Turkeys are large domesticated poultry birds that have long been used for their meat and eggs as protein sources and feathers as decorative items. Unlike chickens, these unique birds can become your best friends or can be used for your dinner and much more. This article will let you know how to breed Turkeys.
Method 1 – Before Hatching:
- Decide buying these birds only if you really want to or need to. If you have no real liking for them you would not be able to take the best of their care.
- Your town or city should not have any rules against keeping Turkeys or else this might put you in trouble.
- Before buying them, you should also keep in mind your neighbors, as the birds are smelly and make noise like roosters.
- It is important that you do not buy these birds unless you have enough money since it is expensive, as they need coops, water, food, space, feeders, and incubators.
- I you have decided to breed Turkeys you should carefully select the correct sexes and buy a tom and a hen. Larger birds are used for food purposes, whereas smaller ones are used for show.
- Take care to daily feed and water your birds and the containers should be full always. Do not force water inside the mouths of young Turkeys and check them only six times in a day. Older birds need to be seen only once or twice a day since they go on searching for insects throughout the yard.
- The mature birds should be let out; however, they should be kept safe from predators.
- While the hen is laying eggs she needs peace so let her be alone with some easy to get food and water.
Method 2: After Hatching:
- When the chicks are finally out after 21-28 days, do not separate them immediately from their mother, and properly feed the hen and the rooster. Keep all the chicks within a brooder box of proper size so that the chicks do not escape.
- Do not put any food and water inside the brooder box for two days.
- Do not continue feeding scratch to your older Turkeys as it causes boredom and lack of calcium.
- Remove the chicks from the box only when they are pullet size.
- If the eggs appear to be thin, feed the bird with egg or oyster shells, as it will provide them with calcium.
- Flip the eggs regularly every once in a while inside the incubator.
Summary:
If you are planning to breed and raise turkeys, here are some instructions to have a good number of Turkeys at your farm or home.
