The specifics of keeping turkeys is the need to create special conditions for them and the need for a large amount of feed. These nuances are justified by the slaughter yield of meat products. What you need to know in order to get a productive livestock, how to choose it and keep it at home, as well as about the rules for bird care and the main requirements for arranging their monastery, learn more from the article.

Rules for choosing good individuals

To obtain a healthy livestock of turkeys, it is initially required to select breeding individuals. The parental family should consist of one male and 3-4 females.

Signs of good productive qualities of the host turkey are its inflated body and wings down. Thus, he demonstrates his importance, which attracts the attention of turkeys.

For breeding purposes, non-aggressive females with a clean shiny plumage and a healthy appearance are preferred. Keep in mind that they are good brood hens, and the time of young growth will come within 28 days after the start of hatching.

It is important that the selected bird matches the characteristics of the breed you are about to breed.

Maintenance and care at home

Livestock productivity depends on the arrangement of the house, temperature and humidity in it, as well as on the food supply of birds.

Did you know? Every year, in the United States, thanksgiving, housewives bake more than 270 million turkeys, that is, one for each resident of the country.

Content Features

Experienced poultry farmers know that wards do not grow well in cold rooms, because the food they consume is not used to build fat and muscle mass, but for additional heating.

Excessive heat is also contraindicated because it is the main reason for the decrease in egg production, live weight of the bird and the deterioration in the quality of its eggs.

To create comfortable conditions for the bird, take care of the optimal temperature regime, eliminate dampness, arrange cozy roosts and proper lighting.

Optimal conditions for growing

Turkeys grow well if you keep them when:

• temperature + 12 ... + 16 ° С;
• air humidity at the level of 55-60%;
• the complete absence of drafts and dampness (this requires not only a good ventilation system in the house, but also a thick layer of litter of hay, peat or sawdust);
• daylight hours of at least 14 hours (in winter in clear weather, wards should preferably be walked, they are not afraid of frost and sudden changes in temperature, but with prolonged exposure to such conditions they can freeze limbs and catch a cold).

Did you know? Turkey meat has sleeping pills. This is due to the tryptophan contained in it, which, interacting with amino acids, soothes the central nervous system.

Content Requirements

The main mistake of beginner poultry farmers is that they contain different birds in the same room. Remember: turkeys must live separately, so they require individual housing with provided compartments for females and males. They are simultaneously released on a walk.

The best option for the winter keeping of such birds is a heated barn. If there is no time and resources for its construction, you can do with a polycarbonate greenhouse. It has a suitable microclimate and enough light.

Video: Keeping turkeys in a greenhouse

There should be no gaps in the construction where the bird is kept. When using polycarbonate greenhouses, this aspect loses relevance, since we are talking about a sealed structure. However, such buildings require additional internal cladding with plywood sheets. This is done so that the turkeys do not damage the polycarbonate.

It is important that indoors are:

• a thick layer of litter (the cold floor is often the cause of catarrhal diseases in the livestock) with its regular renewal;
• free space (calculated from the calculation of 1 m² per adult).

In addition, birds must have access to walking areas. It is fenced and covered from above with a strong metal mesh to prevent bird flights.

Important! Nests for turkeys are recommended to be placed in the dark corners of the room. Do not install red lamps above them, as aggressive lighting will provoke the brood hen to crack eggs.

In winter, do not forget to clean the aviary from snow and be sure to place coarse feed (hay, twigs) in it.

Home Improvement

In order to ensure comfortable conditions for turkeys, beginning poultry farmers need to properly equip the premises from the inside. It is important that the necessary attributes are present in minimal quantities and not interfere with the residents.

At this stage, you should pay attention to:

1. Perches. They are made in the form of poles with a diameter of about 6 cm, placed at a level of 70–75 cm from the floor in the shaded areas of the room opposite the front door. In the case of a multi-tiered installation, observe the indentation so that the birds sitting at the top do not get dirty with a mark of neighbors from below. When establishing perches, provide for each individual a space of 60–65 cm.
2. Nests. How many of them are needed depends on the number of livestock. If the house contains about 5 females, one nest is enough, which is recommended to be installed on a 1.5-meter elevation, preferably on the supporting wall of the structure. The design should correspond to 45-50 cm in depth, 35-40 cm in height. Some owners use ready-made boxes, knocking them into several tiers. At the same time, a sloping roof is definitely needed from above. This will prevent unwanted bird accommodation. Inside the nests they cover with straw or hay and lay the dummy eggs to lure the layers.
3. Feeding troughs and drinking bowls. They can be built independently or purchased. The main thing is that the containers are convenient and practical. Remember that it is better to pour dry feed into wooden products, and wet mixers into metal or glass. Lattice structures are ideal for coarse and succulent feeds.

   Important! In turkey poultry no more than 4 chicks should be placed on each square meter. With a close landing, young growth will suspend development.

