Unlike the variety of breeds of chickens or ducks, turkeys have fewer species. A little more than thirty varieties are known around the world, seven of which were bred by Russian scientists. All breeds of poultry are divided into different directions depending on the purpose of breeding. Breeders have bred three types of turkeys: with meat, egg and universal productivity. The following is a description of some of the turkey breeds.
Array
Moscow bronze
Turkeys of the bronze Moscow breed are not deprived of attention, but on the contrary. Males have bright multi-level plumage, which shimmers in many shades. Individuals are large in weight and large in size. Sensing danger, they make loud sounds.
The features of this breed are as follows:
- the size of the head is small, without plumage;
- face in blue tone;
- big black eyes;
- short neck, devoid of feathers. If the bird is in a state of calm, then the neck is constantly drawn into the body. In an aggressive mood, the turkeys pull it out;
- males in the neck area have a large spherical growth of skin, which gathers in knots and folds. Such formations were called corals. The growth is red, but it can turn to purple when the birds are in an unstable mood. The folds may swell and fall down to the chest;
- females have a small growth on the neck with small folds;
- above the short beak there is a kind of horn, which is a soft outgrowth of the skin that covers the beak. The outgrowth has properties similar to the outgrowth on the neck. Females lack this horn;
- the plumage is dominated by black and white. The general cover has a bronze sheen. Wide feathers with straight edges, edged with a white edge. Males have lush plumage, while females have it tightly to the body and of a less bright color;
- showing dissatisfaction, the male spreads a large tail like a fan. In females, it is smaller and slightly lowered;
- the weight of an adult male is 16 kg, of a female - 9 kg. Chicks gain a decent mass in six months. By this age, turkeys gain up to 13 kg, turkeys - 6 kg. The received meat products are 66%;
- slaughter is carried out per month. By this period, a carcass of up to 4.5 kg comes out of the turkey.
- the laying hen begins to lay eggs fruitfully at nine months. During the season, she can lay up to 120 eggs, weighing 80 g each.
It is not advisable for outsiders to approach the turkeys, and even more so to tease them. We must examine them with caution. If the male has fluffed feathers, and the head and growths have acquired a purple hue, this means that he is ready to defend his territory.
Wild individuals can reach speeds of up to 50 km / h. Domestic birds are slower, but they can easily catch up with any person.
How to keep and how to care for turkeys
| Day of life | Products that can be added to the daily menu |
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Important! When planning broiler breeding, you should focus on feed consumption indicators. So, for 1 individual per month, you will need to use about 29–34 kg of feed.
So, keeping turkeys is a fairly profitable business, since this bird is capable of gaining a lot of weight in a short time of keeping, its meat is distinguished by its dietary properties and is very highly valued. The weight gain of birds depends on many factors. First of all, they need comfortable conditions in the poultry house and a correct balanced diet.
Young turkey poults
During lay, a young turkey can lay up to 17 eggs that need to be tested for fertility. To do this, the eggs in turn need to be lowered into a container of water, if the egg sinks, then we return it to the nest, if it floats up, to the refrigerator.
The hatching process lasts up to 28 days. During this time, it is necessary to ensure that the turkey eats on time. Feeding is done in the morning. It is best to feed the hen with soaked and swollen oats. When the turkey is eating, it is imperative to cover the eggs with a warm cloth for this time to prevent hypothermia.
One turkey is able to hatch and raise not only its offspring, but also someone else's. One bird is capable of raising 75-80 turkeys.
The heat factor is the basis for growing turkey poults. Chilled young animals are highly susceptible to various diseases, which can prevent them from gaining the necessary weight, even with a good balanced feed.
Turkey poults should be bred in cardboard boxes with cloth or dry fine sawdust. For 10 babies, a container with dimensions of one meter by one meter and a wall height of up to 40 cm is suitable.
Feeding turkeys
Heating and lighting is carried out by electric lamps, the power of which must be at least 40 watts. Light bulbs are fixed on top of the box, using a table lamp. You can lower the lamp directly into the box, but for this, it is necessary that it be in a special weighted glass shade.
