Content
Turkey breeding can be not only a favorite pastime, but also bring good income. If you do everything correctly and thoughtfully, then the profitability can be 100%. Without any experience and knowledge in this area, it is unlikely that you will succeed. But don’t be afraid, everyone starts somewhere, and experience cannot appear on its own. The main thing is to approach the matter responsibly and prepare properly. This article will tell you where to start, how to create a business plan, what to feed and how to care for turkeys so that it brings you income.
Determine direction
Turkey breeding as a business begins with drawing up a business plan. But first it is necessary to determine what scale of production we are talking about. Some people start breeding birds from a small home farm. Others immediately intend to create a large diversified farm. Both the first and the other options are beneficial in their own way. It all depends on your capabilities and time.
Many people wonder what is the best thing to do on their property. Most people prefer growing vegetables and fruits, as it is easier and less responsible. Those who are not looking for easy ways may wonder whether raising domestic turkeys as a business is profitable or not.
This business can bring very good profits if you think through every step. To begin with, you shouldn’t immediately create a huge farm, so that if something goes wrong, you won’t be too upset. The smartest thing to do is start small and gradually expand your business. In this case, the likelihood of failure is much less.
Profitability
Raising turkeys is definitely very profitable. The average profitability of this business is 50–80%. The reasons for the benefits are clear to everyone. Turkey meat is highly valued; it is a dietary product that will always be at a good price. This meat is suitable even for those who adhere to diets, and especially for those involved in sports. Due to its high protein and iron content, it is beneficial for both children and adults.
It is also important that turkeys are the largest farm birds. One turkey can weigh several tens of kilograms. Even by breeding a small number of birds, you can make a good profit. If you live in a rural area, the task seems even easier. You don't need to worry about a place for walking and a room for keeping birds. But in cities, land plots are smaller, and you need to think carefully about where and how to start your business.
Where to begin
First you need to think about the organization of the farm. You need to take a very responsible approach to choosing turkey breeds for breeding. You also need to think carefully about what you will feed the birds, when and where to walk them. You will need to find out where it is best to buy bird food and farming equipment.
This is necessary in order to calculate how much money you will need to get started. This also includes construction costs rooms for turkeys, if this does not exist. As you can see, you need to invest a lot of money in this business. Therefore, a very important step is drawing up a business plan. A well-thought-out plan will help regulate expenses and prevent you from going into the red.
Before starting construction of a building, you need to register your activities with government agencies. Now that everything is ready, you need to think about how you want to keep the birds. There are 2 options, each of them has its pros and cons. It is possible to equip separate areas for turkeys cells, so the birds will have enough personal space, but this method is quite expensive. Or you can keep all the birds on the floor in one large room. It is worth noting that much fewer turkeys will fit in the common room, since the cages can be arranged on several floors. Alternatively, you can practice both ways.
Business plan for turkey breeding
Drawing up a business plan is a very important step in starting any business. With its help, you can calculate all expenses and income, which will help you see the real profitability of turkey breeding. All expenses must be entered into it item by item. For example:
- purchase of land;
- construction of premises;
- arrangement of turkey poultry;
- buying eggs or poults;
- feed costs
It is also worth considering the sales market and payback.
Options for breeding turkeys
A novice farmer needs to decide whether to buy eggs for hatching chicks or immediately purchase turkey poults.For beginners, it will be easier to buy month-old chicks for breeding. At this age, they are stronger and more resilient, and also do not require complex care. One-month-old turkey poults can be fed regular food. This breeding method will reduce costs and save time. Those who decide to buy eggs for breeding turkeys should take into account that this will require additional costs. You will also have to buy an incubator.
It is much safer to buy one-month-old chicks that are already formed and you can clearly see their condition. In the future, you will no longer need to think about eggs and chicks, since turkeys will be bred naturally.
What breed of turkeys to choose
How successful your business will be depends on the breed of birds you choose.
For a novice farmer, small breeds are the best option. These breeds include turkeys, whose weight does not exceed 12 kilograms, and turkeys of these breeds weigh about 5 kilograms. Such turkeys have a higher survival rate. For those who have no experience in this area, these breeds are best suited.
For more experienced farmers, heavy turkeys are suitable. They are bred to produce large quantities of meat. The weight of such birds can be about 30 kilograms. Some farms breed crossbred birds. Such turkeys have high disease resistance and adaptability to climatic conditions.
Turkey breeding
The hardest part about bird breeding is raising the little chicks.Up to 1 month, turkey poults are considered very fragile and tender. They are most susceptible to various diseases. Chicks require special care and attention. If this is not done, then the turkey poults may not live to see the second month, and this will be a significant loss for the business.
The good news is that turkeys gain weight very quickly. In this regard, they are ahead of all other farm birds. A turkey can gain about 85 grams in weight per day. Such rapid growth allows birds to be fed in a short time.
In addition, turkeys are considered exemplary mothers who can hatch not only turkey chicks, but also other chicks. In the future, they will take care of them as if they were their own. This advantage can be very useful for those who breed various farm birds.
Caring for Turkeys
To gain weight, turkeys need proper nutrition. It must be taken into account that small chicks and adults should eat differently. When turkey poults have just hatched, they should be given boiled water. You can add the following ingredients to it:
- 1 teaspoon sugar;
- 1 teaspoon green tea.
This amount of ingredients is enough for a liter of boiled water. Chicks need this diet for 3 days after hatching. Next, you should dilute this water with unboiled water. After a week, the turkey poults can be completely transferred to regular water.
Equally important for turkey poults is lighting. For the first three days, the lights in the room should not be turned off at all.Next, you can turn it off for just 30 minutes a day. After twenty days, about 15 hours of light a day will be enough for them. Also make sure that there are no drafts in the room. Small chicks are very sensitive to temperature changes.
Adult birds also require a special diet. The food must contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Compound feed PK-5 is perfect. You can choose other foods, the main thing is that they contain the minerals and amino acids necessary for the turkey’s body. There are also foods for different breeds. You can prepare excellent food at home from corn, bran and barley. Useful additives for turkeys include fish giblets, carrots and cottage cheese. B vitamins can replace regular yeast (dry).
Conclusion
That's all the secrets and wisdom in the matter of breeding turkeys. By following these tips, you can set up your business in a short time and start making a profit. Moreover, there will always be a demand for such products. Every task requires effort to be put into it. So here, at first it may be difficult; you will have to spend a lot on materials, equipment and food for birds. But when you work off your investment, you will see that the profit from raising turkeys is quite decent. Every year the number of birds will increase, and with them the income from their own business. Don't be afraid to try. If you start with a small farm, the expenses will not be so large, however, the profit will be less. So, everyone can choose the appropriate option for starting a turkey breeding business.
