Turkey bronze-708: description of the breed, breeding, maintenance and care at home

Bronze-708 breed turkeys are very popular among farmers. This cross has become widespread due to its tender meat and high egg production parameters. In addition, birds have a beautiful appearance. The combination of aesthetic characteristics, unpretentiousness in care and rapid increase in body weight make these turkeys very popular.

Description and origin

A distinctive feature of birds is the possibility of breeding in large farms. Initially, birds are raised for slaughter. At the same time, it is not worth trying to use them for long-term breeding.This is due to the presence of recessive genes. As a result, poults and the first generation will differ in key parameters.

Initially, bronze turkeys, which were distinguished by a wide chest, were developed by American scientists. The starting point for obtaining a hybrid was wild birds and a black English breed. As a result, it was possible to obtain a premium breed. Further developments began to be carried out by the British. To improve key indicators, they developed a breed called orlopp bronze.

The next stage of work was carried out by France. The scientists of this country managed to obtain a medium-heavy cross on the basis of the orlopp bronze breed, which they called bronze-708. These turkeys are large in size and have a wide chest. This makes them an excellent base for creating hybrids.

Distinctive properties of the breed are:

• body strength;
• bronze plumage;
• body density;
• legs wide apart;
• neck of moderate length;
• gray skin on the head and neck.

The tail of the turkeys of this breed resembles a fan in appearance. At the same time, longitudinal black stripes are located on the back.

Breed productivity

This hybrid breed has a strong immune system and is able to quickly increase body weight. The slaughter of young animals is carried out at 5-6 months. At the same time, birds can weigh 10-17 kilograms.

The daily weight table shows the dynamics of its growth:

5 months1100016900

Age	Female weight, grams	Male weight, grams
3 days	50	56
7 days	140	160
2 weeks	340	390
1 month	1100	1400
2 months	3700	4800
3 months	7300	9800

The characteristics of birds include fairly high egg production parameters. 1 female is able to bring 70-150 eggs during the year. A stable collection can be expected by 9-10 months. With the advent of cold weather, turkeys continue to lay eggs.

Pros and cons of turkeys bronze-708

Pros and conslarge sizes;rapid weight gain;beautiful bronze shade of feathers;delicious dietary meat;rapid maturation;the need for small amounts of food.the need to create enclosures;the risk of developing bone pathologies - to avoid this problem, birds need to be properly fed;draft intolerance.

Nuances of maintenance and care

To grow birds at home, they definitely need to make an aviary. There must be at least 1 square meter of area per 1 bird. The temperature in the house should be no more than +20 degrees in summer and no less than +5 degrees in winter. Drafts should also be avoided. Keeping cells clean is important.

Straw, sawdust, hay should be laid on the floor. The bedding is recommended to be changed regularly. It is important to install perches in the warmest place in the house. They should be placed 40-50 centimeters from the floor. Nests are recommended to be located in the darkest place.

For the prevention of parasites in the house, it is worth putting a container filled with sand and ash. There, the turkeys will be able to bathe, cleaning their feathers. In the warm season, birds need walks. They can make them in the yard or in the aviary. At the same time, it is recommended to sow the walking area with grass and make a canopy.

With the advent of spring, it is recommended to disinfect places where birds are kept. The room should be treated with hot water with the addition of caustic soda. 2 females and 1 male can live in one enclosure. At the same time, it is impossible to settle several males at once. They can put up serious fights, which will lead to severe injury.

What to feed the bird?

In order for turkeys to quickly gain weight, they need a high-calorie diet. Usually, ready-made feed is used for this. Cereals are used as the basis of such mixtures. Experienced breeders can prepare mixtures on their own. In the menu of turkeys, you should definitely include bone meal, cake, fish oil. Since the summer, it is recommended to prepare the following products for birds:

• hay;
• herbal flour;
• sauerkraut;
• a mixture of herbs - it should consist of colza, nettle, alfalfa.

Chalk, shell rock and gravel are required to improve the absorption of food by birds. To increase egg production, turkeys are recommended to give more vegetables and herbs. Of no small importance is the intake of a sufficient amount of calcium in the body. Otherwise the eggs will be brittle.

Features of breeding

Turkeys have excellent maternal instincts. However, it will not be possible to obtain a large number of birds naturally. Therefore, turkeys need to be hatched in an incubator. To do this, it is recommended to choose the right eggs. They should be perfectly shaped and medium in size. There should be no growths or other irregularities on the shell.

The development of embryos takes, on average, 28 days - with proper incubation of eggs, most of the chicks will be born after this period of time.

Possible diseases and methods of their treatment

Adult birds of this breed are considered very hardy. They are characterized by high resistance to pathologies. At the same time, chicks often encounter diseases. Common disorders that occur in turkeys include the following:

1. Respiratory mycoplasmosis. This infection is most common in winter and in conditions of high humidity. In adult birds, lesions of the membranes of the eyes and discharge from the nose are observed. Turkey poults may additionally suffer from shortness of breath.
2. Tuberculosis. This pathology affects many organs. Symptoms of the disorder include diarrhea and skin lesions. Most often, infection occurs through contact with chickens or geese.
3. Smallpox. The main sign of infection is insufficient disinfection of containers. Insects can also spread the disease. With the development of a violation, the body of the bird becomes covered with spots. It is impossible to eliminate the pathology. Turkeys have to be finished off and disposed of.
4. Helminths. When infected with such parasites, symptoms are almost completely absent, but the productivity of the bird is reduced. To avoid problems, it is important to follow the rules of prevention.
5. Hardening of the goiter. This problem occurs when there are no shells or gravel in the food. In this case, swelling and inflammation of the goiter are observed. The bird cannot drink and eat food, which provokes its death.
6. Hypovitaminosis. Chicks are susceptible to this problem. The disorder is most often associated with malnutrition. At the same time, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes is observed, rickets develops.

To avoid the development of pathologies, you should follow these rules:

• provide a balanced diet for birds;
• add vitamins and minerals to feed;
• process the premises and inventory on time;
• systematically inspect birds;
• vaccinate on time.

Turkeys bronze-708 are characterized by high productivity parameters and quickly increase body weight. For their cultivation to be successful, it is important to choose a balanced diet.

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