After all, both the quality of meat and the number of eggs depend on this.
But unfortunately, modern mechanized equipment is quite expensive. This means that not every budding entrepreneur is able to afford it.
As for feed, in addition to it, turkeys need vitamins. You should not skimp on this component in their diet, since these birds are quite “capricious”.
Therefore, when developing a business plan, special attention It is also necessary to pay attention to the natural mortality of birds. On average, ten to fifteen percent of the heads do not survive to maturity.
Staff
To ensure the normal maintenance of turkeys, the future farmer will need to hire a veterinarian, as well as a manager, sales manager and driver, who will have to deliver goods to a variety of retail outlets. The number of workers, of course, primarily depends on the scale of activity and the number of livestock.
Business plan
In order to be able to soberly assess the profitability of the enterprise being opened, a novice entrepreneur needs to analyze all possible costs and income.
The expense item will need to include the cost of renting premises and utility bills, repairs on the future farm, employee salaries, purchase and installation necessary equipment, advertising, purchase of feed and multivitamins, registration of all necessary documentation. When calculating income in a business plan, you need to calculate the average revenue and monthly profit from breeding this bird.
Conclusions
Raising turkeys is enough profitable business, the profitability of which is about one hundred or even one hundred and fifty percent. However, there are certain risks, for example, livestock diseases, which can cause huge losses. That is why you need to purchase only high-quality young animals: a turkey, the price of which seems very favorable, may ultimately turn out to be defective - sick or unsuitable for keeping. In addition, a good veterinarian must work on the farm.
Although keeping turkeys requires attention and effort from the breeder, with appropriate care and a balanced diet, the owner will receive a livestock with high productive indicators. The meat of these birds is characterized by exceptional gastronomic qualities, and breeding them at home will become a business. Broiler varieties (Canadian turkeys) are especially popular and productive.
Turkeys are highly productive birds for breeding
Requirements
Raising young animals for meat is different from other varieties. To start breeding, a farm follows a number of requirements:
- It is recommended to start breeding with mature, strong chicks - 3-4 months old, which are already accustomed to food for adult specimens;
- for 8-10 turkeys they take one male: if there are more females, then the turkey will not be able to fertilize the entire flock;
- choose hybrids with productivity indicators.
Broiler varieties
Broiler birds are divided into 3 groups:
- light (weight from 8 to 9 kg, sent for slaughter at 12-15 weeks);
- medium (15-18 kg, maintenance up to 14-16 weeks);
- heavy (22-25 kg, slaughter at 20-24 weeks).
Broiler turkey can reach a weight of 25 kg
Productivity
The quality of turkey meat cannot be compared with chickens, ducks and other poultry. White diet turkey has a higher percentage of protein. It contains iron and other mineral elements. Carcass yield – 60%. In this regard, young animals under 5 months are more valued. (females) and six months (turkeys).
Males are sent for slaughter at 6 months (weight - 7-9 kg), and females - at 5 months (weight - 4-6 kg).
If you are breeding broiler varieties for meat at home, farmers choose the Canadian breed. Canadian turkey poults are ready for slaughter at 3 months. Egg production – up to 200 pieces per year.
Turkeys produce 60% of their weight in meat
Caring for turkeys requires maintaining temperature conditions. They tolerate frosts, but to thrive and raise offspring they need warmth and dryness. In summer, the room temperature is kept at 20 degrees. It is important to avoid sudden temperature fluctuations and provide ventilation. Diseases occur due to dampness, frost and drafts. The owners protect the turkey's limbs by placing a thick, warm bedding of straw or sawdust in the room. Change twice every seven days.
Turkeys take up a lot of space and need to be walked. Due to the tendency to obesity, birds need exercise. When keeping at home and breeding for meat on a farm, one square meter of space is allocated per head. When equipping an external walking area, 20 are allocated to the head of the herd. square meters areas, install sunshades and sow clover, alfalfa and oats.
In winter, the herd is allowed to walk on days when the temperature is not lower than 10 degrees. The snow on the site is covered with straw. To force the herd to move, feed is scattered throughout the area.
