Being a lucrative agricultural business, turkey farming is still low. The quality and quantity of turkeys produced is determined by the type and level of technology used in the process.
Turkey rearing is done for both hobby and purpose as major types include large, medium and mini of which breeds of large type are broad, breasted bronze and broad breasted white. Turkeys like green fodder as tom gains 8-10 kg while hen gain 6-7 kg in 8 months under good management.
Turkey management
As disease resistance of turkeys is good, common broiler sheds of 12ft central height and big mesh windows on both sides are used. Air circulation is important to prevent development of respiratory infections and mud flow is better as it absorbs moisture.
Secondly let the litre bed be of 6 inches deep. As feeders and water troughs are used, fully grown up birds need 3-4 sq feet floor space in shade and in this, turkeys attain sexual maturity at 30 weeks of age. Natural mating is allowed and the ratio of male to female is 1:5. Each female lays 80-90 eggs per year and each egg weighs 80g and no particular season for egg laying. Collect eggs on hourly basis as birds may damage. Turkeys lay for 24 weeks.
Eggs management
Store eggs in cool place for 2-3 days or in refrigerator for a week. Use hatchery for large scale chick production. Egg incubation take 28 days with average hatching of 65-70%. Day old chick weighs 50g and brooding takes 4 weeks and 6 weeks in winter and in this, provide 95 degrees fahreinheit in the beginning and reduce it at 5 degrees fahreinheit rate per week for 4 weeks.
Turkey feeding.
Initial 2 months are critical as mortality is up to 6-10% hence the need to take enough care for feeding of poults. Put paddy husks on floor and screen it once in 2 days to avoid flaking and cover the windows in the areas with high velocity wind and wind day. Increase floorspace according to growth of birds and keep enough feeder and waterers. Feed poults for 1 month with ready made poultry feed and at a later stage, feed on 25% feed and 75% green. Grazing land should have enough space. Proteineceous fodder make birds grow health and feeding 30-40g of shells supplement on calcium and strengthen their legs. Hold birds with legs and debeak, vaccinate and maintain air circulation and hygiene.
