Feeding turkeys in the first weeks of life

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The main advantages of turkeys are rapid weight gain, omnivorousness and, of course, delicious meat. It is these qualities that encourage owners of their own plots to think about breeding these birds. In order for the bird to grow without problems, remain he althy, and subsequently be able to give the same he althy offspring, painstaking care will be required, including the construction (equipment) of the premises, maintaining and regulating the temperature, and proper nutrition.

Feeding turkeys at home includes:

- grain legumes and cereal feed (emphasis on buckwheat and oats);

-meal and cake (contain essential amino acids);

- fish, meat, meat and bone, blood meal (source of calcium, amino acids, phosphorus and protein);

- green food (contains carbohydrates);

- needles (in winter - an additional source of such an important vitamin C);

- hay and straw (contain fiber that helps the bird digest food);

- acorns, nuts(compensate for the need for fat and make the meat juicier and more tender).

Feeding is possible after the hatched chicks have dried. Please note that in the first hours the food will not be completely eaten. This is due to the inability to swallow food in the first hours after birth. For now, the chicks will only learn to peck, but after seven to eight hours they will be able to swallow the food they pour.

It is better to start feeding turkeys with hard-boiled and finely chopped eggs, mixed with semolina (instead of semolina, small oatmeal or wheat groats are suitable), with the addition of grated carrots and greens (also very finely chopped).

So that the still fragile beaks are not injured, the food is laid out in the first days on plywood or cardboard.

The first three days, turkey poults are fed according to an eight-time scheme (after three hours, including at night). By two months (gradually removing feeding, that is, increasing the time period), the number of feedings is reduced to four (the dosage increases).

Below is a diagram according to which you can feed turkeys for up to a month (the ration is designed for a head).

Until the sixth day:

- 5 g of cereals (millet, wheat grits, barley grits);

- 2 g wheat bran;

- 2 eggs;

- 2g cottage cheese;

- 3g reverse;

- 3g greens;

- 2g carrots.

From the sixth day to the tenth:

- 8 g of cereals (millet, wheat grits, barley grits);

- 4g wheat bran;

- oneegg;

- 5g cottage cheese;

- 10g reverse;

- 1 g meat and bone meal;

- 0.2g yeast;

- 0.05g fish oil;

- 8g greens;

- 5g carrots;

- 0.5g shells, chalk;

- 0.1g fine gravel.

From the eleventh day to the twentieth:

- 12 g of cereals (barley, millet, wheat grits);

- 4g corn grits;

- 5g wheat bran;

- 10 g cottage cheese;

- 12g back;

- 5 g meat and bone meal;

- 0.3g yeast;

- 0.2g fish oil;

- 10g carrots;

- 5g boiled potatoes;

- 0.8 g of chalk and shells;

- 0.1g regular table s alt;

- 0.3g gravel.

Next to the month:

- 20g cereal;

- 8g corn grits;

- 8g wheat bran;

- 10 g cottage cheese;

- 15g reverse;

- 8 g meat and bone meal;

- 0.5g yeast;

- 0.5g fish oil;

- 20g greens;

- 12g carrots;

- 10g boiled potatoes;

- 1.5g shell chalk;

- 0.2g s alt;

- 1g gravel.

The term "greens" means a mixture of alfalfa, sainfoin, nettle, peas, quinoa, colza, sunflower, cabbage, swede, carrots, sweet clover, dandelion, green onions. Moreover, the latter is also the prevention of intestinal diseases. For older turkeys, chalk, shells and gravel can be left in a separate trough.

Mandatory is the constant availability of clean water (not melt, not rain, not from reservoirs). Once a week, to prevent perosis (a dangerous disease), ordinary water is replaced with a solution of manganese (weak, pale pink).

Keep the drinkers with feeders clean (it is advisable to periodically scald them with boiling water).

As you can see, feeding and caring for turkeys is not particularly difficult. The main thing is to follow the regime, monitor the quality of the feed and cleanliness.