Turkeys, of course, are domestic birds, but not as popular as, for example, the same chickens. However, many farmers still grow them on the farmsteads. One of the most popular breeds of this bird, of all recently bred, is Big-6. This hybrid is characterized by relative unpretentiousness in care and at the same time quickly gaining weight. At the moment, Big-6 turkeys , the cultivation of which is a relatively simple procedure, is the most massive hybrid in the world.
Breed history
Bred 6 turkeys were bred by English breeders at Brutiss Unaited Tyurrkss . As parents, experts used two massive hybrids - Big-5 and But-8. This broiler was officially registered in 2007. In subsequent years, breeders of other firms repeatedly tried to get a more massive breed than Big-6. However, so far no one has succeeded in doing this.
The productive hybrid Big-6 belongs to the group of the meat direction of productivity. To obtain eggs, this bird is not grown. A few years ago, Big-6 were brought to Russia and immediately gained immense popularity among domestic farmers.
Description of turkeys
The plumage of the Big-6 hybrids is snowy white, quite dense and very fluffy. One of the main distinguishing features of the breed is a very small head. The legs of the Big 6 turkeys are massive and strong. Also, representatives of this breed can be easily recognized by a huge bulging chest.
On the neck of these turkeys there is the so-called coral - characteristic folds. The appendage growing on the nose of birds has the same structure . When the turkey is excited, the length of the turkey can reach 15 cm.
On the breast of a bird of this breed there is a characteristic black spot. In females of Big-6, the plumage is usually less dense than in males.
Productivity indicators
Growing Big-6 turkeys is a profitable business, of course, because they are gaining a lot of weight. And they do it fast enough. This bird reaches slaughter age as early as 3-4 months. At the same time, farmers do not have to spend too much on feed. These turkeys eat less than many other broilers. About 1 kg of feed is usually spent on 1 kg of their weight.
Big-6 turkeys grow really huge. The weight of adult females can reach 12 kg, males - 25 kg. The meat of this bird, judging by the reviews, is very tasty and juicy. Its output is about 80%. At the same time, about a third of the carcass weight falls on the breast.
Big-6 hybrids carry quite a few eggs - only about 100 pcs. in year. They are not too big. The weight of one egg is usually 80 grams. Turkeys of this breed begin to scam at the age of about 7-8 months.
In terms of productivity, this cross is thus similar to a Canadian broad-chested hybrid. This bird also gains enough weight - up to 17 kg (males). But Big-6 indicators are still higher in this regard than Canadian turkeys. Growing Big 6 is also a simpler procedure.
What should be a house
Despite the fact that the plumage of Big-6 is quite dense, they are kept only in heated sheds. The bird is unpretentious, but like any other meat highly productive hybrids, it is prone to various kinds of bird diseases. Therefore, the shed for Big-6 should be built of warm materials. In winter, the house will have to be heated.
Of course, the barn for Big-6 turkeys , which will be successful only in this case, should be not only warm, but also dry. Humidity, this bird does not tolerate. This is especially true for small turkey poults. If the chick gets wet, he will either die or stop gaining weight. The floor in the shed for Big 6 must be covered with a thick layer of straw. It should be so that the birds could not dig it to the boards. Some farmers even arrange infrared "warm floors" in the Big 6 shed. This allows you to keep the litter always dry.
These turkeys are bred most often using the outdoor method. But if you wish, you can grow them in cells. In poultry farms this hybrid is kept in windowless poultry houses under artificial lighting. You can build for the bird, of course, such a barn at home. But to save energy, it’s worthwhile to equip a couple of small windows in the room. For better ventilation, they should be openable. Also on the windows you need to put the grilles. Big 6 can fly.
Growing Big-6 broiler turkeys with a good result is possible only in a fairly large barn. It is believed that per adult Big-6 should account for at least 0.5 m 2 of floor area.
Some tips
The nature of Big-6 turkeys is quite aggressive, so keeping them with any other poultry is not recommended. In a barn, these turkeys are usually housed in families separate from other animals. One male in the herd should have about six layers. In this case, growing Big-6 turkeys will be more successful.
Aviary
For the best indicators of weight gain, Big-6 turkeys are kept on the street for almost the entire day in the summer. They are driven into the barn only in the evening. Therefore, next to the house, it is imperative to equip a spacious aviary. The walls of such a pen should be high enough. In this case, the top of the aviary must be covered with a net. So that the birds could not fly away, they additionally cut their wings.
Barn Equipment
Growing Big-6 turkeys at home involves, of course, the use of convenient roosts, nests, feeders and drinking bowls. The first are usually cut out from poles and set at a height of about 1 meter. Nests in the barn should be provided so that one accounted for no more than 4-5 layers. In this case, the bird will be better to rush. In the nests should, among other things, provide sills. This will prevent the eggs from rolling out.
Feeders for these turkeys will suit both industrial and home-made. Drinking bowls in the barn should be installed so that the bird in no way could turn them over and get wet. In winter, as already mentioned, the house will have to be equipped with additional heaters. Also in the cold season, this hybrid will need to extend daylight hours. Therefore, a sufficient number of lamps should be hung in the barn.