Perches are installed in the poultry house. Width – 7, height – 7-10 centimeters. Placed 80 centimeters from the floor surface. The distance between them is 60 cm. 40 cm of roost area is allocated to the head. For lighting, 1 lamp of 60 watts per 15 square meters is required. meters.
Clover is a good addition to a turkey's diet.
Reproduction
The productive age for breeding domestic turkeys is 2-4 years, for males - 2-3. Male turkeys are fed a mixture (in g) of:
- grain sprouts (100-150);
- non-acidic cottage cheese (20-30);
- carrots and greens (60-80);
- yeast (up to 5).
Egg laying begins when the turkey is 10 months old. After mating, it is better to divide the herd by gender. Oviposition occurs twice every 12 months. The female carries 15 to 20 eggs. The first egg is marked and returned to the nest to continue laying.
For incubation, fertilized specimens without whitish translucent marks are selected. Fertilization is also determined by a test in water: if the submerged egg floats, it is discarded, and if it sinks, it is placed in the nest.
A turkey can lay up to 20 eggs at a time
Incubation
Incubation lasts 27-28 days. Turkeys nest in the spring. If the hen is inexperienced, it is not recommended to place more than 17 eggs under her. This is the number that is located under the female with her wings folded. The parameters of the nest are 50 by 70 cm, it is arranged at a height of about 60 cm. Turf is placed down, then dense layer straw so that the laid eggs are located closer.
Nesting devices are placed in quiet, warm turkey poultry houses with window openings facing southeast. Grates are installed on them. Airing is done twice a day, whitewashing is renewed every 6 months. They make sure there are no holes and predators don’t get in.
The nest is installed in a dark, separate place on the ground. A feeder and a drinking bowl are placed nearby.
The hens are fed every morning: oat grains soaked in water are given. While the turkeys are eating, the nests are covered with thick fabric to prevent the masonry from getting too cold or getting too cold.
The turkey hatches both its own and other people's eggs.
Caring for young animals
If the farmer provides proper care for the turkey poults, the survival rate will be high. The chicks are hardy, although they are demanding in terms of growing and keeping conditions. household. Raising hatchery chicks for meat in cage conditions is also successful. Broiler crosses (unlike Canadian and other breeds) are less demanding in terms of housing and feeding conditions.
From the first days they are kept in a brooder - a dry and warm box. The bottom is lined with small wood shavings or straw. The temperature does not drop below 33 degrees in the first days, after five days it drops to 27. By the beginning of the 11th day it is already 23 degrees. The room is illuminated around the clock in the first days.
Young animals are fed 8 times during the day. This affects the formation of a healthy and strong body. In the first three days, turkey poults are fed a mixture of dry cereals and finely chopped boiled eggs, then for a month they are given small cereals with herbs (nettle, cabbage leaves, clover), mash with boiled potatoes, grated carrots, cottage cheese and fish in fermented milk.
Nettle provides young animals with vitamins
When the heads of the young animals turn red, they are given cereals or a mixture of horse sorrel flowers and seeds. Add crushed sulfur (1 tablespoon) to three liters of the mixture. Feeding with such food is done twice a day. When the chicks grow scallops, they are considered adults and are transferred to the appropriate food.
The chicks are first fed 7 times during the day, then this number decreases to three. For feeding, compound feed for young animals is also used, which contains protein and other elements necessary for the growth of chicks. Vitamins A and E are added to the food. Turkey chicks stay with their mother until they are 42-56 days old, then they are separated and fed adult food.
The water is given heated and changed 2-3 times during the day. Twice every 7 days, disinfection is carried out with potassium permanganate in a weak solution.
Diet
Successful breeding and raising of turkeys for meat depends on feeding conditions.
Turkeys need protein, and it is better to give them sprouted grains of oats and barley. During the breeding period, birds are fed 4-5 times a day, and usually three times a day. In the morning and daytime breeders give wet food, and dry grains in the evening. To make the meat tender and lean, it is recommended to increase the content of juicy foods and reduce the proportion of grains.
