White-breasted turkey: features of the content and breeding

Turkeys are one of the most popular poultry in the world. They deserve their popularity for a reason. First, they are valued for exceptional simplicity and ease of breeding. And secondly, for the incredibly tasty, tender and dietary meat. We will dwell in more detail on the white wide-breasted turkey breed.

Description and characteristics

The breed was bred in the 60s of the last century in the United States. During the breeding, a bronze wide-breasted and white Dutch turkey was crossed. Turkeys of white broad-breasted breed are characterized by a characteristic white color with a black medallion on the chest. The body of the bird has an oval elongated shape. Legs are bright pink, powerful and widely spaced. The breed has a high egg production and rapid growth and weight gain.

Types of turkeys

White wide-breasted turkeys are divided into 3 species according to their complexion, among them they distinguish light, medium and heavy.

Lungs

The smallest representatives of domestic birds.The maximum weight of such a turkey is 10 kg, and females 6 kg. Such turkeys are great for keeping in cages, which is a great option for a small farm.

Average

The live weight of the male reaches 15-16 kgand females 7-8 kg. Used in household and on farms. Most often, the birds are slaughtered in 6-7 months, this is the best option, since at this age the carcass already has high-quality meat and a decent presentation. The content of average turkeys over this age is considered unprofitable.

Heavy

Males reach 24-27 kg, and the average weight of such a turkey is 10 kg. Birds gain weight very quickly and grow; after 5-6 months they can weigh 11-16 kg when weighed. For the cultivation of such large individuals need a lot of space, so it is not for everyone.

Conditions for content

Before you start breeding poultry, you need to create a comfortable living environment for her. Choose the type that you will breed, should, starting from the free space that you are ready to equip for living turkeys.

Bird house

Required condition - the house should be warm, clean and fit the size of the birds. For "light" turkeys, the cage will be a great house. They will be comfortable animals, and also, importantly, in the cells is very convenient to maintain cleanliness and to ensure proper care. When selecting cells, attention should be paid to those in which the width of the cells exceeds 2.5 cm, so you will ensure the safe keeping of young turkeys.

The construction of the pen will require much less financial expenditures; it is only necessary to allocate a place at the rate of 1 sq. M. m for 5 chicks, and after 5 months the area of ​​the fence should be increased by 2 times. It is possible to keep both light and medium and heavy turkeys in the pen.

In order for the birds not to hurt, you should correctly approach the construction of floors in the room, for this it is best to use wooden boards, and the space between the board and the ground should exceed 25 cm. Then be sure to make the flooring, it is necessary to maintain sanitary conditions, as well as to maintain a comfortable temperature.

It can be made from straw, hay, sawdust or corn straw. Before laying the floor in the house, it must be disinfected, for example, using quicklime. On 1 square. meter take 600-750 g of the drug. After that the laying is poured with a layer from 11 to 16 cm.

The most important thing when choosing a place for keeping turkeys is that the room should be warm, dry and well lit at least 8 hours a day in the winter period when walking a bird is impossible. It is not necessary to neglect the observance of the regime in the cold period, the lighting must be turned on and off at the same time with the minimum error. Birds sleep on the perch, which must be built depending on the estimated size of individuals.

Place for walking

Birds walk in the fresh air are extremely necessary, as constant keeping in a closed, cramped room can lead to excess fat. For normal healthy movement of turkeys, at least one square meter is required for each individual. Experts say that hour walks are possible even in winter. In the summer, they should spend on the street all daylight hours. For walks one should provide a paddock, preferably with a shed, so that birds can hide there from the sun and rain and at the same time feel protection from predators.

Nutrition

Success in growing turkeys, especially white wide-breasted, implies proper feeding and proper care.

Youngsters

Babies need to be fed at least 8 times a day. There are many different special feeds, but preference should be given to, if possible, personally prepared food. The best dish for feeding chicks will be a boiled egg, in which you can add cereal, and then necessarily alfalfa or cabbage, depending on the season. All ingredients should be thoroughly crushed and served to small birds in the feeder.

Perfect for first feeds milk and cottage cheese, with the addition of cereals and fresh herbs. If possible, add fish oil and bone meal to the diet of chicks.

Adult birds

Adult turkeys are enough to feed 3 times a day. But for getting really high-quality, tender and tasty meat with dietary properties, the diet should be balanced. Grains should definitely be present: corn, wheat and barley, these products are perfect for dinner.

For a daily meal fit cereals with the addition of herbs or vegetables. It should be borne in mind that in summer turkeys consume enough fortified food for a walk. And in the winter, on the contrary, you need to add more vegetables to the menu: carrots, beets and cabbage.

Breeding features

The turkeys of this breed differ in average egg production, in the period from 6 to 9 months, the female can carry up to 100 eggs, 70% of which will be fertilized. The hen is able to sit and feed up to 8 chicks and will raise them for two months. Next, you should carefully approach the feeding and growth of young.

Turkey disease

Young turkeys are very susceptible to various colds and infectious diseases, so it is very important to provide a warm and dry room for them. If you ignore the disease at an early stage, it can lead to the death of birds.

It is necessary to maintain the air temperature in the house at 16 degrees Celsius, as well as to ensure cleanliness in the room in order to avoid the occurrence of infectious diseases. In order for hygiene in the house to be at a sufficient level, it should be regularly disinfected after slaughter and before the appearance of the young.

Proper nutrition is also an integral part of the successful rearing of poultry. To obtain a high-quality final product, it is necessary to provide a balanced, high-quality food and not allow the birds to starve, with the knowledge of which they will begin to eat chips, stones and leaves.

And the use of the above dishes can lead to infections.

Growing this meaty breed of turkeys is easy enough, especially if you follow the simple rules of care. And you can see the result of your efforts in 5 months, which is good news.

Having stopped the choice on these turkeys, you will definitely not lose, and cultivating the variety at the lowest cost brings the maximum profit.