Big 6 (Big 6) is one of the most sought-after breeds of turkeys in the world, especially in Europe. Such popularity is explained by high productive qualities, rapid growth and weight gain. This bird is a real record holder in body weight among all domestic birds. It is also believed that Big 6 turkey meat is even better than that of chickens. We offer you the basic tips on growing turkey poults Big 6 at home for novice farmers.
Breed description
The breed of turkeys Big 6 was bred by English breeders in 2008. Broiler Big 6 is a large and massive poultry with a squat body and a relatively small head. The neck is elongated. The back is wide, flat. Pectoral muscles pronounced, bulging. The wings of the bird are quite large. The legs are large, strong and sinewy.
Representative of this breed is easily distinguished from other varieties due to the presence of skin folds of coral color. This skin formation is located in the head and neck and hangs vertically down. At the time of excitation, the skin appendage can reach a length of 12-15 cm. These bright decorations on the neck of the bird are evidence of good health. 
Another distinctive feature of the breed is a dense and dense white plumage all over the body of the bird, not counting a small dark speck on the chest. In addition, the plumage has a characteristic luster. Females are less fluffy than drakes. The individuals of this breed, like most turkeys, have a rather lively temperament. These are strong birds that can stand up for themselves. However, turkeys do not differ much friendliness.
Learn how to achieve high productivity turkeys.
Characteristics of the cross
Cross Big 6 is considered to be a group of heavyweight lines, moreover, it is the heaviest species among all breeds of turkeys. The live weight of the drake is 20-24 kg, and the females are about 11 kg. The egg production rate of laying turkeys is approximately 100 eggs per production cycle. Females start laying eggs at the age of 7-9 months. The weight of one egg is 80 g. The process of vyzidka eggs lasts for 26-28 days. The yield is 80-85%. Destructive hatchability -70-75%. Of the 80% muscle mass, 30% weigh valuable breast. For 1 kg of increase in live weight takes 2 kg of feed. 
Per day one turkey consumes 250-350 g of feed. At 3 months of age individuals weigh 4.5–5 kg, and at 5 months –11–12 kg. By the age of 100 days (3-4 months), growth stops completely and the bird can already be sent to slaughter. This fact indicates a significant precociousness of meat and high productivity of the breed. This cross is a kind of record holder in terms of output of total body weight.
Big 6 broiler meat, like most other types of turkeys, is dietary. Turkey improves the digestion of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. This meat contains potassium, phosphorus, zinc and magnesium - the elements necessary for the human body.
Familiarize yourself with the nuances of growing other breeds of turkeys: Uzbek Palevaya, Black Tikhoretskaya, White wide-breasted, Bronze wide-breasted.
Growing conditions
Since Big 6 turkeys are quite capricious to the conditions of breeding and housing, there is a widespread opinion among poultry farmers that taking care of these birds at home is rather difficult. However, everything can be learned. You are only required to adhere to a few rules for the cultivation and care of these birds.
Preparation of the monastery
At home, poultry farmers use a combined and cellular cultivation of turkeys. Small turkeys from three weeks of age are usually kept on the floor covered with deep and clean straw bedding. 
Disinfect the selected compound before planting the young and place the feeders and drinkers. Feeders and drinkers are an important component of any farmer complex. The number of feeders and drinkers should be sufficient so that your pets do not crowd and do not interfere with each other.
Important! If you are making the feeder yourself, in any case, do not use metallic materials. By hitting the metal with its weak beak, the chick can seriously harm itself.Turkey also needs ashes and sand baths in which they can cleanse the plumage of various parasites. As such baths it is customary to install simple wooden boxes.
Birdhouse
The construction of premises for turkeys fit with all the thoroughness. Build the walls of the house from bricks or other durable material, and pour floors with concrete. Next, cover the floor with hay or straw. Cover the enclosure from above with a net. If there are windows in the room, close them up with bars so that the bird cannot fly away. The maximum height from the floor should be no more than 100 cm. 
Important! Since turkeys fly well, it is common for birds to cut their wings to avoid possible problems.The basic requirement for keeping turkeys is to control the indoor climate. Broilers do not tolerate damp and cold, so the aviary should be insulated. In winter, the temperature in the aviary should not fall below 14-15 ° C. Young animals must be provided with a 12-hour light day, so equip the room with an artificial lighting system. Also try to protect the room from drafts and high humidity.
As for contact with other poultry, conflicts can arise here. Therefore, it is better to grow turkeys separately and by families. Break the room into offices at the rate of 1-2 adults per square meter.
What to feed Big 6
Representatives of the breed Bit 6 are quite demanding on the diet. Balanced and regular feeding of turkey poults Big 6 is one of the most important aspects of taking care of these birds at home.
