How to feed turkeys at home for rapid growth for beginners

A common problem for beginner poultry farmers is how to feed turkeys for rapid growth and weight gain at home. In order for the birds to develop properly and gain weight, corn and soy must be present in their diet. These are sources of vegetable protein for turkeys. At different ages, additional components necessary for he alth and normal metabolism change.

What to feed turkeys for rapid growth?

Chicks, older and adult birds require a different ratio of vitamins and minerals. In addition to protein foods, greens are useful for turkeys - scalded nettles, lettuce, green onions, alfalfa.

Peculiarities of feeding young animals

From birth to two months in the diet of turkeys, dairy products dominate, calcium sources are cottage cheese, yogurt. The second component of their nutrition and energy source is barley and corn groats. Birds get phosphorus from bone meal.

For newborn chicks on the first day, it is enough to finely crumble a boiled egg. On the second day, cottage cheese is added, on the third - cereals. At the end of the first week, soybean meal is added to the same components. Turkey poults also need animal proteins, so the mixture is diluted with meat broth.

Piece is introduced into the diet of monthly turkeys to saturate the body with amino acids. To replenish the supply of Omega-3 acids, they are given fish oil.

The following table will help you create a menu. The indicators are indicated in grams per individual:

1-56-1011-20 21-30 - 10 2 - -5 Green31015 2030Chalk-0 ,51 1.53

	31-40		Boiled eggs	2	1
-	-		Fat-free cottage cheese	2	5
5	-		Crushed corn	-	-
8	15		Piece	-	-

At the age of two months, new components are introduced into the mixture - finely chopped boiled carrots and potatoes.

The rate of development of chicks is determined by weight. On the thirtieth day, 0.5 kilograms is considered normal weight. In a month, the weight gain should be 100-150 percent. Three-month-old turkeys are being prepared for the transition to adult feed - they are given vegetables, crushed cereals, cake, grass.

What to feed adult birds

The basis of the diet of turkeys at 10 months is animal protein. It is found in meat and fish waste, dairy products. Also, adult birds need grain, vegetable food and legumes. In addition to chalk and shells, they are given crushed pine needles. Various components are added according to the season.

In the spring and summer period

With the advent of heat and the appearance of a green cover on the fields, birds are released for free grazing. Useful herbs for turkeys: alfalfa, clover, yarrow, gentian. Walking in the fresh air strengthens the legs, increases the appetite and the value of meat. Moderate sunbathing helps the body produce vitamin D. Summer homemade diet:

• corn;
• barley;
• wheat;
• bran;
• animal meal;
• feed yeast.

Caged birds should be given 200 grams of green fodder per day each.

A sample menu for adult turkeys is shown in the following table:

250Carrot80- Potato Alfalfa hay Bone meal Cheese Feed yeast 42S alt 1.5 1,5Crushed shell rock 68Chalk 32 Gravel 22

Name	Weight in grams per individual
	Spring	Summer
Cereals (corn, barley)	200	210
Wheat Bran	30	40
Green feed	50
200	-
15	-
5	10
10	10

On hot days, birds should not be left without water in the pasture and in the poultry house. In order for the turkeys to drink enough, they put simple drinkers on the range and change them during the day.

In winter

Feature of winter feeding is the absence of fresh grass. Greens are replaced with silage, hay, straw. Wheat germ is also a source of protein for turkeys. The main food components are barley and corn.

During the cold season, birds need more fiber. Therefore, it will be useful for them:

• boiled beets;
• alfalfa hay;
• crushed chestnuts.

In summer, young branches and leaves of trees are harvested: birch, linden, aspen, mountain ash. The rods are hung in bundles and hung so that the turkeys can gnaw them. Crushed leaves are added to wet mixtures.

Subtleties of feeding at different periods

Turkeys need more vitamins during the fattening, laying and breeding period. The set of nutrients for breeding males and laying hens is also different. Therefore, at the time of mating and oviposition, the diet is adjusted for individual groups of birds. The fattening diet is also changing.

In the tribal period

In the diet of males, the proportion of protein is reduced to maintain a balance of substances and prevent excessive weight gain. Overfed turkeys lose interest in females. Dried fruits and fodder yeast in their diet contribute to the breeding of he althy chicks.

Male during the breeding season eat less or may refuse food altogether. Therefore, to awaken the appetite, include ginger, garlic in the diet and give more juicy food.