Growing Big 6 Turkeys: Feeding
In this regard, the Big-6 broiler, as already mentioned, is a rather economical bird. But to feed for the rapid weight gain of these turkeys, of course, you need to correctly. Food is given to the bird three times a day. In the morning and in the afternoon, turkeys are fed with wet mashrooms with the addition of grain and premix. In the evening, concentrates are offered to the bird. Be sure to give turkeys also bone meal. It is usually poured into mishmash. You can’t feed Big 6 chicken. This can negatively affect the development of the bird and the taste of its meat.
A feature of feeding turkeys of this breed is that they should not get too much fiber. Its content in the feed should not exceed 1-2%. At the same time, the poultry diet should be developed in such a way that the protein in food is at least 65%.
Overfeeding these turkeys is also impossible. Otherwise, they will get fat and stop gaining muscle mass.
Turkey slaughter
Keeping Big 6 in the yard for longer than 4 months is not recommended. By this time, turkeys stop gaining weight. After 4 months, their meat grows old and becomes not so tasty. Slaughter of birds of this breed is carried out in the usual way.
Instructions for growing Big-6 turkeys: how to propagate
It is quite difficult to increase the number of Big 6 hybrids in the compound. Their eggs have a high percentage of hatchability. However, due to the high weight, the males of these turkeys very poorly cover the layers. Therefore, fertilized eggs in the nest are usually few. The only exceptions are those cases when the farmer uses artificial methods of insemination of females.
The breed of Big 6 in Russia is new, and therefore when buying young animals of this hybrid it is very easy to run into a fake. Experienced farmers advise beginners not to buy chicks of this breed, but an incubation egg. The hatchability of this bird, as already mentioned, is very high. Poultry hatch from the hatching egg rather quickly - on the 28th day.
How to care for chicks
This bird is relatively unpretentious - Big-6 turkeys. The cultivation of chicks of this breed, however, has some of its own characteristics. Poultry hatched from eggs were first kept in a brooder. The plumage of them is very rare, and therefore the chicks can easily catch a cold. The air temperature in the brooder should be approximately 30 degrees. Lower rates will certainly affect the health of young animals. Higher the temperature in the brooder also cannot be raised. Turkey in this case will slow down development. In extreme heat, the chicks of this bird cannot cool the body through the nose. Sweat, of course, does not stand out from them. By the age of two months, the temperature of young animals should be gradually reduced to 20-25 degrees.
The first three days, Big-6 turkeys are usually fed with porridges on water and a boiled egg. Starting from 4 days of age, it is allowed to add dairy products, vegetables and greens to the food of chicks . For example, you can offer the bird shredded carrots, tops of this plant, alfalfa, plantain, etc. Turkeys of this breed and green onions are very fond of. However, experienced farmers do not advise overfeeding them young animals.
Of course, chicks should always have clean water in the brooder. It should be changed as often as possible. The chicks are fed at first every three hours. However, they are not offered too much food. Overfeeding Big-6 turkey poults is not recommended. By two months, the number of feedings can be gradually reduced to four per day.
Recommendations from experienced farmers
The technology for growing Big-6 turkeys is thus relatively simple. In order to achieve better success in the maintenance of this hybrid, many owners of suburban areas are advised to abide by the following rules:
in summer, the air temperature in the house should not exceed 20 degrees;
The hybrid shed should be made quite spacious, otherwise in crowded conditions the bird will break its legs under its own weight.
the litter of these turkeys needs to be changed 1-2 times a week (otherwise the bird can catch the infection).
To maintain the health of this hybrid, experienced farmers also recommend giving vitamin D to the birds. For the first time, they are added to the food for their chicks at the end of the first week of life. For the second time, vitamin is given to the bird after about 50 days.
Turkey disease
The cultivation of Big-6 turkeys at home with poor sanitation in the barn and maintenance standards can be significantly complicated. These birds are sick less often than many other hybrids. But nevertheless, these hybrids can become infected with dangerous infections . In this case, the farmer, of course, is waiting for big losses. Most often, Big 6 "pick up" Newcastle disease. Mostly young animals suffer from it. The characteristic signs of this disease are mucus in the mouth, paralysis of the limbs and loose stools. The disease is, unfortunately, incurable.
Also, sometimes Big-6 has respiratory mycoplasmosis. In this case, the bird begins to wheeze and becomes lethargic. Mycoplasmosis is treated quite easily - with the help of antibiotics.
Many farmers involved in the maintenance and cultivation of Big-6 turkeys also face such a problem as spergillotoxicosis . The main symptoms of this disease are diarrhea, lethargy, rapid breathing. In dying individuals, convulsions are observed. With this disease, you should definitely call a veterinarian who will prescribe the correct treatment. In order to strengthen the body with aspergillotoxicosis, birds try to add as many dairy products as possible to the diet of the bird.
Reviews of farmers about the breed
The opinion of the owners of household plots about this bird was very good. Survival of young Big-6, judging by the reviews, with proper care is almost one hundred percent. This bird grows, as farmers say, really fast. Many homeowners even believe that these turkeys are more profitable to breed than chickens.
Judging by the reviews, this bird, claimed by the breeders of weight, unfortunately, rarely gains. But after a slaughter in 4 months, she has a net meat yield of at least 8-9.5 kg.
Instead of a conclusion
Thus, we found out what Big-6 turkeys are (contents, cultivation, reviews, description were considered by us). This bird, as you can see, is actually unpretentious and highly productive. Farmers who have the opportunity to purchase her hatching egg, try to breed it in their yard, of course, worth it.