Modern agricultural technologies make it possible to efficiently carry out the breeding and maintenance of animals and birds, not only on an industrial scale, but also at the household level. This gives people the opportunity to receive useful resources in a wide range and in sufficient quantity. In the agricultural market, turkey meat is gaining popularity. The presence of some quality indicators puts this meat product on a par with other valuable product items, and the development of agricultural technologies makes this possible.
Private farmers have access to a wide range of feed items suitable for turkeys of different breeds and ages, as well as devices that contribute to the successful development of the domestic population of this bird. One of these devices is a brooder.
What is it and why is it needed?
A brooder is a device used to keep turkey chicks alive in the first days after they are born. The brooding structure is designed to replace the functions of a mother bird and ensure the preservation of the temperature regime, the supply of light and food. The brooder is an intermediate link between the hatching of turkey poults and their release into the main corral to adults.
The device of this device and other technical characteristics may vary depending on the breed to which the reared chicks belong. Turkey cubs, within the framework of their breed characteristics, are extremely demanding on the conditions of detention, especially at the initial stage of life.
Requirements for a brooder
A brooder used to raise day old turkey cubs must meet the established list of requirements. The success of growing turkey livestock will depend on the presence of this correspondence. The list of key parameters includes:
- the ability to adjust and maintain a stable temperature level;
- the presence of a sufficient amount of internal space;
- functionality.
Turkey chicks, like any other cubs, are extremely sensitive to temperature indicators and their differences. Before they were born, they were in a closed space – a shell, which was placed in an environment with a constant temperature (under a hen or in an incubator). After hatching, they find themselves in an environment with constantly changing temperatures. Their body (organs and cardiovascular system) is not adapted to such conditions.
As a result of non-compliance with the temperature regime, the chicks may suffer from hypothermia or thermal overload of the internal systems of the body. The brooder is designed to give the chicks the opportunity to gradually adapt to environmental conditions. The interior space of the brooder must be comfortable to hold a specific number of poults. Insufficient space can lead to a rise in temperature and crowding of small birds, which will lead to injury of weak individuals and their subsequent death.
Too much internal brooder space requires more resources to maintain the temperature.
For the successful maintenance of turkeys in a brooder, the factor of its functionality is important. During the adaptation of the chicks to the environment, the processes of strengthening the systems of their body (digestive, cardiovascular, skeletal, plumage) take place. For the successful course of these processes, a sufficient amount of balanced nutrition, fluid and fresh air is required. The functionality of the brooder should provide for the possibility of a free supply of food and water, as well as a moderate supply of oxygen. In this case, the possibility of overturning the feeder or drinker should be excluded. In addition, there should be no drafts inside the brooder.
Important is cleaning the interior of the house. Dirt, waste products, moisture are factors that negatively affect the condition of recently hatched chicks, as there is a risk of developing bacterial infections and other diseases, which in most cases lead to death.
Materials and Tools
The brooder for turkeys is made of environmentally friendly natural materials. It is unacceptable to use any paint and varnish and other chemical surface coatings. As the main names of the set of materials, the following can be distinguished:
- wooden bars approximately 30×30 mm;
- boards (a lining or board 25×100 mm is suitable);
- fibreboard (MDF);
- metal mesh with a square cell.
Mounting materials:
- self-tapping screws;
- nails;
- PVA glue;
- metal corners and plates to strengthen the structure.
Tools:
- screwdriver;
- drill;
- wood saw, electric jigsaw (if any);
- measuring instruments (tape measure or ruler);
- 90 degree angle;
- marking devices (pencil or marker);
- sandpaper or grinder.
How to make?
Before starting the brooder manufacturing process, it is necessary to draw up a detailed drawing of its future design. The drawings should indicate the parameters of all parts of the structure. It is important to think over all the details in advance: the location of the lighting points, the places where the electrical wiring passes, the placement of the feeder, drinking bowls and many other nuances. During assembly, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the drawing data. This will allow you to build a quality brooder and increase its efficiency.
The dimensions of the future turkey house will depend on the number of chicks that will be placed there. A one-time brood of chicks is calculated from the characteristics of a particular livestock and the characteristics of its conditions of detention. Most often, one brooder is calculated for 10, 20 or 50 chicks, depending on the capabilities of the farm and the pace of its development.
Preparation of materials
At the initial stage, individual parts are prepared that will make up the design. In accordance with the data indicated on the drawings, wooden blanks are adjusted in size. Planks are cut out of a wooden beam, which will serve as a frame for the house. You will need 4 long and 4 short blanks. The length of the first should be equal to the length of the house, and the length of the second should be its height.
The resulting parts are fastened in such a way that a parallelepiped frame is obtained. To strengthen the structure at this stage, you can use perforated metal corners or plates.
At this stage, the foundation is laid for the arrangement of a double bottom, which is necessary for the unhindered removal of waste products of birds. As a basis for the second bottom, additional strips are screwed along the perimeter of the lower part of the frame.
In the future, a mesh will be laid on them, which serves as a floor. In order for the mesh not to sag or jump, longitudinal beams from the same beam are laid between the side slats of the base. The grid will rely on them. After that, you can begin to mount the cladding of the walls of the brooder. If boards were chosen as the wall material, it is necessary to cut a sufficient number of them to size.
Boards are attached to the frame with self-tapping screws. There must be at least two self-tapping screws for each junction of the board to the frame beam. In order for the self-tapping screws not to split the wood, it is possible to drill mounting holes, the diameters of which are 1-2 mm smaller than the diameter of the threaded part of the screw. Joints between wall boards should fit as tightly as possible. The presence of gaps between it can provoke the appearance of a draft, which will negatively affect the condition of the turkey poults. In this case, there is no need to seal the joints with insulating materials, since air microcirculation must be maintained.
The arrangement of the roof of the brooder does not require the use of any additional technologies – it is never installed outside the premises.
At the stage of mounting the cover, it is important to pay attention to the wiring and arrangement of the location of the lighting point. The electrical wire is attached to the inside surface of the brooder using plastic clips of the appropriate size. It should pass along the ceiling of the house and be out of reach of the chicks. An infrared lamp is used as a means of illumination.
The properties of such a light source make it possible to use it to maintain the desired temperature level. The size and model of the lamp must match the parameters of the brooder. It should not hang too low from the stream of the house so that the chicks do not suffer from the proximity of a source of light and heat.
At the final stage of construction, a door and a waste cleaning tray are mounted. The door consists of a frame covered with a metal mesh with a small square cell. It is equipped with a simple locking mechanism that protects it from spontaneous opening. The waste tray may be of the simplest design. It can be used as a sheet of fiberboard, the size of which matches the floor area of the brooder.
This sheet is simply inserted into the free space under the house and serves as a second bottom. As the amount of waste products that fall on it increases, cleaning is carried out.
Compliance with the assembly technology and taking into account the individual needs of turkey chicks will make it possible to make a reliable and high-quality do-it-yourself brooder, which can provide proper living conditions and contribute to the successful development of the farm.
How to make a brooder for turkeys with your own hands, see the next video.