In summer they give turkeys raw carrots and her tops
The summer menu consists of:
- cabbage, potato and rutabaga tops;
- raw vegetables (potatoes, carrots, turnips);
- greens (dandelion, green onions);
- steamed chaff (exclude barley and buckwheat).
Birds also need animal protein, which is found in bone and fish meal, and pieces of boiled fish. The owners monitor the freshness and purity of the water in the drinking bowl. In winter, green branches, hay, sauerkraut.
Broiler breeds are not given fatty foods and are not offered chicken feed to avoid obesity or digestive problems.
Keeping turkeys, if the necessary conditions are met, will be an interesting activity and business. Breeding these birds for meat at home with free grazing or cage keeping produces eggs and a dietary meat product. Broiler varieties (Canadian turkeys or meat crosses), which are unpretentious to food and quickly gain weight, are becoming especially popular.
From our article today you will learn:
- Features of turkeys.
- How to make nests for turkeys.
- How to properly keep turkeys.
- What to feed them.
- How to tell whether an egg will hatch into a turkey or a turkey.
In practice, it has been noted that relatively round eggs hatch into turkeys, and pointed eggs hatch into turkeys. The rooms where the eggs will be hatched should be warm, and the windows should be directed to the south or east. The noise level here is minimal. The premises should be ventilated twice daily and whitewashed with lime once a year. Nests should be thoroughly washed before planting turkeys, as should the floor. In the latter, it is necessary to avoid crevices into which predatory animals - ferrets, minks, otters and others - could climb. In warm weather, windows should be opened and secured with wooden bars to keep dogs and cats away.
Feeding turkey hens
Every morning, turkeys are fed oats soaked in water. At the time when birds leave their nests for feeding, they should be covered tightly, folded several times, so that the eggs do not cool down. Chicks are usually incubated for four weeks, but from the 27th day they check how many pecked eggs are in the nests. Having watered and fed the turkeys, leave them in the nests - the eggs should not be cooled. It happens that some chicks hatch from eggs on the 31st or 32nd day; weak turkey chicks need to be helped to hatch, that is, carefully break the shell.
Feeding turkey poults
On the third day, when the chicks' crops are cleared, they are placed in a sieve and fumigated with the smoke of the shells of the eggs from which they came. Then they give food prepared in this way: the leaves of nettle, burdock, silverweed, stingweed, kashka and thyme are washed and cut with a knife (when cutting the grass, they give more juice, which is harmful to turkey poults). The crushed grass is mixed well, sprinkled with wheat bran or barley flour, added to the sour milk mixture and the feed is placed in small piles on a thick cloth, which will draw out excess moisture that is harmful to turkey poults.
Food for mature turkey poults and adult birds
One-month-old turkey poults are given grass feed with sour milk, gradually adding whey or clean water. At the same time, the feed is mixed, like kneading bread dough. When the heads of turkey poults begin to turn red, they need to be given cereals or flowers of horse sorrel with seeds, which makes up a third of the total feed. For three liters of such food, add a tablespoon of crushed sulfur. This feed is given twice a day until the turkeys develop combs. From this moment, turkey poults can be considered adults and fed in the same way as other adult turkeys. The diet includes potato stems, yellowed leaves of cabbage and rutabaga, middle-aged salad grass and the like. You should always add nettles with seeds and leaves; chopped grass is sprinkled with bran or barley flour. During haymaking, they should be driven out to mown meadows, and after harvest - to a compressed field, where turkeys will find a lot of food. The winter diet usually includes raw chopped rutabaga, potatoes, carrots, turnips, and cabbage. It is not harmful to feed steamed chaff, except barley and buckwheat.
Turkeys video
Some terminology:
- Turkey or turkey is a female bird, many do not know what the difference is between them, although both words mean the same thing. A more correct option is turkey.
- The turkey is, accordingly, male,
- Turkey poults are chicks.
Also, these birds are sometimes also called Indian chickens, because. they were brought from America after colonization.
Well, the taste and dietary qualities of its meat are beyond competition. It is suitable for almost all types of diets. The largest number The meat of young animals at six months of age has beneficial substances.