The first two days, turkeys are kept under round-the-clock lighting, gradually reducing the light regime by 30-35 minutes.
From 20 days, the light regime lasts 15 hours. In addition, for the first 10 days of babies' life, it is worth maintaining the temperature up to 36 degrees, gradually lowering and bringing it to 25 degrees. At two months, the temperature should be 20 degrees.
Turkey chicks
Under such conditions, it is recommended to keep turkeys until the end of fattening, that is, up to 7 months. Turkeys are susceptible to the development of diseases, most of which are fatal.
In order for turkeys to grow quickly and develop correctly, you need to draw up a competent diet from the very beginning of growing.
The hardest part of caring for turkey poults is in the first weeks of life, when they are still very weak and not adapted to solid food. Immediately after birth, they are given a solution of sugar and ascorbic acid. Drink must be warm! Already on the second day, the turkey is given a grated egg with mashed cereals, diluted with milk or meat broth, with the addition of finely chopped greens. Such food contains enough proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins, which contributes to the proper maturation of turkey poults.
At one week of age, the grown chicks are added to the feed bone meal, rich in calcium and phosphorus. Periodically, you need to water them with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Feeding regimen for turkeys up to a month like babies, every three hours.
Chicks should always have clean water!
From the second month of life, turkeys are fed only three times to avoid obesity. Table salt, containing elements of sodium and chlorine, begins to be added to food.
White broad-chested
The name of the turkey breeds often comes from their native places or external signs of the bird.So in this case, possessing snow-white plumage and a strongly protruding chest, the variety was deservedly called white wide-breasted turkeys.
The homeland of the breed of wide-breasted turkeys is America. The birds are large, massive, with a variegated head that does not have feathers. The skin on the head is red, the face has a bright blue tint.
The large, voluminous beak of males is equipped with a cutaneous process. The neck without feather cover has many folds. In females, the neck looks elongated, covered on the outside with white feathers. Coral growth and horn are absent.
The bird can be kept both in a cage and in pasture conditions. Chicks develop in the same way. Individuals keeping for fattening require up to 350 g of feed. The feed contains grains of barley, wheat, corn.
There are three types of birds:
- easy; chicks reach a mass of up to 4 kg in three months. The weight of an adult turkey is 9 kg, that of a turkey is 6 kg;
- medium; turkeys three months old weigh 4 kg. On average, males weigh 17 kg, turkeys - 7 kg;
- heavy; the young are fattened for three months, during which time they gain up to 5 kg. Adult males weigh about 22 kg, females - 10 kg.
The growing chicks are sent for slaughter at the age of two months. At this age, they reach a sufficient mass. Turkeys mature at seven to nine months. This variety is characterized by rapid maturity. During the seasonal period, the laying hen gives an average of one hundred and eighty gram eggs.
General indicators of growth by months
For clarity, the average data are given in the table:
| Age | Female weight in grams | Male weight in grams |
| 3 days | 50 | 56 |
| A week | 140 | 160 |
| Two weeks | Z40 | 390 |
| Month | 1 100 | 1 400 |
| Two month | 3 700 | 4 800 |
| Three months | 7 300 | 9 800 |
| Four months | 9 000 | 14 300 |
| Five months | 11 000 | 16 900 |
| Six months | 11 800 | 17 800 |
As we can see from the table, the growth is uneven:
- first, the baby intensively increases weight;
- the peak of growth falls on the interval from two to four months;
- after sixteen weeks, growth stops, although the bird continues to gain weight;
- after six months of age, the increase is usually not observed.
BIG-6
This breed is a hybrid bred by British scientists for selection. In appearance, individuals are similar to white wide-breasted turkeys. They are the same large ones with white plumage and a bright head, but they have features inherent only to them:
- the chest is more powerful and decorated with a voluminous black spot;
- strongly developed limbs;
- increased early maturity.
Fattening of turkeys takes a month and a half. After this period, the chicks gain weight up to five kilograms. Further, growth continues with the usual diet and by five months the individual already weighs about 11 kg. One kilogram of growth needs two kilograms of feed.
Mature heavy individuals reach weight: males - 25 kg; females - 15 kg.
