How to raise broiler turkey poults at home?

Broiler turkeys are a type of poultry and are cultivated by many farmers and agricultural enterprises. They are famous for their unpretentiousness, calm disposition, fertility and excellent taste characteristics of a dietary type of meat.

In this article, we will look at how to raise broiler turkeys at home, how to feed broiler chicks and how to avoid common diseases.

North America is considered to be the discoverer of most modern breeds of broiler turkeys.

general description

The body of broilers is massive, muscular, an impressive strong beak with a red appendage. Birds run fast, developed wings allow flying over three-meter fences. Develop a speed of up to 50 km / h.
Farmers consider broiler turkey breeds to be selective eaters, requiring specific housing conditions.

There are a number of nuances, recommendations that have a productive effect on the development of turkeys, maintaining the health of the whole brood. The energy expended pays off in a short time, thanks to the high growth rate of broilers.

Male turkeys

Conditions for keeping broiler turkeys

It is advisable to keep small broiler turkeys in a specially equipped poultry house.
Primary requirements:

• comfortable temperature regime;
• dry cage;
• unlimited free access to water;
• the presence of ventilated air.

The warm season is a great time to start growing broiler turkey poults at home, providing the opportunity to walk the young in the courtyard. The cages are wide: turkeys require large spaces.

Grown up matured individuals are released into the poultry yard to gorge on kilograms. Broiler turkeys are home-bred birds. Some breeds are actively grown by large agricultural enterprises.

External characteristics and distinctive qualities

Broiler turkeys are gigantic in size. The weight of adult males is 20–30 kg. Females grow much smaller in size: half the weight of males.

The main purpose of growing broiler turkeys is to obtain high quality meat. Egg production is an important indicator, however, not the main one. The beginning of laying, weight, number of eggs obtained depends solely on the breed of broiler turkeys.

Now let's talk about how to feed broiler turkeys at home. It is recommended to feed adults 4 times a day. Broilers always need open access to the feeder, otherwise there will be underweight. Compliance with the diet is preferable. Inconsistent selection of feeding hours leads to malnutrition. Attacks of hunger are accompanied by irritability, aggressive behavior of birds.

Turkey poults

Varieties of breeds

The key to successful breeding of healthy fattened turkeys is an individual approach to the selection of methods for keeping a particular breed. There are three main types of broiler turkeys.

1. Light breeds. Do not exceed 15 kg. Males weigh less than females - about 10 kg per carcass. Disease-resistant strong individuals, females have high egg production rates. These include the Norfolk, Bestwil, White Dutch breed.
2. Broilers are medium in size. Highly productive individuals, weighing 16 kg. This includes Moscow and North Caucasian turkeys.
3. The largest breeds. The most popular type of broiler. The weight of adult males reaches 30 kg. Females grow twice as small - 12 kg. The classification includes broad-chested Canadian whites, Canadian bronzes, big 6.

Many farmers are free to choose among the crossed breeds of local turkeys. They are more hardy. Hybrid broilers rarely exceed the 10 kg weight threshold.

The most highly productive and demanded among household plots are heavy breeds:

• Canadian wide-breasted broiler. The breed was bred through careful selection. Almost all types of feed are consumed. The diet should contain various baits, vitamin complexes. Weight gain is happening rapidly. A month and a half later, the chicks reach 5 kg. After another one and a half - ready for slaughter for meat. Oviposition of females begins at nine months, the number of laid eggs per year reaches 200 pieces.

  Canadian broad-breasted broiler turkeys are considered the largest among other early maturing breeds. The weight of an adult male can reach 30 kg as early as three months.

• White broad-breasted. Males reach 25 kg in weight, females - 11 kg. Have an average growth rate. At the age of five months, the chick weighs 7 kg. The breed is picky about food. Females have a high level of egg production - 100 eggs per year, 90% of them will give birth to new chicks.
• Big 6 - a relatively young breed of domestic heavy crosses, was bred in 2007 in the UK. It has an impressive ratio of total body weight to the amount of clean meat. Outwardly, it resembles a white broad-chested, the level of productivity is similar to that of a Canadian. At 3 months, it reaches slaughter age. The weight can be up to 30 kg.

Free-range broiler turkeys

How to feed turkeys and broiler turkeys at home

Feeding broiler turkey poults at home must be a special feed, for example, zero feed. It contains all the essential nutrients. After 14 days, a smooth transition to a mixture for growing chicks begins.

An increase in the quality of the taste characteristics of turkey meat can be achieved by including sunflower oil, acorns, lard in the daily diet of their wards. Thanks to these additives, the meat becomes very soft and tender.

After two weeks, crushed oats and wheat are gradually added to the usual feed. River sand, crushed shells, chalk will help improve the functioning of the intestines. Sometimes you can pamper chicks with a mash of yogurt, boiled potatoes and bran. It is necessary to grind everything thoroughly before serving the mixture to the turkeys - large pieces of food can clog the airways, and the bird will die.

From the age of three months, the diet of broiler turkeys should consist of the following grains:

• wheat (50%);
• barley (20%);
• corn (10%);
• oats (10%);
• compound feed (10%).

In winter, fresh vegetation can be replaced with branches of coniferous trees (spruce, fir, pine) and hay.

It is important for adults, along with small broilers, to consume a lot of different greens - onions, nettles, carrot tops, beetroot, cabbage leaves. Any vegetable crops will do.

Features of breeding and cultivation

Newly hatched turkey poults are kept in a pre-warmed room. It is important to observe the temperature regime for the first 2 weeks (22-25 degrees Celsius). The health of the chicks depends on maintaining a comfortable environment. Feeders should be installed, excluding the emergence of grouping among the chicks, otherwise weak individuals will be malnourished or they will simply be trampled.

Clean water is essential for proper broiler broiler care... Vacuum and nipple drinkers are suitable.

Nipple drinkers, due to their design and dosed water supply through the valve, do not clog, eliminate stagnant water, and several times facilitate the care of poultry of any age.

The house must be ventilated. The turkey poults are transferred to the street after 2 weeks. Now you know about breeding and keeping broiler turkeys at home.

Adult turkey with chicks on the farm

Poultry disease prevention

Broiler turkeys are birds susceptible to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Preventive measures:

• compulsory vaccination;
• antibiotics.

Pros and cons of growing

Growing turkeys has positive and negative aspects. You should consider them in more detail.

Pros:

• homemade turkey meat is environmentally friendly, contains a huge amount of useful vitamins and minerals, is famous for its low fat content, is dietary;
• eggs of broiler turkeys have a high nutritional value and high taste;
• breeding for the purpose of sale pays off quickly. Meat is considered rarer and more expensive;
• experienced breeders know: breeding and further sale of turkey products is practically waste-free. You can sell feathers, down, eggs, meat, chicks of any age.

Minuses:

• special conditions for keeping young animals, high risk of mortality;
• young individuals require keeping away from other poultry due to possible diseases, chicks are shy;
• are prone to obesity, for prevention, more greens should be given.

Keeping an adult bird in the pen

Farmers reviews

The Internet is replete with forums dedicated to the breeding of broiler turkeys. Statistics show: the business is very profitable, the cost of feed is paid off by the sale of two turkeys out of a dozen.

Our family has been raising turkeys for over two years. For the first time, they took ten turkey poults to try, whether it will work out - not one was sick. For two months they were fed with special turkey feed "Provimi", later with broiler compound feed PK-4. Having decided to start breeding, a number of doubts immediately arose.But we did it without regretting it! A year later, 35 chicks were taken at once, only one died a day later. Bottom line: the broilers have grown huge!

You will have to bother, it is worth all the effort. The main advantage of broilers is a lot of meat! After the turkeys, the chickens looked like pigeons. I really enjoyed breeding them. One bird weighed 15-17 kg. Enough to feed the family, and it is possible to sell immediately.

Some farmers have experimented with alternating feeds for other types of poultry, such as chicken mixes. Monthly broilers grew up healthy, reaching 25 kg in weight.

Business executives practicing broiler breeding are convinced: the advisory methods of keeping do not require strict adherence, the bird is hardy and unpretentious. A brood of large healthy birds can be obtained with some effort. Years of experience of acquaintance with the peculiarities, nuances of keeping broiler turkeys convinced the breeders - the business is really worth the effort.

