
Turkeys will thrive if you attend to their needs and care for them daily. Apart from suitable housing and a fenced area in which to roam, they also need quality feed and fresh water. Feed the birds the appropriate formulated turkey feed for their age as they need adequate protein. They also like a few treats occasionally and these can be apples, plums, grapes, cabbage, kale, corn on the cob, sunflower seeds, raisins, even a little granary bread.
Like other poultry, turkeys will require worming, especially if they are freeranging on pasture. The most common internal parasite is the Ascaridia dissimilis (Roundworm) but turkeys also suffer from Capillaria contorta (Hairworm), Cestodes (Tapeworm), Syngamus trachea (Gapeworm) and Heterakis gallunarum (Caecal worm). Worming treatment is usually done at around 7 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks and thereafter about four times a year. If they are running with chickens then worming every six weeks will interfere with the life cycle of the Heterakis worm, which is responsible for the disease Blackhead. The poultry wormer licensed for use in poultry in the UK is Flubenvet. This is a pre-mix powder available in 60gm pots from veterinary practices, pet shops and agricultural merchants that are licensed to sell veterinary medicines and it is mixed into the feed for seven days.
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av The Country Smallholder.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av The Country Smallholder.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på

Share in the therapy sheep experience
The chance to win one of ten books in a series designed to empower young minds where 'Merlin finds his magic'

What uses are their for cockerels?
In this issue we want to touch on a subject that may ruffle a few feathers, but as a national charity helping 60,000 hens year in and year out we believe the topic merits some hard facts and an appeal for your support as readers of a popular poultry magazine.

All About Grafting - an historic form of propagation
Lee Senior explains the top technique for gaining increased vigour, disease resistance, yield and speed

Time to get seed sowing
Kings Seeds give a guide to a flourishing veg patch that starts in spring

Welcome to our feature on alpacas!
We've asked experts to share their knowledge with us on keeping alpacas, their handling and their fleeces.

Getting Your Bees!
Claire Waring looks at how you can obtain your first colony and become a beekeeper.

The springtime pecking order
Spring brings new life and fresh challenges to the coop. Cara Wheeldon discovers how to smoothly introduce new birds, curb bullying, and keep your flock happy and harmonious with help from expert advice.

Keep the date of Sunday 8th June free for an Open Farm Sunday near you
But could you open your smallholding or farm and take part in this event that brings farmers and consumers together?

A wheelbarrow is an essential tool on any smallholding, but what is the best choice for a smallholder?
Wheelbarrows come in all shapes, sizes (and price ranges too). After years of rusted tubs, flat tyres and strained muscles, Hugh and Fiona have distilled the right choice of wheelbarrow into five simple choices.

The Hamburgh, an old British light breed from the North
Victoria Roberts BVSc MRCVS tells how Yorks and Lancs came together to produce an attractive breed and a useful layer