Layers begin to lay at the age of seven months. In a year, a turkey brings one hundred eggs 80 g each.
Success secrets
To keep turkeys truly profitable, it is important to follow basic bird care and nutrition guidelines.
- Meals should be varied and complete.
- Regular walking in a sufficient area.
- The presence in the diet of fresh herbs enriched with vitamins.
- The food should contain shells or limestone as a source of minerals.
Experienced farmers recommend taking daily turkeys in early to mid-spring to get 12 kg turkeys by mid-winter. If the active growth of the bird occurs in the autumn-winter period, the owner needs to take care of harvesting brooms from birch, linden, branches of fruit trees. An excellent remedy for many diseases is finely chopped needles. You can add this ingredient from 1 month of life of turkey poults, starting with a small portion, gradually increasing the volume of needles in food.
One of the most important components of turkey nutrition is the mineral component. Shells and limestone will allow the bird to build a strong skeletal system.You can start adding mineral components to the food of birds from the age of one month.
Egg
The turkey lays eggs larger than chicken eggs, with cream-colored shells and dark brown specks.
Breeding birds with increased productivity and rapid puberty will help to get enough eggs. The best oviparous species are:
- white Moscow;
- bronze;
- virgin;
- hybrid BIG-9.
Virgin turkeys
Such turkeys are also called white or Dutch breed. Scientists bred them by crossing white broad-chested and bronze birds. Laying hens have a variegated, white with black or fluffy pure white plumage. The main features of females:
- the weight of the individual is about 6 kg;
- puberty occurs a little later than six months;
- for 6 months, the female lays up to 70 eggs, with a total weight of 80 kg;
- the head is small in size, without feathers;
- long, bare neck;
- the body is elongated, the chest does not protrude forward.
Impressive males evoke a sense of aggression on their part. Their weight is relatively small, only up to 9 kg. The beak has a long horn, and the neck has large coral growths. They are kept for up to six months, and then allowed to eat, leaving only individuals for procreation.
To get eggs, you need to breed females. Laying hens nest closer to the ground if they are in the enclosure or if it is necessary to spread a large layer of hay there. The bird itself determines the place for laying and equips it.
It is not necessary to take the clutch from the nest right away, you need to let the eggs dry out. It is advisable to put artificial eggs in the nest instead of collected eggs. Otherwise, the female will look for another place for laying.
Characteristic
For the first time, broad-breasted white turkeys were bred in the United States in the 60s by crossing bronze broad-breasted and white Dutch representatives. Birds are considered representatives of the pheasant family, and their advantages include:
- white plumage;
- tender meat (and turkey meat is tastier than male);
- early maturity;
- high meat yield (80% of the carcass weight);
- proper presentation.
This species in Russia is bred in the central and southern regions: Rostov, Voronezh, Astrakhan regions and in the Krasnodar Territory.
At 100 days of age, the chicks stop growing. At this point, their carcasses have an attractive presentation. The weight of females and males in the light line is 5.5 and 9 kg, respectively, and the average weight is 7 and 15 kg. As for the heavy line, they are significantly higher than other species: individuals reach 11 kg, and males weigh about 25-30 kg.
Bronze turkeys
This species was bred by scientists from Canada. It was necessary to create an individual with a high yield of meat and an increased clutch of eggs. The main goal of breeders was to increase the immunity of birds and the possibility of keeping them in any conditions.
Birds of a bronze appearance of large impressive size with a graceful appearance, in particular males, have:
- lush plumage, forming a shirt on the back, and a skirt below;
- a bright bronze-colored tail;
- black and white plumage.
The maximum weight of males is eighteen kilograms. The females are slightly smaller, the body is almost devoid of muscles. Body weight about 10 kg.
Turkeys become egg-laying at eight months. In a year, one individual can lay a hundred eggs, 80 g each. In summer, the birds are more productive. Males gain up to eight kilograms by four months and can be used for meat. The turkeys are left in the herd to obtain eggs. For them, it is better to make a bedding, with the calculation of 1 square meter for two birds.