Growing poultry on a personal plot is a fascinating activity that also brings significant budget savings and provides the family with environmentally friendly products. Along with the breeding of chickens, geese and ducks, growing of turkeys is becoming more and more popular. And among these birds, the championship belongs to broiler breeds and crosses. Broiler turkeys are kept at home quite often.

Broiler turkeys at home

What is a broiler

Any broiler bird is a breed or cross bred by selection, the purpose of breeding which is to obtain an increased amount of meat from the carcass.

Broiler turkeys are gradually replacing the previously popular traditional breeds on the market. one bird can produce up to 25 kg of meat.

Broiler carcass

In most cases, the meat orientation in turkey hatching will lead to a decrease in egg production. But the bird does not completely lose the ability to reproduce, so the reproduction of the herd is quite possible.

Advantages and disadvantages of breeding broiler turkeys

The decision to establish a herd of broiler turkey species is taken after carefully weighing all the pros and cons, after finding out the merits of the bird and the difficulties that may be encountered in the rearing process.

The clear advantages include the following aspects:

• a large yield of meat products of excellent taste from one carcass;
• dieteticity of meat - in terms of organoleptic properties, turkey meat surpasses the meat of any other poultry, as well as beef and pork, contains an increased amount of amino acids (protein sources), is well absorbed, raises the level of hemoglobin (helps to eliminate anemia) and is recommended for use by children, adults and the elderly;
• the opportunity to get a new product - a large turkey egg, highly appreciated by nutritionists and simply delicious.

Turkeys are beautiful birds

Typical obstacles in the path of the poultry farmer are:

• more significant costs for arranging a poultry yard - a large bird requires more premises than for chickens and ducks;
• a significant amount of feed (increased costs) and the need to carefully monitor its quality;
• relatively long growing period - up to six months;
• late puberty - usually by 9 months of age.

From the experience of breeders of turkey herds, it is clear that difficulties often arise only at the first stages of mastering a new business and are completely surmountable. The costs soon pay off, the care work becomes habitual and no longer perceived as a challenge.

Turkeys in the poultry house

Important! Before raising chicks, you need to familiarize yourself with the theoretical aspects of growing poultry, calculate the possibilities of money and labor costs, prepare the material base - get acquainted with the breeds and choose the right one, build and equip a turkey poultry.

Broiler turkey breeds

Varieties of meat breeds of turkeys on the market allow you to choose a breed or cross for any, even rather cramped conditions.

Turkeys are divided into 3 weight categories:

• lungs - slaughter weight of about 10 kg, gained by males in 16 - 20 weeks;
• medium-heavy - by the time of slaughter they gain up to 16 kg, cultivation lasts up to 22 - 24 weeks;
• heavy - rapidly gaining weight males go on sale and go to the table from 16 weeks (from 18 kg), to reach the same limit values ​​(26 kg), it is possible to grow up to 28 weeks, further maintenance undermines the health of the bird due to fragility of bones and becomes unprofitable.

Turkeys

Important! The breed is a stable group capable of transmitting its traits to offspring. Cross is the result of complex inter- and intraspecific crossing along lines, the result of hybridization in the first generation, the chicks of which do not inherit parental traits.

The most popular types of turkeys are:

1. Cross BIG 6 - the hardest turkeys, which are raised no longer than 4 months. It is preferable to choose a bird of this cross with white plumage, because in multi-colored turkeys, the skin after plucking is not smooth white, but mottled. Females of the cross are capable of egg production, egg fertilization is about 80%, different-colored, smaller chicks hatch.

   Heavy cross Big-6

2. Canadian broad-breasted. Slaughter begins at 1.5 months, when the turkey weighs 5 kg, by 3 months the weight doubles. Further weight gain is much slower, so the bird is rarely kept longer than 12-15 weeks. They are characterized by strengthening health, adaptability to low (but not negative) temperatures, high ability to fertilize eggs. Chicks are taken out more often by incubation, because not all females retained the hatching instinct. The color of a thoroughbred bird - typical of a wild turkey - is black with a bronze sheen.

   Canadian wide chested broilers

3. Broad-chested White is a hardy breed used for hybridization because well conveys to the offspring the most attractive traits for poultry breeders. There are all three types (light crosses, medium and heavy breeds). In slaughter weight, they give from 9 to 20 kg. Differs in unpretentiousness. The plumage is white with a black spot on the chest.

   White wide-breasted turkeys on the run

4. The Moscow bronze breed is the most suitable for growing in northern latitudes. A black bird with a bronze tint of plumage reaches 19 kg (males) by the time of technical maturity. It is in demand among frequent farmers due to its unpretentiousness and good yield of offspring.

   Moscow bronze breed

Foundations of success

For proper development, the bird must be provided with:

• a room with a sufficient area;
• territory for walking;
• rational nutrition.

But the first thing the owner of the poultry yard has to do is to create conditions for raising chicks.

It all starts with an egg

It all starts with an egg. In the presence of an incubator, this is the best option for obtaining the basis of the herd. But with the establishment of a small number of turkeys, they often acquire daily or grown (up to a month) chicks. The source material is obtained from large specialized enterprises or from frequent breeders.

The egg is marked on one side to avoid incubation errors

There are several factors to consider when planning your purchase:

• the seller's reputation in the market;
• the environment in which the parent couples are reared - it is important to ensure that the turkeys are grown in optimal conditions;
• location and remoteness from the future habitat of chicks - the transportation time must be reduced to a minimum.

Important! The choice of a manufacturer is one of the fundamental points and should be taken seriously. The best deals are from private traders who offer products on specialized forums, and not in paid advertising.

Chick: habitat and feeding

After hatching, the chicks are placed under a lamp and kept there until the feathers dry and the bird is raised to its feet.Then they are transferred to a confined space (most often a cardboard box), where the temperature is maintained at 25 ° C, with a sufficient area (about 15 cm² per head) and provide 14-hour lighting per day.

Hatching turkey poults

In these conditions, the chicks spend the entire first week.

Important! At this time, it is necessary to maintain cleanliness in the habitat: cleaning is carried out at least 1 time a day, moving the animals to another container.

From the second week, in the warm season, it is very useful to take turkey poults outside. It is advisable to enclose the place for walking on the grass, and not just expose the box to fresh air. The time spent in the sun is increased gradually.

First week of life

Feeding turkey poults begins no later than 20 hours from birth. Crowding and prolonged anxiety caused by hunger should be avoided.

Feeding in the first week is the main concern of the poultry farmer. It is carried out 9 times a day. From the 2nd week, the procedure will be repeated 5 - 6 times, and from the 3rd week - 3 - 4. From the 4th week, the chicks are transferred to the feeding regime of an adult bird.

Feeding turkey poults from the hopper feeder

It is very convenient for chicks to use specialized feed for the first weeks of life and give it in accordance with the recommended rates. In the absence of an opportunity to purchase industrially produced feed, the chicks are provided with self-prepared mixtures. The diet of the smallest chicks per day (in grams) is shown in the table - the figures are shown in the maximum rates achieved by a gradual increase by the end of the period.

Cool egg	0,7 – 0,8	8 – 9,3	—
Powdered milk	—	2 — 2,3	2,4 – 2, 5
Corn	5	9	38
Millet	4	8	25
Vegetable meal	3	7	22
Fish flour	—	2	4
Meat and bone meal	—	—	3
a piece of chalk	—	0,7	2
Vitamins	0,1	0,3	1
Fresh greens	5 (herbal juice)	7	15

In organizing the feeding of chicks, it is important to gradually introduce new products with a gradual increase in quantity literally every day.

The grain is given crushed: the first week the grain size is 1.5 - 2 mm, until the end of the 3rd week - 3 mm, then gradually transferred to whole grain (from 5 mm).

Crushed grain

Dry and wet food is given separately - in different feeders. In this case, wet food should be of such a consistency that it does not stick to your hands. You can moisten the feed not only with plant juice, but also with fermented milk products (yogurt) or skim milk (whey). This increases the intake of protein in the body of the bird, which contributes to the development of meat mass.

Important! Clean drinking water should always be available for chicks and adult turkeys.

Keeping an adult bird

By the end of the first month of life, the young are transferred to a turkey poultry. In modern poultry farming, two types of content are considered acceptable for growing chicks:

• cellular;
• free.

The best paddock is the lawn

When it comes to smaller birds, broilers are often raised in cages, where they spend their entire short life. This type of content is convenient and economical. But for growing turkeys, keeping in a specially equipped room with a walking area is more suitable. This is due to longer periods of growth and optimal weight gain.

