Many people today choose to run their own business. For people who live in rural areas, raising pets and birds can be an excellent business. This article will tell you everything about turkey farming as a business.

Every year, business activities based on breeding birds and animals at home are becoming more and more popular. This area has already come out on top in terms of profit.

Today, the most relevant business is the breeding of turkeys. This is due to the following features of this bird:

• turkeys are not picky about feeding;
• birds are easy to keep;
• fast weight gain. Adults can gain up to 30 kg of weight (depending on the breed);
• dietary meat, which is in demand on the market both in our country and in the countries of Europe and Asia. In addition to dietary properties, the meat of this bird is very tasty and has a lot of useful properties;
• good egg production. Eggs, like poultry meat, have many beneficial properties and good taste.

Due to the fact that turkey meat is in demand among the population, problems with its implementation should not arise with the right approach to work. An agreement for the supply of meat and eggs can be concluded with the director of the market, supermarket, restaurant and cafe. Thus, a good and stable income will be provided.

It is worth noting that the turkey business is relevant for rural residents, since they have the necessary knowledge and skills for this, as well as the necessary infrastructure (poultry house, paddock). Although the territory of a private house located in a city or suburb is also suitable for growing.

As you can see, the business idea for breeding and selling turkeys has a lot of advantages. With a relatively small initial cost, you can create a successful farm, which at the same time will bring good both additional and basic income. Over time, as the business becomes sustainable, it can be expanded by breeding other poultry breeds.

Where to start and how to write a business plan

In order for an organized turkey farm to bring stable and high income, it is necessary to think over all the subtleties of implementing such a business. To do this, create a business plan. The advantages of drawing up a business plan include:

• decomposition of all actions that need to be carried out to open your own farm, "on the shelves";
• a clear indication of where to start work;
• miscalculation of the financial component of the business.

You can draw up this document for yourself in order to understand in which direction you should act at first. The business plan will show whether turkey breeding as an independent business has a real prospect (profitable or not).

To draw up a business plan for breeding different breeds of turkeys correctly, you must have at least some initial knowledge of how to grow them. Therefore, first of all, you need to start studying the literature regarding how this type of bird is kept at home.

You should also find out the cost of erecting a turkey house, feed and their consumption, medical care for birds (reduces the risk of developing diseases and death), and also find out the prices for the sale of products. This knowledge will allow you to correctly assess whether it is profitable to breed turkeys or it is worth choosing a different type of bird.

What you should pay attention to

If you want your turkey business to be successful, there are three important things to think about when setting up your turkey business:

• breed;
• conditions of detention;
• feed.

Let's consider each moment in more detail.

The breed will be the most important parameter for the profitability and productivity of the farm. Today, there are turkey breeds that are characterized by different parameters of egg production and weight gain. Some give more eggs, others actively build muscle. You can breed both one and other breeds. It all depends on the direction of your business - selling eggs or meat. However, it should be understood that if a farmer breeds an egg-laying breed of birds, then you should not expect a good yield from it in terms of weight.

To reduce the risks, two breeds can be grown at the same time. In this case, one breed is taken with a higher egg production, and the second with a better weight gain. This approach will expand the range of products offered, which will lead to two ways of receiving income.

Today, in terms of business, the following turkey breeds are most popular:

• broad-chested bronze appearance. Bred in America, but actively bred in Russia. The maximum weight for females is 9 kg and for males 12 kg. Suitable for industrial breeding. High egg production is characteristic (up to 120 eggs). The disadvantage of the breed is the inability of birds to the pasture format of keeping, since it is bred for cages;

• broad-chested white appearance. The female weighs about 10 kg and the males 15 kg. The breed tolerates temperature fluctuations well;
• a bronze North Caucasian species. Suitable for pasture farming. Egg production - 80 eggs. Females weigh 7 kg and males 10 kg;
• big 6. The breed intended for meat production. Females weigh 11 kg and males 25 kg.

Knowing the characteristics of each breed, you can calculate the approximate income from their breeding when selling eggs or meat.

To open your own farm, you must immediately purchase at least five females and one male. To start a business, this amount will be quite enough. In the future, turkeys can be purchased as needed.

Only young and healthy individuals should be bought. For one healthy individual, you will have to pay about 2 thousand rubles. You need to acquire young animals at proven poultry farms. The choice should be made from different families. Otherwise, the offspring will be born weak.

Before buying birds, you need to decide on the method and conditions for keeping them. Today, turkeys at home can be bred in two ways:

• broilers. Chicks hatch in the incubator;
• in a natural way. Here females are engaged in incubation of chicks.

When breeding poultry for meat, growing broilers is considered more profitable. In this case, the turkeys will gain weight for a short period of time (several months). However, in this case, you need to know that broilers are prone to disease. Therefore, their health needs to be monitored more closely.

There are several ways to keep turkeys on the farm:

• in a poultry house where birds can move freely;
• in specially equipped cages;
• outdoors in fences.

The first method is more difficult to implement, since it requires the purchase of special equipment for the turkey poultry house, which is necessary for proper nutrition of the birds, as well as maintaining the necessary conditions for their maintenance. Here you need to take into account parameters such as humidity and temperature.

The premises used for growing turkeys must meet the following requirements:

• be well heated;
• well lit;
• be warm, dry and clean. For bedding, use sawdust obtained from softwoods.

In a turkey house, birds can be kept either free or in cages. With free placement, the total area of ​​the room is divided into sections with a passage. In each such section, turkeys should be placed by age group. In this case, the density of placement must be observed. For 1 sq. m. there should be approximately 3-5 heads.

When growing birds in cages, it is necessary to observe the optimal number of individuals allowed for being in a confined space. In this case, the birds should be segregated by age, as a weak turkey could be harmed by adults.
The cages should also have a well thought out heating and ventilation system. Therefore, it is recommended to keep light and medium type turkeys.

The outdoor breeding option for this poultry breed is only suitable for warm areas. Despite the presence of some cold resistance, you should not overcool the birds too much, otherwise they may start to hurt.

To grow birds on the street, you should fence off the area required by the area with a metal mesh. Inside it must be placed feeders and drinking bowls.

The last point that must be taken into account by the business plan is the preparation of the necessary feed base. For normal weight gain and high egg production, turkeys should eat foods that include:

• grain: barley, corn, wheat and millet;
• fresh grass;
• dairy products (milk, cottage cheese, yogurt);
• vegetables: potatoes, carrots;
• salt.

Consideration of these points will allow you to understand your own economy and organize it correctly, as well as draw up an approximate financial estimate of costs and profits.

Financial component

An important point in any business is the preparation of a financial estimate. This is necessary in order to understand what initial capital you need to have to open a particular business.

The financial component of a business plan for growing turkeys includes the following parameters:

• number of goals;
• livestock to be sold;
• what product will be sold: eggs, offal, meat;
• the approximate yield obtained from one turkey;
• the total volume of products sold (the number of heads for sale should be multiplied by the approximate output);
• cost per kilogram of products sold;
• how much the total turnover will be (the total volume of products sold must be multiplied by the cost of 1 kg);
• approximate annual turnover.

It is also imperative to list expense items that include the following parameters:

• stern;
• medical care (purchase of medicines, vaccinations, etc.);
• the cost of utilities, rent;
• staff salaries;
• other expenses (for transport, inventory, etc.)

It is difficult to accurately indicate the numbers for each individual item, since they depend on the breed being grown, the region and other factors.