What determines the weight
Let's look at the reasons that can affect the weight of the bird:
- gender - females usually weigh about five kilograms less than males;
- breed - birds differ in size, structural features of the body;
- age - age 5-6 months is considered ideal for meat production. At this time, the maximum in the set is reached, it is believed that the poultry will not have a greater percentage of meat gain;
- diet - it should have a clear balance of minerals, vitamins, enough calories, water is always available;
- diet - you need to feed the bird at the same time (babies more often, adolescents less often);
- health status - a healthy chick grows faster;
- care and conditions of detention.
Did you know? Kuldykanie - the sounds that turkeys make are characteristic only of males, females do not communicate like that. Kuldykanie is a kind of statement by the male that the territory belongs to him, as well as a signal to attract the female.
It is useful to know how to increase the productivity of turkeys and what are the features of turkey breeding.
Universal
It is difficult to say what breeds of turkeys are the best, someone prefers more meat, someone eggs, there is another option - universal breeds.
For keeping birds for double productivity, the best breeds will be:
- North Caucasian bronze;
- Uzbek fawn and white species.
Before you start turkeys, you need to decide for what purpose they will be intended. Based on this, already choose the breed.
You can clearly see the external distinctive features of birds on a photo of turkey breeds in any sources.
Negative and positive aspects of breeding
Home farmers are increasingly opting for turkey farming. Some breed turkeys for personal consumption, some make a profit from the sale of meat and egg products. Either way, turkey breeding has its advantages and disadvantages. Before deciding whether to do this business, you need to know them.
Bronze broad-breasted turkey
The advantages of content are the following:
- dietary turkey meat is very useful for humans, all thanks to low cholesterol, vitamins, amino acids and trace elements;
- the cost of a turkey growing business quickly pays off;
- for the purpose of earning money, you can sell not only meat and egg products, but also down, feathers;
- turkeys gain weight quickly and rapidly;
- undemanding to conditions of detention and unpretentiousness to nutrition.
Turkey meat is considered dietary
Turkeys are excellent pets for keeping at home and running a business selling meat, eggs, fluff. But some breeders refuse to keep turkeys. They justify this with the following disadvantages of keeping turkeys:
- low productivity - turkeys produce much fewer eggs than chickens;
- the risk of death of chicks after birth;
- demanding for water - use only fresh liquid at room temperature;
- turkeys are often sick, especially if hygiene rules are violated when caring for them;
- the tendency of turkeys to obesity.
Obesity turkey
Experienced livestock breeders have specific room requirements for comfortable keeping and profitable turkey breeding. To set up a comfortable house, follow the instructions below.
Step 1. Decide on the size of the room. The correct calculation is as follows: at least 1 m2 for two turkeys. Ideally, there should be 1 m2 per individual.
Turkey house on a small flock of birds
Turkey house project for 15-30 heads
Step 2. When the house is set up, check the room temperature. The acceptable temperature in summer is 20 ° C, in winter it is no colder than 5 ° C.
Step 3. Adjust lighting. You can illuminate the poultry house with a conventional 60-watt light bulb.
Lighting in the poultry house
Step 4. Be sure to equip ventilation, this will help eliminate dampness.
Step 5. Equip the perches according to the number of birds in the pen (per individual one perch), the distance between them is 60 cm or more.
Step 6.Check the height of the perches. Correct indicators: about 70-80 cm from the floor, width - from 5 to 7 cm, height - from 8 to 10 cm.
Turkey roosts
Turkeys are prone to obesity, so they need to spend enough time walking. While walking, the bird eats useful food, finds worms, beetles, eats greens, seeds and nuts. The ideal place for walking in summer is dry ground with shrubs and green grass. Make sure that the bird can find shade and hide there from the heat. For walking turkeys, you can equip special outdoor enclosures. Install feeders with oats and barley, drinkers, and change the water regularly.
Walking for turkeys
It is especially important to walk the turkeys during the winter - take daily walks for several hours, but not in too windy weather. Cover the area with plenty of straw to keep the turkeys from freezing their feet. You should also scatter food to lure pets out for a walk. If there are too many turkeys, divide the herd into small groups (each with one breeder).
Organization of walking turkeys
Photos of turkeys
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