Arrangement of premises

A well-organized poultry house must meet several requirements that are important for the proper development of the bird. The fundamental ones include:

• structural strength and prevention of the penetration of animals into the turkey house, in particular, rodents and snakes;
• sufficient area - large broiler turkeys are placed one per 1 m², cramped living conditions can provoke conflicts, trauma, damage to equipment, diseases, cases of bird falling out;
• dividing the space of the turkey poultry into zones - this technique prevents the disorientation of the bird, eliminates clashes between males, preserves the livestock;
• the temperature inside the room is at the level of 20 ° C year-round - unlike chickens and ducks, turkeys are thermophilic birds, a sharp change in the thermal regime towards a decrease weakens the immune system, inhibits the development of turkeys;
• sufficient lighting (up to 14 hours a day) in any season - if there is a lack of natural light penetrating through the window openings, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of supplementary lighting with the help of electricity;
• the presence of a walking yard adjacent to the turkey poultry - from early spring to late autumn (and for accustomed birds and in winter), walks of different durations are recommended for the harmonious development of young and adult birds.

The turkey house is built from a durable, heat-retaining material.

Some points require more detailed consideration.

Turkey poultry zoning

The main areas recommended for settling in a turkey house are:

1. Poultry feeding area. Containers for dry, bulk and wet feed are placed here. The dimensions of the bunkers are set based on the calculation of 25 cm per head. Drinking bowls are located in several places or in a line, provide a constant supply of clean water - it is convenient to use nipple containers. The "dining room" is located in the brightest part of the turkey house, not far from the window and the front door. A hygroscopic mat is arranged on the floor, which is often changed or a top layer is added to avoid the development of pathogens.

   Bird in turkey house

2. Perches. The bars for night sleep and rest of the birds will be made of massive bars, rather logs than sticks, with rounded ends. They are usually located as an amphitheater, starting from a height of 70 - 80 cm from the floor. The density of broilers on the perch is 45 cm per head. The recreation area is arranged in the most shaded place of the room, it is not equipped with electric lighting. A deep bedding is arranged under the perches, but it is also good to install a remote tray - waste products begin to release ammonia over time, a sleeping bird can be poisoned by fumes from the bedding.

   Perches

3. Promenade. There is a walk between the feeding area and the “bedroom”. In bad weather, the active period of the bird's day takes place here. Here you can arrange heaps of shell rock and chalk around the perimeter, ash baths.

   Birds love to take medicated ash baths

4. Nests. If you plan to hatch chicks from your own eggs, it is necessary to raise several females up to 8 - 9 months of age and ensure their meetings with turkeys that have reached 7 months. Over time, families are formed, and sooner or later fertilization will occur. Nests are installed in a quiet no-pass corner at the rate of 1 place for 4 - 5 turkeys. The sizes that are optimal for large turkeys are 60 * 60 cm, the configuration is a house with a pitched roof and a hole for the size of the bird (just above the lower level of the nest). The nest is lined with shavings of soft trees, sawdust, smooth straw.

   Turkey in the nest

5. Section for broilers of different ages. With regular replenishment of the herd and preservation of mature birds, it is recommended to place young animals for the first time in separate compartments. Gradual addiction to the place and its inhabitants occurs during feeding and walking, over time, the separation is canceled. The sectional division of the room can also be useful when the turkeys are aggressive towards other males: then families are separated, and they are fed separately.

Important! It is better to arrange an isolator for a sick bird outside the turkey house. This will prevent the spread of the disease.

In the case of cage keeping, a cage with a mesh floor is prepared for each species, equipped with a pull-out tray, a feeder and a drinker, and placed on shelves indoors. The minimum cage size is 60 * 60 cm.

Broiler in a cage

Walking area

When keeping broiler turkeys outside the cage, it is very useful to include outdoor walks in the daily routine. The territory adjacent to the turkey poultry should be appropriately equipped:

• the fence is made high - turkeys are able to fly over three-meter fences;
• the place for walking is spacious (the more, the better), becausein open space, the bird is capable of active movements, directed running (most often in circles);
• a canopy is installed over the territory - protection from precipitation and the scorching sun, and if the fence is not too high, then to prevent "escapes";
• it is useful to sow the soil with perennial or annual forage grasses - with their help you can enrich the diet with fresh herbs and proteins - the living creatures inhabiting the earth are well absorbed and serve as a source of protein;
• if you stay outside for a long time in the warm season, you can arrange feeders here and in any case, drinkers are needed.

The presence of an aviary next to the turkey house is a mandatory requirement

Feeding broiler turkeys

An adult bird is fed 3-4 times a day. The diet includes high-quality mixtures with a high protein content, sufficient carbohydrates and slightly reduced - foods containing fluoride and calcium. In these conditions, walks are of great importance, because an active, heavy bird experiences increased stress on bones and joints. And in the fresh air, even in dim sunlight, the body produces vitamin D, which contributes to the complete absorption of calcium. Therefore, bones remain strong and healthy, but without excess bone mass, as when artificially increasing the level of calcium in feed.

Walking turkeys

For birds kept in cages, the amount of calcium is not so important - they do not make active movements. The supply of nutrients is provided by specialized feed or self-formulated mixtures.

Granulated feed

The approximate content of products in grams per head per day for meat poultry (females - males) is given in the table.

Millet	26,5 – 28,5	55 – 63	84 – 97	90 – 145
Corn	28 – 40	60 – 95	100 – 170	130 – 220
Peas	—	9 – 11	12 – 16	30 – 36
Bran	—	10 – 14	12 – 14	12 – 16
Vegetable meals	23 – 40	33 – 46	20 – 50	17 – 30
Cake	5 – 8	11 – 16	17 – 25	20 – 30
Yeast	9 – 12	13 – 18	19 – 20	20 – 24
Fish flour	6 – 11	7 – 11	7 – 9	—
Meat and bone meal	4 – 9	4 – 15	10 – 25	15 – 30
a piece of chalk	2 – 3	6 – 9	10 – 13	12 – 18
Fat	1 – 2	5 – 10	10 – 20	5 – 30
Salt	0,1	1 – 1,5	1,5 – 2	2 – 3
Vitamins	1 – 1,5	2 – 3	3,5 – 5	4 – 6

Some aspects of growing

Recently, the separate cultivation of turkeys and turkeys intended for slaughter has been promoted. In this case, a more rational consumption of feed occurs, and the weight gain increases by a quarter to a third. Dissociation is carried out at 8 weeks of age, before disembarking in a turkey poultry.

The difference in weight between a male and a female becomes apparent from the third week of their life.

Females are fattened no longer than 20 weeks, because after this period, the growth rate slows down. Males grow up to 26 weeks, i.e. a month and a half longer. Females intended for the tribe are selected in the process of rearing and kept up to 9 months of age, and then mated with a male.

When selecting a bird for a tribe, it is necessary to use a bird with the characteristic features of the breed and exclude related mating.

Turkeys are significantly smaller than turkeys

Important! The offspring of a thoroughbred bird repeats the parental characteristics and successfully reproduces the bird flock. The offspring of crosses is rarely successful - complex selection when creating a cross gives a side effect - splitting of parental traits occurs. Therefore, crosses' eggs are more often used as a food product, and not to restore the number of poultry yards.

Thus, raising turkeys of one or more breeds can become the basis for the financial well-being of both an individual family and a farm. You just need to competently approach the development of the concept and take into account the smallest aspects of the case.

Growing, breeding and keeping broiler turkeys at home

Broiler turkeys are a type of poultry and are practiced by many farmers and agricultural enterprises. They are famous for their unpretentiousness, calm disposition, fertility and excellent taste characteristics of a dietary type of meat.

In this article, we will look at how to raise broiler turkeys at home, how to feed broiler chicks and how to avoid common diseases.

North America is considered to be the discoverer of most modern breeds of broiler turkeys.

The body of broilers is massive, muscular, an impressive strong beak with a red appendage.

Birds run fast, developed wings allow flying over three-meter fences. Develop a speed of up to 50 km / h.

Farmers consider broiler turkey breeds to be selective eaters, requiring specific housing conditions.

There are a number of nuances, recommendations that have a productive effect on the development of turkeys, maintaining the health of the whole brood. The expended effort pays off in a short time, thanks to the high growth rate of broilers.

