Turkey can be considered one of the most interesting species of birds bred in households. Their meat is simply superb in high palatability and is considered dietary. Growing turkeys at home can have its own nuances and difficulties.
Breeding chickens, for example, is much easier. However, meat from one turkey can be obtained much more than from a rooster.
In order to bring turkey, you can, of course, use an incubator. However, nobody will cope with this task better than a brood hen. Growing turkey poults at home begins with preparing a nest for her. Make it simple enough. To do this, you need 2 bars 10 x 10 and hay. Nest is arranged in the corner of the barn. Bars are filled on the floor and covered with a hay.
It is better to lay eggs under the brood in the evening. At this time, when a person appears, she is not worried and does not jump off the nest. Turkeys are very caring mothers and do an excellent job of hatching, turning eggs if necessary for better heating.
Chicks hatch for about 28 days. They begin to get out of the hen only in the second - the third.
Growing turkeys at home is different in that the first 14 days of life, they require increased attention. Feed them at this time at least seven times a day. For this, millet, eggs, mashed cottage cheese are used. It is very good to give babies finely chopped herbs whose taste is bitter. This will prevent intestinal dysfunction. Water must be changed at least two to three times a day.
Maintaining the optimum temperature is a very important point in such a complex matter as growing turkey poultry at home. Directly at the floor, it should be at least 26 degrees Celsius. It is also impossible to pour cold water into drinkers. Use only room temperature water. In addition, the drinkers themselves should not be too deep. A wet turkey is sure to get sick, and curing these birds is very problematic.
As they grow older, the diet is made more diverse and reduces the number of feedings. Grown up turkeys will have enough 3 - 4 meals a day. However, during this period, it is imperative to monitor the state of the chicks. If one of them sits with closed eyes and drooping wings for a long time - this may mean that his stomach hurts. You can cure such a turkey by putting a small pea of ordinary unsanitary black pepper in its beak deeper.
Feeding turkeys is a fairly responsible process. Adult birds in the winter 2 times a day impose a mash (greens, bran) and once grain. During the breeding season, that is, in summer, the number of feedings is increased up to four times. In this case, both the grain and the mash are given 2 times. Particular attention must be paid to feeding turkeys. They are very sensitive to vitamin deficiencies. Therefore, appropriate preparations must be added to the feed.
Growing turkey poultry at home is not an easy task. However, showing maximum attention to the chicks, especially in the first fourteen days, you can do absolutely without any losses.