   When choosing feeders and drinking bowls, special attention should be paid to their shape, since rectangular small forms are oriented to chickens, and trough-shaped - for adults. The latest designs, in the presence of separate compartments and gratings on them, can be placed outside the enclosure, providing bird access to them. It is recommended to place such utensils in the house under the lamps on the floor or hanging from a vertical support.
4. Fonts. In the home of turkeys, they are required, as they prevent infection with parasites. For such purposes, you can use any containers of suitable depth and width, filling them with wood ash, river sand or granotse fine.

Space heating

Turkeys feel comfortable at moderate temperatures. If they are kept in winter in regions with a harsh climate, then the room must necessarily have a heating system.

You can fix it with:

• electric heaters;
• gas boilers;
• infrared lamps;
• heat collectors;
• bourgeois (like "Buleryan");
• wood stoves.

Did you know? The homeland of turkeys is America. This bird came to Europe thanks to Christopher Columbus.

Before proceeding with the arrangement of heating turkey poultry, it is necessary to caulk all the cracks, to insulate window openings and walls. At the same time, safety precautions should not be ignored, and the risks of damage to feathered residents should be eliminated.

Walking organization

In winter, it is advisable to release livestock daily for a short walk, with the exception of inclement days. For this purpose, poultry farmers build a spacious aviary near the turkey poultry.

In addition to the fence, experienced owners advise protecting it from the wind and drafts by tall bushes planted on the north side. Take care that the birds have the opportunity to independently go for a walk and return to the room in bad weather.

Mandatory attributes on the walking platform are:

• feeders (only for dry and roughage);
• drinking bowls (make sure that their contents do not freeze).

Important! The thickness of the litter for turkeys under 4 months of age should be at least 30 cm, and for adults 15 cm is enough. Hay and straw are replaced after 10 days, and peat and sawdust can be changed after 20 days.

Feeding

In the cold season, the bird will need much more food, which is due to the need to generate energy for warming, as well as the development of the body. With the differences in the diet of turkey poults and adults, see below.

Adult turkeys

If in the summer poultry independently provides themselves with the necessary greens for grazing, then in winter you need to take care not only about the right amount of feed, but also about their balance, calorie content.

The bird needs to arrange three meals a day. In the morning and evening she is recommended to give compound feeds and grain mixtures. They are digested for a long time and supply the body with the necessary substances. For a daily intake, moist mixers and juicy feeds are suitable. They are poured into the feeders located in the room, since on the street such food can freeze.

Keep in mind that one grain is not enough for birds. It is important that in winter they consume high-quality hay, which is pre-steamed in boiling water, as well as vitamin supplements in the form of acorns, chestnuts, needles.

You can find the components necessary for the winter diet of adult turkeys in the table below, as well as compare their needs, depending on the season.

Turkey

The need for chicks for food depends on the age and characteristics of the breed. Their diet differs from adult turkeys in the need for the introduction of cottage cheese, yeast, boiled eggs and potatoes, onion greens. All of these products are available in winter.

Keep in mind that about 90% of the feed consumed by turkey poultry is spent on the vital processes of the body, and only 10% goes on the formation of muscle mass.

The approximate daily diet for young animals of any age in the winter is calculated below in the table:

Disease Prevention and Treatment

Poor diet, unsanitary conditions and inappropriate living conditions are the main causes of avian diseases. Their pathogens are often pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, turkeys are sensitive to changing situations and stressful situations. Because of this, they can suddenly lose their plumage and become sick.

Important! To prevent the disease of birds, before landing the turkey turkey must be disinfected with a solution of soda ash or creolin. Internal utensils, including feeders and drinking bowls, are disinfected with ash ash, which is prepared at the rate of 1 kg of wood ash in 5 liters of warm water.

Turkeys often suffer from:

1. Respiratory mycoplasmosis. Infection is transmitted by airborne droplets, expressed by general weakness, inflammation of the orbits, impaired vision, mucous discharge from the nose and eyes, decreased productivity, loss of coordination of movements and rapid breathing. The causes of the disease are a cold house, dampness, drafts and excessive walks on the street in frosty times. If no action is taken, the livestock will die. Treatment is carried out by adding chlortetracycline and oxytetracycline to wet foods. Also, to increase the immunity of an infected bird, an increase in the daily dose of greens (especially onions) and vitamins is indicated.
2. Tuberculosis. The causative agents of the disease are transmitted to turkeys through dirty eggs, litter, water, settle in the lungs and are difficult to treat. Infected individuals fall to their feet, eat poorly, show apathy and lose weight. In non-feathered areas, they have specific growths. At the moment there is no antidote. To preserve the livestock, it is recommended to dispose of sick individuals and thoroughly disinfect the premises.
3. Histomonosis. The infection develops with gross violations of the content of the livestock and its care. Often, outbreaks of infection occur with the joint placement of turkeys and geese, ducks, chickens. The disease proceeds rapidly and is expressed by green diarrhea, lack of activity, apathy, lack of appetite. Without drug therapy, a fatal outcome is inevitable, as the patient and joints and internal organs are affected. Treatment is carried out with Furazolidone, Osarsol, Phenothiazine, or Bromethronide.