Male turkeys

It is advisable to keep small broiler turkeys in a specially equipped poultry house.
Primary requirements:

• comfortable temperature regime;
• dry cage;
• unlimited free access to water;
• the presence of ventilated air.

The warm season is a great time to start growing broiler turkey poults at home, providing the opportunity to walk the young in the courtyard. The cages are wide: turkeys require large spaces.

Grown up matured individuals are released into the poultry yard to gorge on kilograms. Broiler turkeys are home-bred birds. Some breeds are actively grown by large agricultural enterprises.

Broiler turkeys are gigantic in size. The weight of adult males is 20–30 kg. Females grow much smaller in size: half the weight of males.

The main purpose of growing broiler turkeys is to obtain high quality meat. Egg production is an important indicator, however, not the main one. The beginning of laying, weight, number of eggs obtained depends solely on the breed of broiler turkeys.

Now let's talk about how to feed broiler turkeys at home. It is recommended to feed adults 4 times a day.

Broilers always need open access to the feeder, otherwise there will be underweight. Compliance with the diet is preferable. Inconsistent selection of feeding hours leads to malnutrition.

Attacks of hunger are accompanied by irritability, aggressive behavior of birds.

Turkey poults

The key to successful breeding of healthy fattened turkeys is an individual approach to the selection of methods for keeping a particular breed. There are three main types of broiler turkeys.

1. Light breeds. Do not exceed 15 kg. Males weigh less than females - about 10 kg per carcass. Disease-resistant strong individuals, females have high egg production rates. These include the Norfolk, Bestville, White Dutch breed.
2. Broilers are medium in size. Highly productive individuals, weighing 16 kg. This includes Moscow and North Caucasian turkeys.
3. The largest breeds. The most popular type of broiler. The weight of adult males reaches 30 kg. Females grow twice as small - 12 kg. The classification includes broad-chested Canadian whites, Canadian bronzes, big 6.

Many farmers are free to choose among the crossed breeds of local turkeys. They are more hardy. Hybrid broilers rarely exceed the 10 kg weight threshold.

The most highly productive and demanded among household plots are heavy breeds:

• Canadian wide-breasted broiler. The breed was bred through careful selection. Almost all types of feed are consumed. The diet should contain various baits, vitamin complexes. Weight gain is happening rapidly. A month and a half later, the chicks reach 5 kg. After another one and a half - ready for slaughter for meat. Oviposition of females begins at nine months, the number of eggs laid per year reaches 200. Canadian broad-breasted broiler turkeys are considered the largest among other representatives of early maturing breeds. The weight of an adult male can reach 30 kg as early as three months.
• White broad-breasted. Males reach 25 kg in weight, females - 11 kg. Have an average growth rate. At the age of five months, the chick weighs 7 kg. The breed is picky about food.Females have a high level of egg production - 100 eggs per year, 90% of them will give birth to new chicks.
• Big 6 - a relatively young breed of domestic heavy crosses, was bred in 2007 in the UK. It has an impressive ratio of total body weight to the amount of clean meat. Outwardly, it resembles a white broad-chested, the level of productivity is similar to that of a Canadian. At 3 months, it reaches slaughter age. The weight can be up to 30 kg.

Free-range broiler turkeys

Feeding broiler turkey poults at home must be a special feed, for example, zero feed. It contains all the essential nutrients. After 14 days, a smooth transition to mixtures for growing chicks begins.

An increase in the quality of the taste characteristics of turkey meat can be achieved by including sunflower oil, acorns, lard in the daily diet of their wards. Thanks to these additives, the meat becomes very soft and tender.

After two weeks, crushed oats and wheat are gradually added to the usual feed. River sand, crushed shells, chalk will help improve the functioning of the intestines.

Sometimes you can pamper chicks with a mash of yogurt, boiled potatoes and bran.

It is necessary to grind everything thoroughly before serving the mixture to the turkeys - large pieces of food can clog the airways, and the bird will die.

From the age of three months, the diet of broiler turkeys should consist of the following grains:

• wheat (50%);
• barley (20%);
• corn (10%);
• oats (10%);
• compound feed (10%).

In winter, fresh vegetation can be replaced with branches of coniferous trees (spruce, fir, pine) and hay.

It is important for adults, along with small broilers, to consume a lot of different greens - onions, nettles, carrot tops, beets, cabbage leaves. Any vegetable crops will do.

Newly hatched turkey poults are kept in a pre-warmed room. It is important to observe the temperature regime for the first 2 weeks (22-25 degrees Celsius).

The health of the chicks depends on maintaining a comfortable environment.

Feeders should be installed, excluding the occurrence of grouping among the chicks, otherwise weak individuals will be malnourished or they will simply be trampled.

Clean water is essential for proper broiler broiler care... Vacuum and nipple drinkers are suitable.

Nipple drinkers, due to their design and dosed water supply through the valve, do not clog, eliminate stagnant water, and several times facilitate the care of poultry of any age.

The house must be ventilated. The turkey poults are transferred to the street after 2 weeks. Now you know about breeding and keeping broiler turkeys at home.

Adult turkey with chicks on the farm

Poultry disease prevention

Broiler turkeys are birds susceptible to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Preventive measures:

• compulsory vaccination;
• antibiotics.

Pros and cons of growing

Growing turkeys has positive and negative aspects. You should consider them in more detail.

Pros:

• homemade turkey meat is environmentally friendly, contains a huge amount of useful vitamins and minerals, is famous for its low fat content, is dietary;
• eggs of broiler turkeys have a high nutritional value and high taste;
• breeding for the purpose of sale pays off quickly. Meat is considered rarer and more expensive;
• experienced breeders know: breeding and further sale of turkey products is practically waste-free. You can sell feathers, down, eggs, meat, chicks of any age.

Minuses:

• special conditions for keeping young animals, high risk of mortality;
• young individuals require keeping away from other poultry due to possible diseases, chicks are shy;
• are prone to obesity, for prevention, more greens should be given.

an adult bird in the pen

Farmers reviews

The Internet is replete with forums dedicated to the breeding of broiler turkeys. Statistics show: the business is very profitable, the cost of feed is paid off by the sale of two turkeys out of a dozen.

Our family has been raising turkeys for over two years. For the first time, we took ten turkey poults to try, whether it will work out - not a single one was sick.

For two months they were fed with special turkey feed "Provimi", later with broiler compound feed PK-4. Having decided to start breeding, a number of doubts immediately arose.

But we did it without regretting it! A year later, 35 chicks were taken at once, only one died a day later. Bottom line: the broilers have grown huge!

You will have to bother, it is worth all the effort. The main advantage of broilers is a lot of meat! After the turkeys, the chickens looked like pigeons. I really enjoyed breeding them. One bird weighed 15-17 kg. Enough to feed the family, and it is possible to sell immediately.

Some farmers have experimented with alternating feeds for other types of poultry, such as chicken mixes. Monthly broilers grew up healthy, reaching 25 kg in weight.

Business executives practicing broiler breeding are convinced: the advisory methods of keeping do not require strict adherence, the bird is hardy and unpretentious.

A brood of large healthy birds can be obtained with some effort.

Years of experience of acquaintance with the peculiarities, nuances of keeping broiler turkeys convinced the breeders - the business is really worth the effort.

Broiler turkey: growing at home

Turkeys are essentially a type of poultry. Breeding this living creature in a suburban area or on a farm, of course, is quite profitable.

In some cases, a broiler turkey can weigh up to 25 kg. Raising such a bird is relatively easy.

However, an entrepreneur who decides to organize a farm of such specialization, of course, must know and exactly follow all the required technologies for keeping turkeys.

Where to begin?

A successful turkey breeding farm will, of course, only if the farmer initially manages to acquire good healthy young growth. Of course, you can also breed chicks yourself - in an incubator.

However, experts still advise beginners when organizing a farm to purchase not eggs from a poultry farm, but young animals. At the same time, it is better to buy not daily turkey poults, but grown-up ones - two-week or monthly. Such chicks are already warm enough and are immune to many diseases.

And, therefore, the lunge in the herd will not be too large.

The best breeds of broiler turkeys

When purchasing chicks, you should pay attention not only to their age. A successful farm will be organized only if the correct breed of turkeys is selected.

The selection of this bird in our country and abroad is quite active. There are a lot of broiler turkey breeds.

