The countries of Europe and America greatly appreciate and eat turkey meat in large quantities , but in our country this product is used in the form of high-tech raw materials. They use turkey meat for making sausages, smoked meats, ham and sausages.
Breeding turkeys
The breeding process of this bird is not so complicated as it might seem at first glance. The turkey tolerates low temperatures well, which makes it possible to grow poultry even in the north. Two years is enough for a bird to gain 30 kg of weight. The meat itself has a rich and delicate taste, has a number of all the necessary amino acids. Eggs are another product obtained from turkey. The beneficial properties of these eggs exceed even chicken.
Difficulties arise most often when growing young animals. Here you need to know the right approach, decide on a place for keeping and, of course, learn how to feed poultry for their correct and rapid growth. Let's try to answer these questions.
Choose a room
The main condition is light and dryness in the housing area selected for turkey poults. The birds spend most of their existence on the floor, so calculate the area. Five individuals will need one square meter. Adults on one meter will fit only two. The presence of a solarium (walking area) is required. It should occupy most of the room. The floor can be concrete, wood or earthen. The territory for walks is fenced with a high net. Small doors installed from the facade allow the bird to exit at will. Doors should be made 30-35 cm from the floor, and on top also covered with a net.
Start
Very small chicks live in cages covered with paper. It must be ensured that the little legs of the turkey poults do not fall into the floor slots. The cage can be bought at a specialty store or made at home. Cells are 16 * 16 or 24 * 24, the floor is 3 mm thick. The height of the cage is not more than 50 cm. Turkeys that have reached the age of 10 days are placed on an area of 0.4 square meters. It is necessary to heat the space of cells, for example with special lamps. Specialized store consultants will help you find all the necessary equipment, including feeders and drinking bowls.
How to feed turkey poults?
Unlike most birds, turkeys are quite finicky in food, especially turkey poults. Growing young animals will require careful attention to their diet in order to get meat with good taste as a result. Food should be distinguished by freshness, variety and the presence of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, macro- and micronutrients, vitamins.
The need for protein by ¼ is covered by protein feed of animal origin. Fat for young individuals should be 5-6% of the diet. This will make their meat juicy and tender.
To the question of what to feed turkey poultry, there is no definite answer. They are very fond of nuts and acorns with a high fat content. And that's great, with such a diet, poultry meat will be very tasty.
Crude fiber should be 3.5 to 5.5%. It can be fresh greens. They feed it to young animals from three days of life. Mixers of buttermilk or yogurt are also prepared. Loose porridge in milk is good. And from two weeks the kids will be happy to eat cottage cheese, grated carrots, potatoes, fish. Young chicks see very poorly, so they should be poked with a beak in drinking bowls and in food.
You should also know what to feed turkey poultry to ensure that they properly digest food. Chalk, crushed charcoal , a shell and fine gravel should be poured into individual feeders. Drinking water is taken at room temperature. Twice a week, you need to give a weak solution of potassium permanganate, which will protect the ventricle of babies from microorganisms.
Good luck and profitable business!