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.
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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
How to Buy a Smallholding in France- Long-time smallholder Lorraine Turnbull looks at the practicalities of moving to rural France
Aspiring smallholders are continually thwarted by the prices of smallholdings and property with land located within the UK. Even the humblest croft in Scotland comes with a substantial price tag and conditions which would make even an adventurous wannabee consider carefully. But all is not lost. For those willing to take the adventure of a lifetime, there is always Europe, and one of the most popular places is France.
Meet the Bournemouth goats and their supporters
These capricious animals are hard workers preserving the natural habitat
Still warm enough to sit outside with a Pizza
Henrietta Balcon uses fresh figs to create an unusual dish at Harvest time
Goodbye to the birds of spring and summer
If you look and listen you might be able to see them preparing to leave says The RSPB
Get ready for the colder weather in the warmth of late summer
Claire Waring advises on doing the best to make sure your colonies survive until next spring
Preparing the Veg Patch for Winter
Lee Senior says, a well-run plot can excitingly continue to produce good quality, tasty, fresh food for much of winter
Time to prepare to plant your orchard
Wade Muggleton, smallholder and author of The Orchard Book, shares his practical experience so you can create your own fruit collection
Choosing feed for the autumn
As autumn approaches, Joanna Palmer, nutritionist at the Smallholder Range, offers advice on choosing the right feed to support your adult birds through their annual moult and ensure your young birds grow and finish well at this time of the year.
Vet advice from an experienced poultry vet
Reflecting on how much the humble hen has helped people world wide plus advice on stopping the scourge of red mite
Give your hens some support
Paul Donovan looks at the right and wrong ways of handling birds