At the same time, the most popular among farmers today are:

• BIG-6.
• Station wagon.
• Khidon.
• White broad-chested.

White broiler turkeys BIG can reach a weight of 22-25 kg. At the same time, they gain muscle mass rather quickly. Such a bird reaches its slaughter weight already at the age of 90 days. The plumage of the BIG is pure white. There is a small black spot only on the chest.

The station wagon was bred by the breeders of our country. Therefore, this bird is very well adapted to the climatic conditions of Russia. By the time of slaughter, such hybrids can reach a weight of 18 kg.

Headon crosses were developed in the Netherlands. The weight of a broiler turkey of this breed can be up to 20 kg. Such a hybrid is gaining body mass quickly. But he also has one significant drawback. The young, unfortunately, usually have a very big lunge.

White broad-breasted turkey reaches a weight of 20-25 kg. The advantages of this breed include, first of all, the high taste of meat.The disadvantage of this cross is considered whimsical content and a tendency to disease.

Building a poultry house

How should broiler turkeys be kept on a farm? Growing this bird at home is, of course, only in the most suitable and convenient room for it. The shed in any case must exactly meet all the necessary requirements. In a turkey house, it is mandatory to provide:

• good lighting;
• ventilation;
• heating.

Naturally, among other things, the house should be properly equipped. It should be equipped with perches, nests, feeders and drinkers. The floor in the turkey house is recommended to be made of solid planks. It should be raised about 20-25 centimeters above ground level.

A thick straw mat should be placed on top of the floor. Feeders for turkeys should be fixed on the wall at the level of the bird's back. This will prevent scattering and trampling of feed, and therefore save the farmer from unnecessary costs.

Drinking bowls in the barn are usually located at the neck level of the turkeys.

The windows in the poultry house are placed in such a way that during the day the floors in it are illuminated throughout the area. Ventilation in the turkey house is supplemented with a valve.

This avoids hypothermia of the bird during the winter period.

Broiler turkey, in comparison with the usual one, in the opinion of most farmers, is a rather tender animal and does not differ in very good health.

Rules for feeding turkeys

The diet of broiler poultry, of course, should be as balanced and nutritious as possible. Only in this case will the turkeys gain weight quickly. 70% of the diet of poultry should be feed containing a large amount of protein.

This can be, for example, cereals or legumes. In particular, turkeys are often given oats and buckwheat. It is mandatory to feed this bird and cake.

It is believed that sprouted wheat is also very useful for such agricultural animals.

The mineral and vitamin balance in the body of poultry such as broiler turkey is usually maintained by farmers with the help of meat and bone meal and fish oil.

Of course, green fodder should also be fed to the livestock. In summer, the bird is given chopped grass, carrot and radish tops, lettuce and cabbage leaves.

In winter, turkeys should receive silage and spruce needles.

Feeding time

The most nutritious food is usually given to broilers at night. In this case, the bird will gain weight faster. The turkey mash is most often done only during the day. Of course, you should always feed the bird at the same time.

What rules must be followed when keeping turkeys without fail

In order for the bird to feel as comfortable as possible in the barn and not get sick, the owner of the backyard should take care of the following conditions:

• shed nests should be placed in dark places;
• perches are installed at a height of approximately 70 cm from the floor;
• pots with ash should be installed in the poultry house;
• drinkers and feeders should be cleaned regularly;
• broilers should be kept separate from any other poultry.

It is advisable to walk in front of the turkey barn. But letting a bird out on the street for the whole day, of course, is not worth it. Otherwise, the turkeys will not gain the prescribed weight.

Reproduction

Many farmers are also interested in ways to increase the number of poultry such as broiler turkeys on the farm. Breeding this animal is relatively difficult.

As with chickens, the offspring of turkey crosses, unfortunately, do not adopt the high productive qualities of their parents.

You can get good young growth from eggs laid by a bird only if it is not a hybrid, but belongs to some good meat breed.

In principle, it is quite possible to get cross-broiler chicks in an incubator on your own. But in this case, the eggs will have to be bought at the poultry farm. They cost, of course, cheaper than turkey poults.But it is quite difficult to bring chicks out of them without loss without proper experience.

Turkey eggs should be incubated in strict compliance with the prescribed temperature and humidity conditions. The offspring of this bird appears about 26-29 days after laying in the apparatus.

Actually, the incubation of turkey eggs itself is divided into four main periods. From the first to the eighth day, the temperature inside the device should be 37.5-38 degrees, and the humidity should be 60-65%.

Turn the eggs at this time at least six times a day.

The temperature and humidity parameters for the other three periods can be found in the table below.

Period	Temperature, degrees Celsius	Humidity	Coup
9-14 days	37.7-38	45-50%	4-6 times
15-25	37.5	65%	4-6 times
Hatching	37	65-70%	—

Starting from the 15th day, eggs should be cooled for 10-15 minutes every day. Do not perform this procedure only during the hatching period.

Broiler turkeys: raising young

After chicks hatch, they should be placed in boxes or a special brooder and provided with 24/7 lighting.

This will keep the potential lunge to a minimum. One day after hatching, the lamp in the box or brooder can be turned off for half an hour.

Then the lighting time is reduced by another 30 minutes every day.

The litter of turkey poults should be changed as it becomes dirty. Chicks should have food and drink in a box or brooder at all times.

At first, young animals should be fed with a special mixture "Start". You can also offer the chicks chopped egg and cottage cheese.

For the first three days, turkey poults are watered not with raw water, but with green tea.

Possible diseases

Broiler turkeys, the photos of which are presented in the article, as already mentioned, do not differ in particularly good health, unfortunately. This bird can get sick quite easily. That is why it is so important to exactly follow all the necessary rules for its content.

Most often, broiler turkeys get sick:

• Tuberculosis. In this case, the bird behaves sluggishly and apathetically. Nodules appear on the skin of turkeys. The feces become liquid.
• Smallpox. This dangerous disease is characterized primarily by the ruffled feathers of the bird and lowered wings. Later, characteristic smallpox spots appear on the skin of turkeys.
• Mycoplasmosis. A broiler turkey that has caught this infection loses its sight. At the same time, the bird develops discharge from the nose and eyes.

Treating broiler turkey diseases is very difficult. Moreover, any infection can lead not only to a decrease in productivity, but also to the death of birds and the loss of livestock.

That is why the owner of the farm should make sure that the turkeys do not get overcooled, eat poor-quality feed and do not drink dirty water as closely as possible.

If all the technologies for keeping this bird are observed, the risk of any diseases in the herd can be almost completely reduced to zero.

Growing broiler turkeys at home

Experienced farmers know that not only chickens, but also turkeys can be broilers.

And if you breed this large bird in a household, you can quickly get rich and gain experience.

But to achieve optimal results, it is necessary to draw up a step-by-step plan for growing and caring for broiler turkeys at home.

Quite large birds with relatively scanty, but rather beautiful plumage are turkeys.

Breeds with a high percentage of meat are classified as broilers. Most of these species were bred in North America.

Most likely, this is partly why turkeys are considered heat-loving creatures.

Why do farmers have broiler turkeys? This is really beneficial from an economic point of view. The fact is that a negligible amount of time is spent on caring for and raising turkey poults, even in comparison with chickens.

Within a short period of time, the poultry farmer can start earning income from the sale of meat and eggs from his birds.But even despite such a benefit, not many farmers are engaged in breeding broiler turkeys in our country.

Broiler variety

In total, you can count a little more than ten breeds of broiler turkeys, which are bred solely for the purpose of selling meat. On the territory of Russia, only a few of them are most often found, which are most popular.

Before listing them, it is worth noting that all birds can be conditionally divided into three categories:

1. Lungs. The weight is no more than nine kilograms, and such birds are kept up to 15 weeks maximum.
2. Average. Weight 12-18 kilograms, and go to the slaughter at the age of 14-16 weeks.
3. Heavy. Weight 20-25 kg (sometimes it reaches 30 kg), cut for meat at the age of 20-24 weeks.

Now let's talk about the breeds of turkeys that can be bred at home.

White broad-breasted turkey is distinguished by high productivity, the weight of which reaches five kilograms after the fifth week of life.

With proper feeding and care, the bird takes on a presentation in three months. Females of this species begin to lay eggs at the age of nine months.