Turkey grows and gains weight very quickly. According to this indicator, it is the leader among all poultry bred on private plots. Even geese and ducks cannot be compared with it, not to mention chicken. The weight of a heavy breed turkey reaches 25-30 kg, and that of a female turkey - up to 10 kg.
Therefore, if you live in a village, then you should definitely try raising turkeys. Why in the village? Because it is a large bird. It requires a lot of space for its content. And in such home conditions there is always a pasture not far from the house, where the turkey can easily find its favorite food. He will be able to take a walk, chase all kinds of living creatures, eat worms and midges.
Let's start with the poultry house
Requirements for a turkey poultry
They do not differ from those that are presented at the place where broilers are kept. That is, it is necessary to exclude drafts and dampness. It must be well lit and must be clean.
To ensure good ventilation, a ventilation duct with a damper is built under the ceiling with access to the roof. The approximate dimensions of the box are 25x25 cm. The damper allows you to change the amount of air coming from outside.
Pay special attention to the floors. Turkey is a heavy bird. Therefore, increased demands are placed on the floor in terms of strength. Lay the bedding of high quality, it is advisable that it is not dusty, not damp, not dirty and free of mold. The worst thing for a turkey is dust, as it contains many spores of fungal diseases. And the turkey is very susceptible to them.
It is better to place windows on one wall. It’s good if it’s on the south side, then the floor is illuminated all day.
You can make holes under the windows from which the turkeys can go for walks. Usually a hole size of 50x50 cm is sufficient.
There should be at least 1 m2 per adult turkey poultry. You can also place perches there. They must be durable and strong, at least 7x7 cm thick. Place them at a height of 80 cm from the floor.
For a turkey poultry house with an area of 15 m2, one 60 W incandescent light bulb is sufficient.
Turkeys are cold-resistant birds, but high humidity and drafts contribute to the development of various diseases in them. Therefore, small positive temperatures in the turkey poultry are undesirable. They lead to the formation of dampness. We must try to ensure that in winter the temperature there is from minus three to minus five degrees.
The health and egg production of turkeys decreases due to low mobility in winter. Therefore, they must be allowed outside in any weather. The only exception is severe frost And hurricane wind.
Snow in the walking pen must be cleared constantly. Cover it well with straw. To lure the bird outside, place feeders there. Pour grain into them. You can hang bundles of hay on the fence of the paddock.
Provide the bird with constant access to water. If the birds are thirsty, then the eggs they produce are of poor quality, the white becomes thick, and this negatively affects the hatchability of the young.
How to breed
If you are planning to buy turkey poults, do it in the spring or summer. It’s better to take three or four month old ones, it’s less hassle and the likelihood of survival is higher. By fall, a six-month-old heavy breed Big 6 turkey chick can weigh 21 kilograms. So your costs for purchasing grown young animals will more than pay off.
But in a homestead there is enough space to raise turkeys, as they say, from eggs. And for this you don’t even need an incubator. It can be perfectly replaced by the turkey itself. The females of this bird are magnificent hens and caring mothers. And if you give them the eggs of another bird, they will hatch and raise them for you too.
To get fertilized eggs you need to purchase a turkey family. It usually consists of one male and five females. Turkeys reach sexual maturity at approximately eight months. At this age they begin to lay eggs. Egg production depends on the breed. In a year they can demolish 20 pieces or 75 pieces.
How to improve egg quality
Egg laying in turkeys begins at the end of February and March. A month before, artificially increase daylight hours by leaving the electric lamp on for 14 hours. This increase in daylight hours will speed up the onset of egg laying.
During this period, feed sprouted oats and wheat as food. Oats have a good effect on the sexual function of birds. The turkey will lay more fertilized eggs.
The bird's diet should include harvested and dried herbs daily - clover and nettle brooms. Add root vegetables, shredded sauerkraut, carrots, and fish oil to your daily portion of the mash. Don't forget about small shell rock and chalk.
As already mentioned, walking is very important for turkeys. They need to be released every day. If it’s cold, then under a canopy, and when it gets warmer, then take it directly outside.
