Breeding turkeys is a profitable branch of agriculture. Turkeys are the largest poultry, males grow up to 20-30 kg, females weigh 8-15 kg. Growing this bird has its own subtleties.
Favorable conditions for young animals
The bird is beautiful, the males have an exotic look - their beak is decorated with a bright red outgrowth-earring, the turkeys look more modest, but good brood hens can easily replace a mini-incubator. They rush in the winter-spring period, chicks hatch on the 28th day.
Before you bring turkeys, you need to prepare a room for their maintenance. Chicks, especially incubator chicks, are very tender, they need to create favorable conditions for growth. At the initial stage, young animals are kept in boxes or small cages equipped with heaters, feeders, closed drinking bowls, lighting.
The cage should be dry, clean, the litter is changed 1-2 times a week. Turkey poults are demanding for heat - up to a month they need a temperature of 35-20 ° C, as they grow, the temperature decreases. From 10 days of age on warm days, you can go for a walk. From 20 days of age, youngsters are taught to perch; for this, perches are arranged at a height of 15-20 cm from the floor. In the future, the perch is raised to a height of 1 meter from the floor.
Food
The bird is not picky about food, babies are fed with boiled egg, steamed crushed cereals:
- buckwheat;
- oats;
- corn;
- wheat;
- barley.
Chopped greens are added to the mash: nettle, onion feathers, dandelion leaves. It is useful to give dairy products: cottage cheese, yogurt. The chicks' beaks are not strong, soft, so the feeders should be covered with a soft cloth.
Mineral supplements are required in the diet: eggshells, chalk, fish or meat and bone meal. Drinkers should always have clean water at room temperature. To prevent mortality, vitamin A is added to food, turkey poults are soldered with Triovit, 1 drop per head daily for a week.
Keeping an adult bird
The living conditions and diet of an adult bird depends on the breed. Light, low-weight breeds: males weigh 10-12 kg, females 5 kg. Breeds with an average weight: turkeys - 15 kg, turkeys - 7 kg. Heavy breeds: males reach a weight of 25-30 kg, females - 11-15 kg.
They are fed with high-calorie food with the addition of vitamins and mineral supplements. To obtain good weight gain, they give a balanced compound feed, mash of boiled or grated raw vegetables and grain mixtures.
They are susceptible to infectious and intestinal diseases, so keep feeders and drinkers clean. A dry microclimate is maintained in the poultry house, turkeys do not tolerate dampness well, a constant temperature of + 20 ° C is desirable. The difference in weight causes some difficulties in mating; in large breeds, artificial insemination is practiced.
The area of the room is calculated as 2 sq. m for 1 head.