Broilers BIG-6, which come from the States, differ in a similar type and characteristics. The weight of these birds can reach 30 kg at three or four months of age. Broiler turkeys BIG-9 and BYuT-8 are medium in weight, but also have high productivity.

You can also distinguish the breed Universal, Moscow White, Moscow Bronze, the weight of which can range from 7 to 16 kg with proper feeding and care. They all provide excellent, low-cholesterol dietary meats. All doctors in the world recommend the introduction of turkey into the diet of small children.

In this video, you can watch broiler turkeys living at home.

broiler turkeys

This bird is considered quite capricious in keeping and caring, but this is partly true. The place where the turkeys live must be very clean and dry, otherwise the birds may die from hypothermia or infections.

The floor in the room should be covered with a thick layer of straw or hay. It is vital for small turkeys to stay in a room with a temperature of at least 26 degrees. For adults, 20 degrees will be enough, but not less.

A lot of video instructions have been filmed on how to keep and feed turkeys.

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In the summer, it is better to let the birds go outside, and in the winter they can be kept in a barn or cages. When growing broiler turkeys, it is worth considering that this bird belongs to the category of large ones. Therefore, it is necessary to have free space for the normal maintenance of birds.

Where to post?

Raising chicks can be done in a regular chicken coop, but at the same time, the turkeys need to create special conditions and feed them correctly.

So, in the first ten days of life, chicks should not be allowed on the floor, but it is better to keep them in a box or box with an open top. In the second week, you can start letting them out for a walk.

From three weeks of age, turkey poults are transferred to outdoor keeping.

How to feed?

If you formulate the right diet for turkeys, they will quickly build their muscle mass and bring a lot of profit to the poultry farmer.

When feeding turkey poults and grown-up individuals, the following rules should be taken into account:

1. Small chicks should be fed within the first 20 hours after hatching.
2. The number of feedings for babies should be at least nine.
3. On the first day, the chicks are given chopped eggs and grain, then carrots and greens are introduced, and only then dairy products, meat and bone meal.
4. Young birds should not be given a lot of greens, which can quickly clog the intestines.
5. Wet mash should be crumbly, but never sticky. They are made from grain, cake, wheat bran, vegetables, meat and bone meal or fish meal.
6. It is better for grown chicks to give grain in the evening, and wet mash during the day.
7. Clean water should always be present when raising turkeys at home.

Possible mistakes when keeping poultry

First of all, the mistakes of novice poultry breeders relate specifically to the nutrition of birds. You can not feed turkeys with too fatty foods, introduce new foods quickly and thoughtlessly.

It is also important to separate wet and dry foods, serve them in separate bowls, and keep the ingredients fresh.

Do not leave home-raised poultry without mineral supplements.

It is vital to ensure that food and water are not spilled as the chicks can become overcooled and die.

When raising these birds, it is worth remembering that proper feeding, cleanliness and care will be the key to success and high profits from the sale of juicy and so healthy turkey meat.

"Turkeys, turkeys and their eggs"

In this video, a poultry farmer demonstrates his home-raised birds.

Breeding broiler turkeys at home

The turkey is a large poultry. Broiler turkeys have become very popular today.

The meat of this bird has excellent taste and dietary qualities. Growing broiler turkeys at home is a profitable business.

The bird is unpretentious and reproduces well. Her eggs are far superior to chicken eggs.

Broiler turkey breed white broad-breasted

Turkey meat breeds

The most popular among breeders are imported breeds. they gave rise to the breeding of meat breeds of poultry of large weight categories. These are mainly broad-breasted turkey breeds.

To obtain broilers, groups of birds are selected from the best breeds, in which the necessary qualities are most pronounced. By crossing them, poultry farmers get new types of offspring, groups that are divided into:

• lungs - up to 9 kg;
• medium - up to 18 kg;
• heavy - up to 25 kg.

For breeding poultry at home, the following breeds are recommended:

• Canadian broad-breasted;
• wide-breasted white;
• big - 6;
• big - 9;
• Moscow bronze.

These species are capable of gaining weight up to 20 kg. Therefore, they are cost effective.

The higher the weight of the turkey, the more profitable the breeding business.

Canadian broad-breasted breed

Broad-breasted broilers are a productive breed. Before breeding this species, it was necessary to conduct a thorough selection.

The bird gains weight quickly. Growing it is possible on any feed, but in order to get the most delicious meat, it is better to feed it with high-calorie feed. Additionally, add vitamins and minerals to the feed.

After six weeks, wide-breasted turkeys reach a weight of 5 kg. Birds should be given room temperature water at all times. The cleanliness of the drinking bowls must be constantly monitored. You can slaughter birds for meat after 90 days.

At 9 months of age, Canadian broad-breasted turkeys lay their eggs.

The Canadian broad-breasted turkey is unpretentious in nutrition and quickly gains weight

White broad-breasted

For the first time, white broad-breasted turkeys were bred in North America in the twentieth century. The bird's body is covered with bright white feathers, and on the chest there is a pronounced bow of black feathers. The large body has an oval shape.

White breeds are popular as they weigh up to 25 kg. True, whites grow slower than Canadians, but they are unpretentious to growing in cages.

Turkeys start laying at 9 months. White broad-breasted are distinguished by excellent meat and high egg production. Masonry lasts several months. During this time, white breeds lay about a hundred eggs, and almost 90% of them are fertilized.

White species are quite demanding on food. They need high-quality feed and useful supplements.

Breeds Big - 6 and Big - 9

These breeds represent the heaviest crosses. Therefore, Big - 6 and Big - 9 are very popular. Carcass weight reaches 30 kg. And out of 100%, a little more than 80 is meat.No other animal kept at home can show similar indicators.

Turkey Big-6 can reach a weight of 30 kg

The breeds of turkeys Big - 6, Big - 9, as well as BYuT-8 were bred by an English company, which today is a trademark.

To breed them, “light” females and heavyweight males were crossed. Outwardly, turkeys are similar to white broad-breasted ones, their main difference is meat productivity.

The poultry is sent for slaughter after 3-4 months.

In 26 weeks, the Big breed is capable of laying 118 eggs, the hatchability of which is just over 80%.

Moscow bronze

The breed was obtained by crossing local bronze with bronze broad-breasted in the middle of the twentieth century. Productivity for laying eggs is about 90 pieces, and their fertility is above 90%. The weight of females reaches 7 kg, males - up to 12.

Growing this breed at home is able to provide the population with both eggs and excellent dietary meat.

Moscow bronze turkey can gain weight up to 12 kg

Poultry keeping conditions

The turkey does not need to equip a separate room. If you have a chicken shed, you can use it if:

• there is a lot of space in the room, not crowded, since turkeys are larger than chickens;
• hay is used as bedding;
• dry;
• there is good lighting;
• there is ventilation;
• the optimum indoor temperature prevails;
• there are no drafts.

Equip a place for walking in good weather. The bird requires cleanliness. Therefore, constant cleaning is mandatory.

In addition, cleanliness will prevent infections from occurring. Small turkeys grow up and gain weight quickly.

In six months, the bird reaches 10-12 kg, but this happens subject to the conditions of feeding and keeping.

In no case should sawdust or shavings be used as bedding for keeping poultry.

Turkeys need a place to walk in the fresh air

Care and nutrition of broiler turkeys

In the first days after birth, the chicks begin to grow rapidly. Farmers who plan to breed birds need to know about this. At this time, grain, cottage cheese and milk powder, as well as meat and bone and fish meal are added to the nutritious feed.

After 2 weeks, the poults are given dry food. To do this, use sunflower cake, peas and grain, add chalk.

The first feed after birth should take place within 20 hours.

Newborn turkey poults are endowed with a weak sense of smell and vision, therefore, if they are not fed on time, they will begin to peck whatever they come across.

On the first day after birth, the chicks are given carrot or nettle juice. Protein is required for growth. In addition to food, they provide greens, cabbage leaves, beets, carrots along with tops, as well as clover and nettles.

Corn flour and wheat flour are useful treats for pets.

After two hours, the bird should be fed with moist mash with added yeast and sifted oatmeal and barley flour.

The mash is moistened not only with water, but also with yogurt, as birds love dairy products. Additionally, fish and meat waste are added to the food of turkeys.

One and a half year old birds can be fed whole grains. Within 2 weeks, the norm of grain in food should be 50%.

Adult turkeys can eat whole grains

Errors in fattening

The main mistakes farmers make when feeding turkeys:

• they are fed like chickens;
• give fatty feed, due to which the chicks become obese, the condition of the bird worsens.

