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Rearing
Turkeys can be reared under free range or intensive system.
Free range system of rearing:
Advantage of this type of system is,
• It reduces the feed cost by fifty percent.
• Low investment.
• Cost benefit ratio is high.
In the free range system, in one acre of fenced land we can rear 200-250 adult turkeys.
Shelter should be provided during night at the rate of 3-4 sq.ft. per bird. They
should be protected from predators during scavenging. Planting of trees is desirable
for providing shade and cooler environment. The range should be rotated which will
help to reduce incidence of parasite infestation.
Free range feeding: Since turkeys
are very good scavengers, it can consume earthworms, small insects, snails, kitchen
waste and termites, which are rich in protein and that will reduce the feed cost
by fifty percent. Apart from this leguminous fodder like Lucerne, Desmanthus, Stylo
etc., can be fed. To avoid leg weakness and lameness in free ranging birds, calcium
should be supplemented at the rate of 250gm per week per bird in the form of oyster
shell. Ten percent of feed can be substituted with vegetable waste to reduce the
cost of feed.
Intensive system of rearing:
Advantage of this type of system is,
• Improved production efficiency.
• Better management and disease control.
Housing
• Housing protects turkeys form sun, rain, wind, predators and provides comfort.
• In hotter parts of the country the long axis of the house should run from
East to West.
• The distance between two houses should be at least 20 meters and the young
stock house should be at least 50 to 100 meters away from the adult house.
• The width of the open house should not exceed 9 meters.
• The height of the house may vary from 2.6 to 3.3 meters from the floor to
roof.
• An overhang of one meter should be provided to avoid the rainwater splash.
• The floor of the houses should be cheap, durable and safe preferably concrete
with moisture proof.
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