A healthy mother means healthy offspring. This rule applies here too. That is, only with proper nutrition and proper maintenance will a turkey produce a high-quality egg.
How to sort and store eggs
Turkeys are very patient mothers. Almost all incubated eggs hatch into chicks - 98%. But in order to get uniform young animals, you need to correctly sort the laid eggs.
It is better not to use large and small ones, as well as ugly ones, for breeding chicks. It is necessary to select medium-sized eggs of the correct shape. Soiled eggs are also not suitable for these purposes. To prevent the eggs from becoming dirty, the nest must be clean. And this can be the case if the hay in it is regularly changed. You also need to take into account that three to five turkeys require one nest. Its optimal dimensions are 50x70x60. It should stand in a quiet, secluded place in the turkey poultry.
Storing turkey eggs is the same as storing chicken eggs. That is, the temperature is from 8 to 12 degrees, they turn over every day and stand upright.
How a turkey incubates eggs
During the season, a turkey can incubate eggs up to three times. Turkeys who want to become mothers behave unusually. Some inexperienced bird keepers may even think that she got sick and fell on her feet. Because she is literally prostrate on the ground in front of the turkey and does not want to get up.
After one insemination, the female carries fertilized eggs for two months. Turkeys lay the most eggs in May and early June.
When the turkey has a desire to incubate, eggs are placed under it. In the warm season there are more - 17 pieces, in the cold season - 15. Usually they put an odd number.
Turkeys are such diligent hens. They literally exhaust themselves with this and forget about food. Then you need to take them off. Let them walk around, stretch their legs, eat some wheat and chopped grass, and drink some clean water. During this time, the eggs should be covered with a thick, warm cloth. Turkey poults are hatched for 28 days.
Caring for turkey poults
After hatching the turkey chicks, the mother hen herself takes care of their temperature. We only need to monitor the temperature in the turkey house. When it’s cold in the spring, it’s better to take the mother and her brood into the house and place them behind the stove, spreading cardboard on the floor.
Weak point little turkeys - paws. They may freeze. In this case, the legs are wiped with tampons moistened with vodka.
Feeding turkey poults
Just like broilers, if you start with good feed, they will grow well. For the first month they can be fed chicken starter feed, as it contains a coccidiostat. Thanks to this feed, turkeys develop immunity to a disease such as coccidiosis, which they are at risk of contracting in the first months of life.
Dairy products are important for turkey poults; they get calcium from them. The milk must be fresh. They are given yogurt, cottage cheese, and skim milk. From the first days, you can include in your diet a mixture of boiled eggs, oatmeal and chopped herbs.
Turkey poults should always have clean, fresh water. You can add a little manganese or a couple of drops of iodine to it.
On the 28th, 30th day you can switch to another feed for broiler chickens - PK-6. The main thing is that the granules are large. Otherwise, your sinuses will become clogged, you will begin to sneeze and will not be able to eat. You can start feeding corn, large grains.
Turkeys' favorite herb is onion. They will always peck him first. But it is better not to give it at night, since onions require a lot of water, and at night there may be no water in the drinking bowls. Onions are very useful for improving intestinal function, so you need to plant more onions different varieties on greens. In the village you can always find a place for this culture.
Feeding frequency
Turkey poults must be fed at the same time, strictly according to the clock.
- The first month - 7 times a day with a frequency of two hours.
- Second month - 5 times.
- The third month and beyond - 4 times.
Prepare fresh food daily. Throw away the sour ones immediately, otherwise you will ruin the young animals. Also wash and scald feeders and drinking bowls with boiling water every day.
Disease Prevention
The key to the health of turkeys is their proper maintenance. Everything depends on this. But if suddenly a turkey gets sick, then it must be immediately separated from other healthy birds. In the future, to receive quality treatment, it is better to contact a veterinarian.
Thus, if everything is done correctly, there is a good microclimate in the poultry house, excellent feed - clean, high-quality, not moldy, there are vitamins and enough sun, then the bird will be healthy.