Therefore, turkeys need a balanced diet so that they gain weight correctly.

Broiler turkeys are a profitable purchase for any farm. Growing poultry at home is not difficult. The main thing is to provide them with all the necessary conditions and feed them correctly. Due to the large total weight, the costs for turkeys are fully justified.

Growing broiler turkeys: breed selection and maintenance instructions

Not only large poultry complexes, but also private owners are engaged in breeding the broiler direction of turkeys. Birds are loved for their unpretentious maintenance and excellent quality of meat products with dietary indicators.

The most popular among imported turkey breeds, from which meat breeds of the heavy category originate. This includes the wide-breasted type.

To obtain broiler livestock, representatives of the best breed groups with the desired pronounced qualities are used.

Crossing gives the following results:

• light type, weight no more than 9 kg;
• medium type with a weight of no more than 18 kg;
• heavy type, weight reaches 25 kg.

There are a number of breeds most popular for breeding, they will be discussed in more detail later in the article.

Bronze broad-breasted turkeys

It is a broiler breed. The launch site is North America. Breeders crossed poultry with wild birds to create a new variety. The result is a breed with a huge number of positive qualities that other birds do not have.

Adult birds grow to a large size. The female weighs about 10 kg. If the content is correct, and the bird receives all the necessary nutrients, then the mass can be even greater. Males are much larger than their chickens, an average of 17 kg, individuals weighing up to 21 kg can be found.

Bronze broad-breasted

Performance characteristic

The breed is classified as early maturing. Juveniles that have reached the age of 24 weeks can be sent for slaughter to obtain meat products. It is important to know that breeders gain the required weight 7 days later than females.

But not only for meat products, the owners love bronze broad-breasted ones. They are distinguished by good egg products. About 120 eggs are obtained from one female per season.

In turkeys of this breed, the maternal instinct is fully preserved. It can even be planted on someone else's eggs.

If an incubator is used for hatching young animals, then after the birth of the entire livestock, the chicks can be added to the females without any fear.

Hatchability with high survival rate.

Bronze North Caucasian

It is a product of domestic selection. Place of formation - Stavropol Territory. The breeding was attended by local turkeys and producers of the bronze broad-breasted breed. The bird is mainly bred in the southern part of our country and in the North Caucasus.

Performance characteristic

Turkeys have an elongated body, deep sternum, strong long limbs. In size and weight, they lose to the bronze broad-breasted. The average weight of the male is about 15 kg, the female is no more than 8 kg. By the age of 21 days, the turkey is gaining a mass of 4 kg.

Bronze North Caucasian

The bird is adapted for growing on pasture lands, endowed with a high level of adaptation to different climatic zones. From one female, you can get 80 egg products in 365 days. The egg-producing period starts from the 9th month. Fertility is 90%.

An interesting feature of young carcasses, which have a non-commercial violet-blue color, therefore, turkey poults are practically not used for slaughter.

Cross big-6

It is a young English breed, bred a little less than 10 years ago. The birds are of the heavy type. Thanks to their characteristics, Big 6 have gained worldwide recognition among poultry lovers.

Cross big-6

Productive characteristic

On average, males weigh about 25 kg, turkeys 11 kg. The average type of this breed is less large in weight.

The sternum occupies 30% of the total weight, the lethal yield is approximately 80%, which is a record today.

Young animals are characterized by early maturity - so at the age of 90 days, the weight of a turkey is 4.5 kg. Slaughter is carried out by day 100.

Cross big-9

They belong to strong, heavy crosses with undemanding content.Broiler turkeys easily adapt to any conditions, have a low feed intake and, at the same time, excellent weight gain.

Big-9

Productive characteristics

In the following tables, you can see a number of data that correspond to the described crosses. Data on males. Meat products are shown as a percentage.

Information on females. The yield of meat products is indicated as a percentage

Cross BYuT-8

Refers to new breeds bred by English breeders. It is characterized as a heavy type due to its performance. An adult turkey can weigh about 27 kg, and turkeys can weigh 10 kg.

Broiler turkeys have a decorative expressive appearance.

The breed is characterized by strong limbs, a bright red beak, strong limbs, well developed.

The color is snow-white, there are no foreign inclusions of a different color. In the domestic poultry industry, the breed is actually not used.

Khidon

The bird was bred by Dutch specialists; it was brought to the territory of our country in the early 80s of the last century. Young animals are characterized by early maturity.

The weight of individuals is as follows: an adult male is about 20 kg, and a female is half as much. By the age of 30 weeks, chicks are gaining weight as adults. Feed costs per 1000 grams of weight gain 2.8.

From one turkey, you can get up to 110 eggs in 365 days.

Black Norfolk breed

It is a descendant of a Mexican bird, which was brought to Europe by travelers from America. It became popular directly in Spain, thanks to which it received its second name - Spanish black.

Spanish black

According to the standard, males weigh 10.5 kg, females 6.4 kg.

Care and breeding

Particular attention should be paid to the fact that the temperature regime is very important for such a bird. Therefore, the turkey house should be about +20 degrees. Litter materials of the following types are used for floors:

• sawdust;
• straw;
• hay;
• peat.

The room must be reliably protected from drafts and moisture. But, at the same time, one should not forget about the arrangement of a good ventilation system. There are a number of breeds and crosses that need a lot of light, so the room is additionally equipped with lamps.

The area of ​​the chicken coop for breeding and keeping turkeys is calculated based on the fact that one bird needs 1 square meter of free space. 4 males are planted in a herd of 40 females, if this number is exceeded, then fights between birds may occur.

Arrangement of walking space

Inactivity will negatively affect not only the health of the turkeys, but also the quality of meat products. The best way to combat obesity is to arrange a walking space.

It is necessary to fence off the site, if desired, you can organize a pasture, using perennial herbaceous crops for sowing. This practice can significantly reduce feed costs.

Turkeys are provided with walks not only in the summer months, but also in the winter months (provided that there is no severe frost and wind). To prevent frostbite, a straw layer is laid on the ground.

Also, the walking area should be provided with a canopy that will protect the bird from adverse weather conditions. The pasture area is surrounded by a high fence to prevent escapes.

Requirements for feeders and drinkers

The success of the entire breeding depends on the correct selection of equipment through which the birds will receive feed and water. When choosing containers for feed, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

• feeders should not pose a danger to broilers;
• it is best for young animals to choose a rubber or silicone container so that they cannot injure soft beaks;
• a galvanized feeder is not suitable for dairy products, otherwise there may be cases of poisoning;
• its own container is selected for each feed;
• Feeders must be fixed at the correct height for the bird to eat comfortably.In addition, the fasteners must be as strong as possible, otherwise the turkeys can knock down the feeder.

Particular attention must be paid to water. Broilers consume more of it compared to other breeds.

It is recommended to equip a plumbing system so as not to carry water in buckets, because turkeys need it 24 hours a day, like any other creature, by the way.

It is best to install nipple drinkers.

Features of feeding broilers and meat crosses

The main purpose of breeding is to obtain meat products with high taste characteristics.

Based on this, feeding meat crosses is not as easy as it seems. You need to know that each type will need its own diet.

It will be easier to navigate using the example of general principles.

Broiler chicks should be fed two times a day. Newly born babies on the first day should be given a mixture of boiled finely chopped eggs with millet. From the second day, you can give mashed carrots, then finely chopped green dandelion or nettle leaves.

It is important to keep the quality of feed under control, a wet mash is prepared no earlier than half an hour before feeding, you will need to pick up the feeders in 30 minutes.

Young broilers need four feeds a day. The diet should be balanced, contain all the necessary vitamin and mineral supplements. It is also necessary not to forget about the presence of containers with gravel or shell rock.

Adult birds should receive:

• corn;
• vegetables;
• grass;
• meal;
• cake;
• dairy.

The role of vitamin and mineral supplements is performed by: eggshells, feed chalk and yeast, as well as fish oil.

Particular attention should be paid to the light type of broilers.

These poultry include the following breeds.

Black Tikhoretskaya

Removal falls on the last century, and it happened in the Krasnodar Territory. A distinctive feature is the black suit. Farmers should be aware that these birds cannot be kept in cages due to their high mobility.