Turkey poults
Form the diet of young stock in view of the large amount of protein feed and vitamins. The main point is to feed the turkey at exactly the right time. In the life of chicks, the first two months are extremely important. During this period, you must provide turkeys with good nutrition, rich in dairy components. In the early days, feed the chicks every 3 hours, giving them boiled eggs and liquid cereals.
On the 4th day make a diet of wet mash on milk. It is recommended to feed chicks with cottage cheese and skim milk. Mix grated carrots and chopped greens (dandelion, alfalfa, clover, nettle, plantain) in the diet. It is allowed to add some green onions to the feed - this is a good prevention of intestinal diseases.
Feed must always be fresh. Make portions small, but sufficient to fill up your pets. Also provide kids unlimited access to water. As the young grow, reduce the number of feedings. At 2 months of age, four feedings per day is enough for the chicks.
On the seventh day, add vitamin D to your feed. On day 15, add the antifungal drug nystatin to your diet. As a preventive measure, from 6 to 11 days, drink the chicks with antibiotics.
Adults
To feed adults Big 6, preferably not more than 3 times per day. Do not overfeed birds, as these large turkeys are prone to obesity.
In addition to chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys in the farm can also grow exotic birds - peacocks, ostriches, quails, guinea fowls, partridges.
In the morning and afternoon feeding, give the turkeys wet mash with the addition of cereals, and in the evening - dry grains.
Cereals and legumes (oats and buckwheat) in the diet of turkeys should be up to 65%. Grain feeds supply the bird with proteins and are sources of fat. To supply the body of birds with calcium and phosphorus add to the diet of animal feed. Also, the body of turkeys requires fiber, which is found in large quantities in straw and hay. In the summer, feed your pets with grass. Germinated grains and greens are rich in vitamins important for the health of birds. In the case of a lack of vitamins or other beneficial elements in females, egg production is reduced. 
Did you know? The beak in mature turkeys is short and very durable. In one minute they can produce 50-60 attractive movements, eating about 8 grams of grain. It is also known that the stomach of these birds is able to digest glass and even iron. Because a strong corn grain turkey uneasy.
Possible diseases
We will discuss the most common diseases of the Big 6 turkey breed that you may encounter:
- Newcastle disease. This disease is usually found in young and causes massive death. Characteristic features: paralysis of the legs, diarrhea of green-gray-yellow color, mucous masses accumulate in the esophagus. This disease is incurable, and for its prevention it is necessary to carry out timely vaccination.
- Respiratory Mycoplasmosis. With the defeat of this disease in turkeys eyes swell, there is a cough and wheezing, individuals are lagging behind in development. The percentage of mortality in this case is minimal, the disease is healed by drugs.
- Aspergillotoksikoz - A disease that occurs when fed low-quality food. Sometimes the source can be a raw litter. Symptoms: the individual becomes immobile, sleeps a lot, is stunted, often breathes, eats poorly. If you have found similar signs in your pets, change the feed and litter, disinfect the room. Immediately add lactic acid components to the feed.
- Histomoniasis. The disease affects the liver of chicks. The disease can occur as a result of poor-quality disinfection aviary. In individuals, frothy green-yellow diarrhea is observed. Juveniles stop eating, weaken, lose weight, feathers look disheveled and dirty. Gastomonosis is treated with the help of drugs Furazolidone, Fenothiazine, Osarsol and Piperazine.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Summing up, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the description of the main advantages and disadvantages of the Big 6 breed.
View advantages:
- Great weight. This is the heaviest breed: meat birds reach a weight of 25 kg.
- Precocity. The bird shows record rates of meat production. The bird quickly gains weight with minimal cost to feed.
- The eggs of these broiler turkeys are highly valued. Eggs have an unsurpassed taste. Many say that turkey eggs are much tastier than chicken eggs.
- Breed 6 is also a source of high quality fluff. Soft and light plumage, not inferior in quality goose. The plumage of this bird is very popular in industry.
disadvantages:- Representatives of the breed Big 6 badly withstand cold, damp and drafts. This disadvantage entails additional costs for warming and heating the enclosure during the winter period.
- Turkeys are not able to coexist peacefully with other poultry. Therefore, they have to keep in separate departments.
Did you know? Turkey had every chance of becoming the national symbol of the United States. Benjamin Franklin counted this bird "more respectable and solid". But the victory still went to the bald eagle. Today in the United States more than 250 million turkeys are grown each year specifically for Thanksgiving, which is almost one carcass per inhabitant of the country.As you can see, broiler turkeys Big 6 - a great bird for home breeding. Growing this heavyweight bird will allow your farm to achieve high profitability.