During the laying period

When laying eggs, it is also important not to overfeed the hens.Obesity has a negative effect on oviposition. With a lack of phosphorus and calcium during oviposition, turkeys peck at laid eggs. There are also problems with the formation of eggs - the absence of a shell or yolk. In the diet of laying hens, the proportion of dairy products containing calcium is increased. As a supplement, the birds are given crushed eggshells and bone meal.

Fat for meat to slaughter

For beginner poultry farmers, a simple way out is to feed turkeys with compound feed. It already contains the necessary set of components. Ready mixes are designed for turkey poults of different ages:

• starter - for chicks from birth to a month old;
• medium - for monthly birds;
• main, finishing - for young animals from two months and adult birds.

Types of compound feed differ in nutritional value, there are granular and crumbly. For small turkeys, small granules are intended, and for grown-ups, large ones. Complete feed replaces plants, grains and vegetables, contains vitamins and antibiotics. But the use of a dry mixture increases thirst. Birds should always have clean water.

The second way to feed turkeys for experienced breeders is to make your own wet mix with herbs and vegetables, combined with ready-made cereal concentrates. Sunflower cake, wheat bran, crushed corn and boiled potatoes are added to the mash.

Eating is important for weight gain:

• in the morning, in the morning - wet plant food;
• in the afternoon, in the evening - grain, feed.

During the period of weight gain, turkeys are given walnuts, vegetable oil - so that the meat is tender and juicy. Zucchini and pumpkin are easily digested by young and old birds.

In order for turkeys to eat more and gain weight better, spices are added to the feed: anise, pepper, cinnamon, garlic.

Use of vitamin and mineral supplements

Until six months, turkey poults and young animals require the following vitamins:

• A - blindness develops from lack;
• D - beriberi leads to rickets, feather loss;
• group B - regulates metabolism, ensures normal growth and sexual development.

Avitaminosis leads to cannibalism and lack of appetite. With the onset of oviposition, laying hens that did not receive B vitamins have difficulty hatching eggs, and the oviduct falls out.

From the seventh day of life, turkeys are given crushed shells, chalk and s alt to help digest food.The source of carbohydrates for them is starch. To prevent indigestion, probiotics are used as a supplement. Powdered calcium phosphate or tricalcium phosphate is added to turkey feed. The proportion of the substance in the diet should not exceed two percent. In order not to make a mistake with the dosage, ready-made vitamin supplements - premixes are used. They are compiled specifically for the age of the birds.

Do not abuse premixes during the laying period. From an excess of vitamins in laying hens, premature molting begins and the ability to carry eggs disappears.

What problems might you encounter

The main problem in fattening turkeys is little or no weight gain. If the weight of the birds does not increase, you need to make sure that they are he althy. Lack of appetite or weight loss are symptoms of a bacterial infection, helminth infection.

The lack of weight gain in he althy turkeys is a sign of an incorrect diet or feeding regimen.

How to increase bird weight gain:

• feed more often, with the calculation of 800 grams of feed per day for each individual;
• increase the proportion of succulent food, cook wet mash;
• add a stimulating vitamin premix to the feed.

Turkeys do not gain weight well due to errors in housing conditions:

• draft, cold;
• stale air;
• lack of light.

Turkeys are physically unable to eat with crowded crops. The cork is formed due to the abundance of dry food.

What can not be given to turkeys?

Products contraindicated for birds:

• compound feed for cows and pigs;
• mouldy, wormy grains and vegetables;
• large pieces of raw fish and meat;
• pickled vegetables.

Potentially harmful foods:

• bread - preference should be given to white, homemade. Rye loaves cause fermentation. The composition of store products is known only to bakers at the factory;
• tomatoes - green vegetables and tops contain the toxic substance corned beef;
• fruits, berries - if eaten occasionally and rarely, they will not do harm, but they are not suitable for constant feeding.

Turkeys should not be given foods with fiber: bran, legumes, cabbage, beets. From bread soaked in milk, their digestion stops. When grazing or gathering herbs in the field, avoid areas with plants poisonous to turkeys: hemlock, buttercup, milkweed, hemlock, night blindness.

Dangerous product - expired poultry feed. After the expiration date, it turns into a toxin concentrate.Ready-made mixtures of poor quality will also be of little use, since they do not saturate the birds with energy and vitamins in full. The price doesn't always match the quality. Therefore, the best compound feed for turkeys is homemade.

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