Turkey Farming and Management
Turkey farming is a profitable poultry bird and can act as an additional enterprise to many farms and can increase farm income. Turkeys can be grown in as little 12 weeks and for up to 24 weeks, depending on the requirements at point of sale.
Benefits of Turkey Farming
The turkey farming has the following benefits:
- Grows very fast and this makes them reach selling point easily
- They can be reared in free range system in the backyards
- They can be raised small and marginal farmers.
- Turkey egg weighs 1.3 times more than the chicken egg.
- Better forager than the chickens
- Turkeys are more resistance to diseases than the chickens.
- The turkey meat is a preferred meat especially during Easter and Christmas celebrations.
Common Breeds of Turkey
1. Belts Ville White
This breed is medium sized turkey having white feathers. It produces more eggs compared to Broad Breasted Bronze. The toms (male Turkey) weigh 10 to12 kg at maturity and hens weigh 7 to 8 kg at maturity period.
2. Broad Breasted Bronze
This is the most popular Turkey breed and heaviest. As the name indicates, it has broad and prominent chest region and bronze coloured feathers.
The males and females Turkeys at maturity weigh 15-18 kg and 12-13 kg, respectively.
As of today, the majority of the hybrid turkeys are crosses of different strains of Broad Breasted Bronze or Belts Ville White.
3. White Holland
This breed is a popular variety of turkey most commonly found in European countries. It was bred and developed in Holland.
4. CARI Virat variety of CARI
This Turkey breed has low fat and low cholesterol. It is suitable for backyard rearing.
Management of Turkey
Housing
Turkeys are large in size and for this reason they should invariably be reared on the floor and should be either completely inside a house on deep-litter or on semi-intensive system. Semi-intensive system is more common in Turkey farming. Turkeys are adaptable in most kinda of farm building.
Unlike other poultry birds, Turkeys grow and perform well in fairly low house temperatures (15-17°C).
From six weeks onwards, Turkeys can thrive well in lean-to buildings with good litter or bedding, such as chopped straw or white wood shavings unlike other poultry birds.
Brooding
Brooding in Turkey is similar to chicken. Turkey, as the other poultry species, is more susceptible to cold and you should provide enough brooding. Brooding period in Turkey should be extended till 6 to 8 weeks depending on temperature.
Temperature
Newly hatched turkeys require an incubator temperature of 38 °C due to their inability to maintain body heat (due to lack of feathering). Turkeys should be placed in a draught-free surroundings of 37°C for the first day.
The temperature should then be reduced by 0.5°C per day until they are approximately five weeks of age. At this stage, they are sufficiently well feathered to be able to thrive without the aid of artificial heat by brooding.
Feeding
Turkey chicks referred to as “Poults” should be given special care because they do not start eating as soon as they are left under the brooder.
Death due to starvation is the most common cause of mortality in poults. You should also watch legs of your poults, so that they should be in good strong health not weak.
You should administer vitamins in the water and ensure that your poults eat and drink properly. For Turkeys meant for meat and sold at around 16 to 20 weeks of age, broiler starter rations should be given till 8 weeks of age followed by broiler finisher ration till market.
If your Turkeys are meant for breeding and egg production, they should be offered layer ration after first egg is recorded at the farm.
Health Management
Turkeys are susceptible to diseases, for this this reason, they require much higher level of management and skill than other domestic fowls.
In Turkey, they are four primary causes of disease: genetic, nutritional, environmental and infection.