Bronze turkey: a review of the breed

Many farmers are interested in the fact that the bird they breed has positive qualities. Bronze turkeys are best adapted to environmental conditions in Russia, and also grow rapidly. About this breed, read the article.

General characteristics

It is believed that the birthplace of turkeys is North and Central America. Indians for the first time began to domesticate these birds, and later they were brought to Europe.

Speaking of the type of turkeys in general, it is important to note that they belong to a family that includes such birds as pheasant, quail and guinea fowl. True, they are very different from the listed representatives on external data.

Among all kinds of agricultural birds turkey is the largest. Particularly distinguished representatives of broad-chested species - their weight can reach twenty kilograms. It is known that among these birds there are also record holders: some individuals reached not only thirty, but forty kilograms. However, it is unprofitable to grow such large turkeys: they consume too much feed.

Classification of the breed

These birds are common in many countries of the world, for example, in France and in Russia. The breed of bronze turkey is popular among farmers. There are several of its varieties, each of which has its own advantages. Among them:

• North Caucasian bronze turkey.
• Bronze broad-chested turkey.
• The Moscow bronze turkey.

North Caucasian bronze turkey. Description

This breed was bred in 1956. For this, the bronze broad-chested turkey was crossed with a turkey, which lived in the Stavropol Territory. It was here that the breeders conducted their work.

These birds are perfectly adapted to environmental conditions, they also have viability at a high level. Since the age of nine months, they are able to lay eggs. They are quite productive: for a season, one turkey can tear down about eight dozen eggs, which is considered a high indicator.

As for external characteristics, their body has an elongated shape. They have a deep breast, but it is not very wide. The feathers of these birds have a bronze shade and a shine of a greenish color. The feathers of the tail and back are decorated with a strip of bronze tint. The weight of a turkey on average is fourteen kilograms, while the weight of a female reaches only seven.

Moscow bronze turkey

Representatives of this breed are similar to the Moscow white turkeys. They have the same characteristics of physique and productivity. All the differences are in appearance.

Bronze turkey got its name for the color, which is cast by black feathers. White strips, located on the tail, are bordered by dark feathers. White turkeys also outwardly correspond to the name of their breed. Their weight is smaller, and the body seems more compact and round. Beak and nails of white turkeys are painted pink, unlike bronze turkeys.

As for productivity, both breeds have high egg productivity - each turkey can carry from 100 to 110 eggs per year. Their meat has excellent taste, for which these breeds have gained great popularity among poultry farmers.

Bronze broad-chested turkeys. Description of the breed

These birds are considered to be the largest representatives of their species. On average, their weight is about nine to eleven kilograms of the female. The weight of a male is measured by fifteen, or even eighteen kilograms. If you properly make a diet of this breed, the bronze turkey can reach a weight of thirty kilograms.

These birds can carry 120 eggs per year. The females have a pronounced maternal instinct, so they can incubate the eggs of other bird species. Do not be surprised if the farmer sees that a bronze broad-chested turkey incubates eggs of a duck, goose or chicken.

This breed was bred by scientists in the United States of America, for which it received a second name - the American turkey. To do this, representatives of the black English breed were crossed with a wild American turkey. Today, breeders use it to breed new breeds of birds.

External characteristics

The bronze turkey, whose description of appearance is given in this article, is a majestic and proud bird. Representatives of the breed of broad-chested birds have a slightly elongated body of oval shape. Their strong legs are widely spaced, and the chest is really wide.

What sways color, the main part of the tail is dark, but it is mixed with feathers of copper-bronze hue on the back and chest. The tail of a male is similar to a fan decorated with a dark stripe or, on the contrary, a tinge of bronze. In females, the tail is not so beautiful, but they can boast of white fringes and stains on feathers located in the neck and back, while in males they are absent or black.

Care and maintenance

Bronze turkey, whose photo is presented in this article, at a young age is very whimsical. However, as it grows, its needs decrease, and soon it can calmly adapt to any environmental conditions (except for the temperature that goes to negative values). From how they will take care of turkeys in the first weeks of their life, their development, health, and livestock depends.

The chicks are very thermophilic. It is necessary to maintain a constant temperature in the place where they live, around 33 degrees, gradually reducing it to 30 (to ten days of life), and then to 22 degrees (to the month of life).

At a diurnal age, the turkey must be kept in a spacious container, covered with straw, hay or sawdust. On newspapers, paper and cardboard it will be very difficult for them to move, as it is slippery and their legs will part. Small turkeys are very susceptible to drafts. It is necessary to exclude any wind blows if the person wants to keep all the livestock.

It is important to keep the chicks in spacious containers and rooms: for the proper development of their feet they must move a lot. In addition, stronger turkeys can trample weak relatives. The ideal density is forty or fifty chicks per square meter. When he grows up, you need to increase the space or plant them. It is necessary to wash their place of residence, clean it of litter, as well as remnants of food.

It is necessary to watch how the chicks behave. In the event that some of them lag behind in development and are simply ill, they should be sent to another place, fed them a little better and, of course, treated. It is important that the diet of turkeys include foods such as fat-free cottage cheese, boiled eggs, peas and beans, dairy products, and fish. Be sure to give them fresh greens.

Bronze turkeys, reviews of which are always good, need two meals a day. However, small chicks can not be restricted: they should always have access to water and food in order to develop properly and be healthy. In order to be sure that they are not ill, you need to do a number of preventive vaccinations before the age of two weeks.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

Before talking about the benefits of this breed of turkeys, it is necessary to mention its disadvantage. Bronze turkey, namely broad-chested, was bred by breeders for industrial maintenance. Therefore, farmers who decide to breed these birds, should take care that representatives of this breed live in cages or barns. To keep them in a pasture manner is by no means impossible.

The list of advantages of these representatives of birds should start with the fact that they have high rates of egg production, reaching 120 eggs per year. The level of their viability is very good. They easily adapt to any environmental conditions. They are calm, grow fast. In addition, they are very large turkeys and turkeys. They also differ in the beauty of the feathers and are highly appreciated for their decorative properties.

Their meat is dietary. Almost half of the carcass is the muscular part. Eighty percent of the whole mass of their body is the most delicate meat, and only eight are fat. Turkey eggs are easy to learn: they reach large sizes, painted in a dark cream color with specks.

All the qualities of this breed are generally used for breeding new species and for improving existing breeds of turkeys.