   Video: Histomoniasis in turkeys
4. Helminthiasis. The disease is dangerous by the risks of human infection through the consumption of meat and egg products. Sources of infection - already infected inhabitants of the house and other contacting birds, water, food, dirty drinkers, feeders, soil in the aviary. Parasites show vital activity with weak external symptoms. Only in neglected cases is the weakness and lifelessness of a feathered bird noticeable, therefore, it makes sense to periodically give turkeys a treatment-and-prophylactic course of medicines (Phenothiazine, Avatek, Filiksan, Piperazin, Pirantel).
5. Smallpox. Infection occurs through contact with infected individuals, as well as through insects, common food and water. The ailment is manifested by apathy, lack of appetite, ruffled feathers and a characteristic rash on the legs, head, and fledgling skin. The disease is difficult to treat, therefore, at the first symptomatology of sick individuals, they are killed and disposed of. For prophylaxis, vaccination with embryonic serum is recommended.
6. Newcastle Disease. It spreads with the help of viruses and quickly affects the entire population. The infection is fatal. It manifests itself as a grayish-green diarrhea with a sharp unpleasant odor, paralysis of the wings, poor motor activity. There is no antidote yet, therefore, for the purpose of prevention, vaccination of the livestock and regular disinfection of the house is mandatory.
7. Hard goiter. It arises due to an improper diet in which solid feed prevails. When drawing up the menu, it is important to consider the age of feathered wards. Symptoms of the disease - poor appetite, general malaise, dryness and stiffness, with palpation, pronounced hardening of the goiter. The disease is not contagious and cannot be treated, so the bird is killed.
8. Hypovitaminosis. It happens in turkeys of different ages due to a lack of vitamins in the diet. It manifests itself as inflamed mucous membranes, discharge from the nose and eyes. It may be complicated by rickets. The disease is eliminated by adjusting the daily menu, saturating its components rich in vitamins and minerals.
9. Perverted appetite. This non-infectious disease appears due to improper nutrition of the wards, when they do not receive the necessary components for the life of the body. In such cases, cannibalism is not excluded, which is expressed by plucking feathers and absorbing your body. If you notice that the bird is constantly in search of food and insatiably absorbs everything that gets into its feeder, immediately start organizing a healthy diet for your pets. It is advisable to enrich the diet with vitamin and mineral supplements.

In order to protect domestic turkeys from common diseases, it is important to observe basic sanitary rules for their maintenance, as well as regularly monitor the behavior of the wards.

Turkey Growing Tips

The following recommendations of experienced poultry farmers will help to increase the productivity of the livestock and its safety:

1. Be serious about organizing a nutritious diet for birds. Feeding troughs and drinking bowls should be clean and feed should be fresh. Prevent spoilage and souring of wet mash. Properly calculate the right portion of food for a held family.
2. Regularly disinfect in turkey poultry, treating not only the surface of the structure, but also all internal utensils and equipment. Promptly clean the room of litter, as well as replace contaminated bedding.
3. Control the temperature in the turkey turkey, avoid drafts and dampness. Do not forget about airing.

   Did you know? Initially, Europeans regarded turkeys as a source of a unique feather for hats and ball gowns, and only with time the meat of this bird was appreciated.

4. Avoid keeping healthy and infected birds in the same room. Proceed with treatment when you find the first signs of the disease.
5. Do not save on vaccination. In case of morbidity, treatment will cost several times more.
6. Place the house on a dry and even area, avoiding lowlands, as well as places of accumulation of melt and rainwater. It is advisable that the terrain chosen for construction be characterized by a slight slope to the south.
7. Be sure to waterproof the flooring. It is better to do this by pouring with liquid bitumen, which is distinguished from all materials by its affordability, heat-saving qualities and hygiene.
8. It is advisable to carry out planned disinfection of the premises every six months; unscheduled procedures are relevant in cases of infectious diseases. After disinfection, be sure to close the house for 3 hours to completely destroy the pathogenic microflora. After that, thoroughly ventilate and warm. Only then can livestock be allowed into turkey poultry.
9. Observe the activity of the wards. This will detect signs of disease in the early stages, and also prevent their development.
10. Strictly control the quantity and quality of feed absorbed by birds.

Breeding turkeys is a lot of trouble, however, it justifies itself with high productivity. Success in this matter guarantees the fundamental observance of the requirements for the arrangement of turkey poultry, the composition of the daily ration for the livestock and its care. If you follow the rules of poultry farming and timely preventive measures against infectious diseases, the result will justify the resources spent.