Content
Breeding turkeys can be not only a favorite pastime, but also bring a 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 do not be afraid, everyone starts somewhere, and the experience cannot come by itself. The main thing is to approach the matter responsibly and prepare properly. This article will show you where to start, how to write a business plan, what to feed and how to care for turkeys so that it generates you income.
Determine the direction
Turkey breeding as a business starts 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 multi-farm farm. Both the first and the other option are beneficial in their own way. It all depends on your capabilities and time.
Many people think about what is better to do on their site. 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 it is profitable or not to breed domestic turkeys as a business.
This business can be very profitable if you think through every step. To begin with, you should not immediately create a huge farm, so that if something goes wrong, you will not be very upset. It is best to start small and gradually expand your business. In this case, there is much less chance of failure.
Profitability
Breeding 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. Such meat is suitable even for those who adhere to diets, and especially 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 breeding a small number of birds can make a good profit. If you live in a rural area, then the task seems even easier. You don't need to worry about the walking area and bird house. 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. It is necessary to approach very responsibly when choosing breeds of turkeys for breeding. You also need to think carefully about what you will feed the birds, when and where to walk. It will be necessary to find out where it is better to buy food for birds and accessories for farming.
This is necessary in order to calculate how much money you need to get started. This also includes construction costs. rooms for turkeysif not available. As you can see, a lot of money must be invested in this business. Therefore, a very important step is drawing up a business plan. A well-thought-out plan will help you settle expenses, and will not allow you to go into the red.
Before starting the construction of the premises, you need to register your activities with state authorities. Now that everything is ready, you need to think about how you want to keep the birds. There are 2 options, each with its own pros and cons. Can be equipped with separate turkeys cells, so, the birds will have enough personal space, but this method is quite costly. And you can keep all the birds on the floor in one large room. It is worth noting that much less turkeys will fit in the common room, since the cages can be arranged in several floors. Alternatively, you can practice both methods.
Business plan for breeding turkeys
Drawing up a business plan is a very important step in starting any business. With it, you can calculate all expenses and incomes, which will help you see the real profitability of breeding turkeys. All expenses must be entered into it, point by point. For instance:
- purchase of a site;
- construction of premises;
- arrangement of a turkey poultry;
- buying eggs or turkey poults;
- feed costs.
It is also worth considering the sales market and payback.
Turkey breeding options
The budding farmer needs to decide whether to buy eggs for hatching chicks or buy turkey poults right away. For beginners, it will be easier to buy monthly chicks for breeding. At this age, they are stronger and more resilient, and also do not require complex care. Monthly turkeys can be fed with regular feed. 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 monthly 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 the turkeys will be bred naturally.
What breed of turkeys to choose
It depends on the chosen breed of birds how successful your business will be.
For a novice farmer, small breeds are the best option. These breeds include turkeys, the weight of which does not exceed 12 kilograms, and the turkeys of these breeds weigh about 5 kilograms. These turkeys have a higher survival rate. For those who have no experience in this area, these breeds are best suited.
For more experienced farmers, heavyweight turkeys are suitable. They are bred for the purpose of obtaining a large amount of meat. The weight of such birds can be about 30 kilograms. Some farms breed birds bred by crossbreeding. Such turkeys are highly resistant to diseases and adapt to climatic conditions.
Breeding turkeys
The hardest part about breeding birds is raising little chicks. Up to 1 month old 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 poults may not live up to the second month, and this will be a significant loss for 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 you to feed the birds in a short time.
In addition, turkeys are considered exemplary mothers who can incubate not only turkeys, but also other chicks. In the future, they will take care of them as if they were their own. Such an advantage can be very beneficial for those who breed a variety of farm birds.
Turkey care
Turkeys need proper nutrition to gain weight. It should be borne in mind that small chicks and adults must eat differently. When the chicks have just hatched, they should be given boiled water. You can add the following ingredients to it:
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon of green tea.
This amount of ingredients is enough for a liter of boiled water. This diet is necessary for chicks within 3 days after hatching. Further, this water should be diluted unboiled. After a week, the poults can be completely transferred to plain water.
Lighting is equally important for poults. For the first three days, the light in the room should not be turned off at all. Further, you can turn it off for only 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. Little chicks are very sensitive to temperature changes.
Adult birds also need a special diet. The feed must contain all the essential vitamins and minerals. The PK-5 compound feed is perfect. You can pick up other feeds, the main thing is that they contain the minerals and amino acids necessary for the turkey's body. There are also feeds for different breeds. You can also make excellent feed from corn, bran and barley at home. Fish giblets, carrots and cottage cheese will be useful additives for turkeys. B vitamins can replace conventional yeast (dry).
Conclusion
That's all the secrets and wisdom in turkey breeding. Following these tips, you can set up your business in a short time and start making a profit. Moreover, there will always be demand for such products. Every task requires an effort to be made. So here, at first, it can be difficult, you will have to spend a lot on materials, fixtures and feed for birds. But when you work out your investment, you will see that the profit from breeding 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 costs will not be so high, however, the profit will be smaller. So, everyone can choose a suitable option for starting a turkey breeding business.
