Content
Turkey breeds bronze broad-breasted are very prized among farmers. They stand out among other breeds due to their size. Bronze turkeys were originally bred by American breeders. It’s obvious that they put a lot of effort into it, because the breed turned out just perfect. It was created for the purpose of industrial cultivation on farms. Now everyone can buy turkeys of this breed and breed them at home.
By breeding bronze turkeys, breeders wanted to get a meaty breed that would be profitable to grow for large enterprises. Until now, they are the largest representatives among turkeys. It is worth considering what other features, besides size, this breed has. In this article we will see all the advantages and disadvantages of bronze broad-breasted turkeys. We will also look at how to properly raise and care for these birds. All these factors will make it clear why this breed of turkey has become so popular, and why more and more farmers are choosing it for breeding.
Description and characteristics of the breed
Representatives of this breed grow very large. You probably won't find a single bronze broad-breasted turkey that weighs less than nine kilograms.
Experienced farmers claim that with abundant feeding and following the rules of care and reproduction, it is possible to raise turkeys weighing up to thirty kilograms. Bronze turkeys also have another name - “American”. It reminds us that the breed was developed in America.
The body of these birds is oval, the chest is wide, convex and very strong. A graceful gait and powerful legs give breed even more nobility. The bronze broad-breasted turkey has beautiful plumage, black feathers shimmer in the sun with bronze, purple and bluish tints. Bronze is the predominant color, as indicated by the name of the breed. Males are distinguished by a fan-shaped, elegant tail.
Advantages of the breed
There are many advantages of this breed over other types of turkeys. We will try to list the main advantages:
- high egg production. These turkeys differ in both the quality and quantity of eggs. In one season, a turkey can lay down about 120 of them. Of these, 96 eggs can be fertilized, and from 67 small turkey poults will hatch;
- maternal instincts. Turkeys of this breed are caring and attentive mothers. They hatch their offspring with great patience. Moreover, they can also be planted on the eggs of other birds, such as chickens or ducks;
- precocity. At the 20th week of life, bronze turkeys can weigh up to eight kilograms, and turkey hens can weigh at least fourteen kilograms;
- profitability. There is no need to feed these turkeys for a long time.They are usually slaughtered twenty weeks after birth. The reason is that after this age, birds need much more feed to maintain their weight, and even more so in order to build even more muscle mass.
Disadvantages of bronze turkeys
The bronze broad-breasted turkey is suitable exclusively for breeding in industrial conditions. They will not be able to fully develop in pastures or even in the yard. Only cages and barns are suitable for raising bronze broad-breasted turkeys. These birds can be fed only with balanced feed containing all the necessary vitamins and minerals. You should also add various fertilizers. You can prepare a mixture of grain and chopped grass for turkeys. And veterinarians advise adding special vitamin complexes from time to time. As you can see, breeding such large individuals is a little expensive, but the amount of meat obtained is, of course, worth it.
Productivity
Bronze broad-breasted turkey poults have a very high survival rate. They are disease resistant and strong. All thanks to the original breed, the crossing of which produced bronze turkeys. She was distinguished by high levels of endurance and had excellent health.
The main goal of breeding this breed is to obtain high-quality and tasty meat. It tastes a little like game. The big advantage of turkeys being slaughtered young is that the meat remains tender and soft. Moreover, up to 80% of the total mass of the carcass is meat. It is an excellent dietary product because it contains only 8% fat.
Turkey eggs are also used in cooking. They are round in shape and large. They have an unusual brown color, with specks of different sizes located throughout the egg. They can be seen in the photo.
Turkeys of the bronze broad-breasted breed begin to lay eggs as early as nine months of age. The minimum number of eggs laid per season is about 60, and the maximum is approximately 150 eggs per year. Not only can they incubate the eggs of other bird species, but they also take care of them as if they were their own. Turkeys can easily be trusted with small geese, ducklings and chickens.
Breed care
The bronze broad-breasted turkey can only fully grow in a spacious room. It is very important to maintain a stable temperature in it, as well as air humidity. These birds do not tolerate drafts well. For normal living, one individual will need 1 m2 space. Birds should not sit on a cold floor, so it should be lined with hay or straw. The room with turkeys should be well lit and also have ventilation.
Long feeders and drinkers are built for the birds so that all the birds can eat from the same container. It is necessary to arrange roosts for turkeys. They should be no higher than 50 centimeters from the floor. At the bottom you need to place pull-out trays for collecting litter. The room temperature should not fall below -8 °C, as it is destructive for this breed of bird. In order for the birds to receive all the necessary nutrients, it is necessary to add nettles, sauerkraut, and green hay to the turkey feed.
In spring, you need to do a general cleaning of the room. It should be disinfected using caustic soda and hot water. The litter definitely needs to be replaced.
Conclusion
We were able to verify the high productivity of the bronze broad-breasted turkey breed. They are excellent for breeding in large enterprises, as well as growing in large quantities on home farms. Undoubtedly, in order to feed such large birds, a large amount of food will be needed, but the amount of meat, of course, compensates for all costs. With proper care, you can raise simply huge birds, get excellent mothers for future offspring, as well as excellent laying hens with high egg production.
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