Black Tikhoretsk

Productive characteristic

You can meet representatives with the following indicators: males weigh up to 10 kg, and turkeys 5 kg. The egg production rate is up to 70 pieces from one female in 365 days. Slaughter yield in percentage is equal to 93. It is worth noting that the taste of eggs is not much different from chicken eggs.

Bronze turkeys

They are an ideal broiler breed suitable for home rearing. Compared to broad-breasted counterparts, birds are smaller. The characteristic color is black with a bronze sheen. It is best to keep such birds in an open-air cage, providing a place for walking.

Productive qualities

Adult turkeys weigh 8 kg, and turkeys 6 kg, the egg production rate in individuals reaches hundreds of eggs in 365 days from one bird. The lethal percentage is 90.

The most common diseases encountered in broiler turkey husbandry

With improper care, feeding or non-observance of basic hygiene rules, the bird can get sick. In the following table, you can see the most common diseases, symptoms and treatment.

Turkeys are essentially a type of poultry. Breeding this living creature in a suburban area or on a farm, of course, is quite profitable. In some cases, a broiler turkey can weigh up to 25 kg. Raising such a bird is relatively easy. However, an entrepreneur who decides to organize a farm of such specialization, of course, must know and exactly follow all the required technologies for keeping turkeys.

Where to begin?

A successful turkey breeding farm will, of course, only if the farmer initially manages to acquire good healthy young growth. Of course, you can also breed chicks yourself - in an incubator.However, experts still advise beginners when organizing a farm to purchase not eggs from a poultry farm, but young animals. At the same time, it is better to buy not daily turkey poults, but grown-up ones - two-week or monthly. Such chicks are already warm enough and are immune to many diseases. And, therefore, the lunge in the herd will not be too large.

The best breeds of broiler turkeys

When purchasing chicks, you should pay attention not only to their age. A successful farm will be organized only if the correct breed of turkeys is selected. The breeding of this bird in our country and abroad is quite active. There are a lot of broiler turkey breeds. At the same time, the most popular among farmers today are:

• BIG-6.

• Station wagon.

• Khidon.

• White broad-chested.

White broiler turkeys BIG can reach a weight of 22-25 kg. At the same time, they gain muscle mass rather quickly. Such a bird reaches its slaughter weight already at the age of 90 days. The plumage of the BIG is pure white. There is a small black spot only on the chest.

The station wagon was bred by the breeders of our country. Therefore, this bird is very well adapted to the climatic conditions of Russia. By the time of slaughter, such hybrids can reach a weight of 18 kg.

Headon crosses were developed in the Netherlands. The weight of a broiler turkey of this breed can be up to 20 kg. Such a hybrid is gaining body mass quickly. But he also has one significant drawback. The young, unfortunately, usually have a very big lunge.

White broad-breasted turkey reaches a weight of 20-25 kg. The advantages of this breed include, first of all, the high taste of meat. The disadvantage of this cross is considered whimsical content and a tendency to disease.

Building a poultry house

How should broiler turkeys be kept on a farm? Growing this bird at home is carried out, of course, only in the most suitable and convenient room for it. The shed in any case must exactly meet all the necessary requirements. In a turkey house, it is mandatory to provide:

• good lighting;

• ventilation;

• heating.

Naturally, among other things, the house should be properly equipped. It should be equipped with perches, nests, feeders and drinkers. The floor in the turkey house is recommended to be made of solid planks. It should be raised about 20-25 centimeters above ground level. A thick straw mat should be placed on top of the floor. Feeders for turkeys should be fixed on the wall at the level of the bird's back. This will prevent scattering and trampling of feed, and therefore save the farmer from unnecessary costs. Drinking bowls in the barn are usually located at the neck level of the turkeys.

The windows in the poultry house are placed in such a way that during the day the floors in it are illuminated throughout the area. Ventilation in the turkey house is supplemented with a valve. This avoids hypothermia of the bird during the winter period. Broiler turkey, in comparison with the usual one, in the opinion of most farmers, is a rather tender animal and does not differ in very good health.

Rules for feeding turkeys

The broiler poultry diet, of course, should be as balanced and nutritious as possible. Only in this case will the turkeys gain weight quickly. 70% of the diet of poultry should be feed containing a large amount of protein. This can be, for example, cereals or legumes. In particular, turkeys are often given oats and buckwheat. It is mandatory to feed this bird and cake. It is believed that sprouted wheat is also very useful for such agricultural animals.

The mineral and vitamin balance in the body of poultry such as broiler turkey is usually maintained by farmers with the help of meat and bone meal and fish oil. Of course, green fodder should also be fed to the livestock. In the summer, the bird is given chopped grass, carrot and radish tops, lettuce and cabbage leaves.In winter, turkeys should receive silage and spruce needles.

Feeding time

The most nutritious food is usually given to broilers at night. In this case, the bird will gain weight faster. Turkey mash is most often done only during the day. Of course, you should always feed the bird at the same time.

What rules must be followed when keeping turkeys without fail

In order for the bird to feel as comfortable as possible in the barn and not get sick, the owner of the backyard should take care of the following conditions:

• shed nests should be placed in dark places;

• roosts are installed at a height of approximately 70 cm from the floor;

• pots with ash should be installed in the poultry house;

• drinkers and feeders should be cleaned regularly;

• broilers should be kept separate from any other poultry.

It is advisable to walk in front of the turkey barn. But letting a bird out on the street for the whole day, of course, is not worth it. Otherwise, the turkeys will not gain the prescribed weight.

Reproduction

Many farmers are also interested in ways to increase the number of poultry such as broiler turkeys on the farm. Breeding this animal is relatively difficult. As in chickens, the offspring of turkey crosses, unfortunately, do not adopt the high productive qualities of their parents. You can get good young growth from eggs laid by a bird only if it is not a hybrid, but belongs to some good meat breed.

In principle, it is quite possible to get cross-broiler chicks in an incubator on your own. But in this case, the eggs will have to be bought at the poultry farm. They cost, of course, cheaper than turkey poults. But it is quite difficult to bring chicks out of them without loss without proper experience.

Turkey eggs should be incubated in strict compliance with the prescribed temperature and humidity conditions. The offspring of this bird appears about 26-29 days after laying in the apparatus. Actually, the incubation of turkey eggs itself is divided into four main periods. From the first to the eighth day, the temperature inside the device should be 37.5-38 degrees, and the humidity should be 60-65%. Turn the eggs at this time at least six times a day.

The temperature and humidity parameters for the other three periods can be found in the table below.

Period	Temperature, degrees Celsius	Humidity	Coup
9-14 days	37.7-38	45-50%	4-6 times
15-25	37.5	65%	4-6 times
Hatching		65-70%	—

Starting from the 15th day, eggs should be cooled for 10-15 minutes every day. Do not perform this procedure only during the hatching period.

Broiler turkeys: raising young

After chicks hatch, they should be placed in boxes or a special brooder and provided with 24/7 lighting. This will keep the potential lunge to a minimum. One day after hatching, the lamp in the box or brooder can be turned off for half an hour. Then the lighting time is reduced by another 30 minutes every day.

The litter of turkey poults should be changed as it becomes dirty. Chicks should have food and drink in a box or brooder at all times. At first, young animals should be fed with a special mixture "Start". You can also offer the chicks chopped egg and cottage cheese. For the first three days, turkey poults are watered not with raw water, but with green tea.

Possible diseases

Broiler turkeys, the photos of which are presented in the article, as already mentioned, do not differ in particularly good health, unfortunately. This bird can get sick quite easily. That is why it is so important to exactly follow all the necessary rules for its content.

Most often, broiler turkeys get sick:

• Tuberculosis. In this case, the bird behaves sluggishly and apathetically. Nodules appear on the skin of turkeys. The feces become liquid.

• Smallpox. This dangerous disease is characterized primarily by the ruffled feathers of the bird and lowered wings. Later, characteristic smallpox spots appear on the skin of turkeys.

• Mycoplasmosis.A broiler turkey that has caught this infection loses its sight. At the same time, the bird develops discharge from the nose and eyes.

Treating broiler turkey diseases is very difficult. Moreover, any infection can lead not only to a decrease in productivity, but also to the death of birds and the loss of livestock. That is why the owner of the farm should make sure that the turkeys do not get overcooled, eat poor-quality feed and do not drink dirty water as closely as possible. If all the technologies for keeping this bird are observed, the risk of any diseases in the herd can be almost completely reduced to zero.