A major challenge in the production of turkeys is the wrong practices that farmers engage in.
These practices are occasioned by ignorance.
I have decided to use this platform to educate and disseminate the correct ways to raise turkeys.
Error thrives where fact is not stated.
Many Farmers get their information from their neighbours, friends, family, and random searches on the internet.
Please note that it is not everything you surf that is correct.
Whatever is posted online remains the way it was posted.
Moreover, a perpetuated error does not become factual simply because many persons believe it for so long nor does it become truthful because it was uploaded on the internet.
Here are a few misconstrued notions about turkey farming:
1. Turkey Poults must be brooded with broiler chicks to enable them to feed better:-
This is erroneous because naturally, Poults in their first week of life do not pick feed particles as smart and fast as chicks.
The brooding conditions required by turkey are different from those needed by broilers.
Turkey poults require more warmth and brighter light than broiler chicks.
When Poults are raised together with chicks, they are likely to come down with blackhead disease which is transmitted from broilers to turkeys.
2. Feeding turkeys with broiler feeds:-
While this practice is not ideal, it is excusable because commercial turkey feed is rare in Nigeria and quite costly if available.
Turkeys require higher protein and calcium content in their feeds.
Please always opt for turkey rations if you can find them.
3. Routine vaccination of turkeys with Gumboro vaccines:-
Turkeys are a heavy breed of birds and hence will rarely come down with Infectious bursal disease commonly known as Gumboro disease.
4. The assumption that turkeys are resilient:-
Many farms do not uphold strict hygienic practices because they assume that turkeys do not easily come down with infectious diseases.
This is very wrong because turkeys are the most susceptible to aflatoxicosis after ducks.
Farmers who take their turkeys for granted will incur great losses.
The reverse is rather the case, turkeys require optimum biosecurity practices to thrive well.
5. Administration of unverified pharmaceutical preparations to prevent Pox disease:
Turkey pox is a viral disease, and therefore can not be prevented by the use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and organic substances.
Turkey pox is rather prevented with the pox vaccines when timely administered.
6. Raising male and female turkeys together:
This practice is counter-productive.
Vices do occur where this approach is condoned.
7. Transportation and rearing of turkeys on a friction-less or smooth surface:
Turkey possesses long unstable legs that may become splayed and impaired where there is no friction.
Most informed producers transport poults in cartons with corrugated floors.
8. Mixing Offals in turkey feeds:
To mitigate costs, many farmers are in the habit of compromising turkey feeds by adding wheat or maize offals.
While this may appear harmless, it exposes the birds to fungi infections.
It also reduces the quality of the nutrition.
Caution must be exercised in a bid to cut corners concerning the nutrition of turkeys.
I will be discussing the matter of wheat offals in subsequent articles.
Please consult an experienced personnel for guidance.
Peoplesmind
