Description of turkeys of the Bronze-708 breed, maintenance and care at home

Bronze-708 turkeys are very popular among farmers. This cross has become widespread due to its tender meat and high egg production parameters. In addition, the birds have a beautiful appearance. The combination of aesthetic characteristics, ease of care and rapid weight gain make these turkeys very popular.

Description and origin

A distinctive feature of birds is the possibility of breeding in large farms. Birds are initially raised for slaughter.However, you should not try to use them for long-term breeding. This is due to the presence of recessive genes. As a result, poults and the first generation will differ in key parameters.

Initially, American scientists developed bronze turkeys, which were distinguished by a wide chest. The starting point for obtaining a hybrid was wild birds and the black English breed. As a result, we managed to obtain a premium breed. Further developments began to be carried out by the British. To improve key indicators, they bred a breed called orlopp bronze.

The next stage of work was carried out by France. Scientists from this country managed to obtain a medium-heavy cross based on the Orlopp bronze breed, which was called bronze-708. These turkeys are distinguished by their large size and wide chest. Thanks to this, they became an excellent basis for creating hybrids.

The distinctive properties of the breed are:

• body strength;
• bronze tint of plumage;
• body density;
• legs wide apart;
• neck of moderate length;
• bluish skin on the head and neck.

The tail of turkeys of this breed resembles a fan in appearance. In this case, there are longitudinal black stripes on the back.

Breed productivity

This hybrid breed has strong immunity and is able to quickly increase body weight. Young animals are slaughtered at 5-6 months. In this case, birds can weigh 10-17 kilograms.

The daily weight table shows the dynamics of its growth:

Age	Female weight, grams	Male weight, grams
3 days	50	56
7 days	140	160
2 weeks	340	390
1 month	1100	1400
2 months	3700	4800
3 months	7300	9800
5 months	11000	16900

The characteristics of birds include fairly high egg production parameters. 1 female is capable of laying 70-150 eggs during the year. A stable harvest can be expected by 9-10 months.As the weather gets colder, turkeys continue to lay eggs.

Pros and cons of bronze-708 turkeys

Nuances of maintenance and care

To raise birds at home, they definitely need to make an aviary. There must be at least 1 square meter of area per bird. The temperature in the poultry house should be no more than +20 degrees in summer and no less than +5 degrees in winter. It is also worth eliminating drafts. Keeping the cells clean is of great importance.

You should lay straw, sawdust, and hay on the floor. It is recommended to regularly change the litter. It is important to install perches in the warmest place in the house. They should be placed 40-50 centimeters from the floor. It is recommended to place nests in the darkest place.

To prevent parasites in the poultry house, it is worth placing a container filled with sand and ash. There the turkeys will be able to bathe while cleaning their feathers. In the warm season, birds need walks. They can do them in the yard or in an enclosure. In this case, it is recommended to sow the walking area with grass and make a canopy.

With the arrival of spring, it is recommended to disinfect areas where birds are kept. The room should be treated with hot water with the addition of caustic soda. 2 females and 1 male can live in one enclosure. At the same time, several males cannot be housed at once. They can get into serious fights, which will lead to severe trauma.

What to feed the bird?

In order for turkeys to gain weight quickly, they require a high-calorie diet. Typically, ready-made feed is used for this. Cereals are used as the basis for such mixtures. Experienced breeders can prepare mixtures themselves. You should definitely include bone meal, cake, and fish oil in your turkey menu. In the summer, it is recommended to prepare the following products for birds:

• hay;
• grass meal;
• sauerkraut;
• a mixture of herbs - it should consist of rapeseed, nettle, alfalfa.

To improve food digestion, birds require chalk, shell rock and gravel. To increase egg production, it is recommended to give turkeys more vegetables and herbs. Getting enough calcium into your body is important. Otherwise the eggs will be fragile.

Breeding Features

Turkeys have excellent maternal instincts. However, it will not be possible to obtain a large population of birds naturally. Therefore, turkey poults need to be hatched in an incubator. To do this, it is recommended to choose the right eggs. They should have an ideal shape and medium size. There should be no growths or other irregularities on the shell.

Possible diseases and methods of their treatment

Adult birds of this breed are considered very hardy. They are characterized by high resistance to pathologies. At the same time, chicks often encounter diseases. Common disorders that occur in turkeys include the following:

1. Respiratory mycoplasmosis. This infection is most common in winter and high humidity conditions. In adult birds, damage to the membranes of the eyes and nasal discharge are observed.Turkey poults may additionally suffer from shortness of breath.
2. Tuberculosis. This pathology affects many organs. Symptoms of the disorder include diarrhea and skin lesions. Most often, infection occurs through contact with chickens or geese.
3. Smallpox. The main sign of infection is insufficient disinfection of containers. Insects can also spread the disease. As the disorder develops, the bird's body becomes covered in spots. Pathology cannot be eliminated. Turkeys have to be killed and disposed of.
4. Helminths. When infected with such parasites, symptoms are almost completely absent, but the productivity of the bird is reduced. To avoid problems, it is important to follow the rules of prevention.
5. Hardening of the goiter. This problem occurs when there are no shells or gravel in the food. In this case, swelling and inflammation of the goiter are observed. The bird cannot drink or eat food, which provokes its death.
6. Hypovitaminosis. Chicks are susceptible to this problem. The disorder is most often associated with poor nutrition. In this case, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes is observed, and rickets develops.

To avoid the development of pathologies, you should adhere to the following rules:

• provide birds with balanced nutrition;
• add vitamins and minerals to the feed;
• process the premises and equipment in a timely manner;
• systematically examine birds;
• Get vaccinated on time.

Bronze-708 turkeys are characterized by high productivity parameters and quickly increase body weight. For their cultivation to be successful, it is important to choose a balanced diet.