Among the turkey breeds adapted for growing on farms in a temperate climate zone, the subspecies bred in Russian centers deserve attention. The Moscow Bronze belongs to this breed of turkey, it is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and rapid adaptation to living conditions. Birds are usually raised for meat, but egg production rates allow for 80 to 100 eggs per season.
Breed description and characteristics
The turkey has a developed, dense, oval-shaped body with a massive, protruding chest. The neck is elongated, the head is large with a distinctly curved light pink beak.Legs are strong and developed.
Belonging to the bronze breed is revealed by its variegated black plumage with a characteristic shade of bronze. The tail and wings have stripes of brown feathers edged with black and white. The average weight of a one-year-old turkey is 12 kilograms, and that of a female turkey is 7 kilograms. Upon reaching full maturity, body weight increases by another 3 kilograms.
Pros and cons of Moscow bronze turkeys
The Moscow bronze turkey has a number of advantages, thanks to which the subspecies is of interest to farmers and breeders, and disadvantages that limit mass breeding.
The dark shade of the carcass imposed restrictions on breeding poultry on an industrial scale.
Living conditions, feeding and care
The house for bronze turkeys should be warm and dry. The building can be stone or frame; in the latter case, additional heating will be required.A straw bedding is placed on a concrete or wooden base of the floor, perches are built at the rate of 40 centimeters per head, and nests are placed in places chosen by the birds themselves.
The basis of the diet is:
- grass;
- corn;
- vegetables.
The birds are prepared with mash and offered brooms made from grass or nettles. Females are given additional cottage cheese during the egg-laying period. Adult turkeys are hardy, unlike young turkeys, which are sensitive to cold and dampness. In the first days of life, turkey poults learn to peck. The chicks are given a crushed boiled egg, grain, grass, and vegetables are gradually introduced.
The optimal solution for feeding a bronze turkey would be ready-made feed mixtures enriched with nutrients and vitamins. Birds must have constant access to fresh water.
Breeding
Turkeys of the Moscow Bronze breed willingly hatch offspring, including eggs of other breeds, and take care of the brood. The hen can be a female aged from 1 to 4 years. 15-18 eggs are placed under one hen, from which 75-80% of turkey poults usually hatch.
You can increase the indicator by using an incubator with preliminary calibration of fresh material for laying. It is desirable that the heating element in the device is located in the upper part.
Diseases and prevention
Inadequate care can cause infectious and viral diseases. Prevention measures include:
- control over the living conditions of turkeys (maintaining temperature and humidity, timely cleaning of the poultry house, processing of feeders and drinkers);
- balanced diet;
- compliance with the vaccination schedule and veterinarian examinations.
If not properly cared for, turkeys are susceptible to fungal and parasitic diseases. Improper feeding can cause digestive disorders.
