Homestead Turkey Production
(Page 5 of 9)
First, let us assume that the desired breed has been
selected and that we are prepared either to purchase
breeding stock, or as in the case of Toowoomba, the better
females from the originally purchased poults have been
saved. Then we are ready to get into business. If
home-grown turkey hens are kept, it would be advisable to
purchase a tom from an unrelated strain.
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Obviously, the most satisfactory time to select breeding
birds is before Thanksgiving so that those good enough
either to save or purchase are obtainable before the
holiday axe falls. The breeders should have compact, meaty
bodies, with straight breasts and broad backs. They should
be vigorous and by all means they should have originated in
a purebred flock and one free from pullorum.
In mating it should be remembered that one mature male will
handle from 15 to 18 hens, and the best age for these
breeders is two years old even though yearlings may be used
in a limited capacity.
Ten days after mating it may be assumed that eggs are
fertile and these may be saved as "hatchers". Each four
hens should be provided with a nest, and eggs should be
gathered at least twice daily . . . more often during warm
weather. The average hen will produce 35 eggs each season
before becoming broody, and if artificial lights are used
and if hens are "broken up" when they try to set, this
figure may easily be increased to 60 eggs.
Eggs should be stored at a temperature no higher than 60
degrees Fahrenheit and should not be held longer than ten
days between laying and setting. As to rations, laying
turkeys should be fed a combination of mash and scratch,
and of course salt and oystershell should be available at
all times. Excellent commercial turkey feed mixtures may be
purchased and for those producing a limited number of birds
annually this is the answer to the feed question. However,
for those who are interested in mixing their own feeds or
at least knowing what should be included in an ideal
mixture, we think it wise to include many mash mixtures
that have been found satisfactory. An excellent laying mash
and scratch is as follows:
During the laying season mash should be kept before the
hens at all times, the scratch being hand-fed twice daily
and given at the rate of about 1/4 pound per hen per day.
Turkey hens make good incubators and the average turkey hen
will cover from 15 to 18 eggs, the chicken hen (of the
medium-weight breeds) from 7 to 10 eggs. Either have proven
satisfactory, yet if eggs are to be artificially incubated
then it is advisable to take them to a commercial hatchery
and have the eggs custom incubated . . . usually at a very
small cost.
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