Canadian turkeys: description + photo, maintenance and cultivation

Content

1 Description of the Canadian turkey breed
2 Keeping Canadian turkeys
- 2.1 Food
3 Breeding Canadian turkeys
4 Buying Canadian turkeys
5 Testimonials

The largest birds that people breed on their farms are turkeys. Of course, if you do not take into account such exotic things as ostriches. One of the largest breeds is Canadian turkeys. These giants of the poultry yard reach a mass of 30 kg. This fact alone deserves closer attention to this bird.

Description of the Canadian turkey breed

The color of the feathers of Canadian turkeys can be white or black with white stripes on the tail. The tail is huge, fan-shaped. Strong long legs. The very broad sternum, which gave the Canadian breed its name wide-chested turkeys. Body tapering towards the back. The head looks typical for turkeys: bald with skin growths and a chin-like bag. You can see this miracle in the photo.

The massive chin appendage increases in size if the bird is in an agitated state. Sizes can be up to 15-20 cm.

The main advantage of Canadian turkeys is their rapid growth, turkeys reach their maximum weight of 30 kg, and turkeys - 15-17 kg - reach their maximum weight in a record period of 3 months. In the future, the weight gain stops. At the same time, the meat of broad-breasted Canadians has a high taste. It is tender, tasty and healthy. But that's not all, Canadian turkeys begin to lay eggs early, making it very productive afterwards. The egg-laying period lasts from 9 months to 14-15 months.

Keeping Canadian turkeys

To grow broad-breasted Canadians, the following conditions must be met:

Temperature premises for the maintenance of Canadian turkeys, it should vary in the range from +5 to +30 degrees. With turkey poults, everything is much more complicated: they are very susceptible to various infections and cannot stand even a little coolness. The temperature for their content is from 20 to 25 degrees;
The Canadian breed of turkeys is very demanding on lighting, the premises must be well lit;
A spacious, bright room, with perches at a height of up to a meter from the floor;
Cleanliness of the premises and feeders is a prerequisite for the productive cultivation of Canadian turkeys;
The room should be free of two things - dampness and drafts. Straw and hay bedding on the floor and perches must always be dry and must never rot.

Food

Rapid growth and high bottomhole weight are only possible with a balanced and varied diet. For this, the easiest way is to use ready-made compound feed. Their composition is specially combined to meet the needs of this bird. In addition, feed types are subdivided according to the age needs of broad-chested Canadians. They contain vitamins and minerals, without which it is impossible to get the proper result from the Canadian breed.

Canadian turkeys can eat regular food, but the diet should be very diverse:

Steamed cereals: buckwheat, corn, wheat;
Fermented milk products: curdled milk and cottage cheese;
Boiled eggs;
Finely chopped grass;
Vegetables: carrots, beets, green onions;
Meat and bone meal as a source of minerals;
There must be plenty of clean water.

Attention! For the health and good digestion of Canadian turkeys, there should always be a mixture of crushed shells, chalk, river sand and ash in the house.

Breeding Canadian turkeys

The best age for offspring in a turkey is 2 to 4 years. Males of the Canadian breed are most active from 2 to 3 years old. Canadian turkeys are twice the size of their friends.Due to the large difference in body weight, these birds have problems with mating, which is why they sometimes resort to artificial insemination of females of the Canadian breed.

The hens have well-developed maternal feelings, they hatch eggs patiently, treat chicks with care. In order for the female of the Canadian breed to not reach exhaustion while incubating the eggs, you need to place a feeder and water next to the nest.

Arrange a nest at a height of half a meter. Its size must match the size of this bird. Approximately 60 * 60 cm. The litter should be clean and dry, use good straw or hay for it. The nesting area should be separate from the general house.

If a decision is made to grow turkey poults separately from their mother, then it is necessary to provide them with the appropriate conditions of detention:

The temperature in the first week of life should be 32-33 degrees, the second - 26-27 degrees, then - 22-23 degrees;
Feeding in the first days can take place 8-10 times, then the frequency of food intake is gradually reduced;
They are given water 4-5 times a day with the addition of potassium permanganate (very pale solution) or special disinfectants;
The box with Canadian turkey poults must be constantly cleaned of faeces and spilled feed. Sour food residues and droppings at a temperature of 30 degrees contribute to the rapid reproduction of dangerous microbes, and the chicks of Canadian turkeys get sick very quickly;
The transition to adult food is carried out by regrowth of scallops.

Buying Canadian turkeys

In order to buy purebred turkeys of this breed, you need to find a well-established farm. When buying eggs for an incubator, turkey poults, or adults, certificates are issued confirming that they belong to this species.

Testimonials

Maria, 53 years old, Novokuznets

The first time I took several Canadian turkey poults, I was determined to keep them for three months in order to get the promised 30 kg of weight. Perhaps the live weight was close to this, because the carcass of the largest turkey weighed 21 kg. But they eat a lot, so last year I kept them for only a month and a half. The costs are less, and the meat yield is 5-6 kg. I liked this technique more. By the way? their meat is very soft, unlike meat from other broiler breeds.

Canadian broad-breasted turkeys