Do I need a second coop? (turkey hen won't go in at night)

[fat brown hen]

I have one tom and three hens in this 10x12 coop. Recently, the hens refuse to go in at night and instead roost on the fence next to the coop. Usually it's just one hen outside, but sometimes two or three. The tom is a very good boy and always sleeps in the coop.

Is it possibly too crowded for all four? We don't have snow or ice but I worry about predators and nesting season.

 

[R2elk]

I have one tom and three hens in this 10x12 coop. Recently, the hens refuse to go in at night and instead roost on the fence next to the coop. Usually it's just one hen outside, but sometimes two or three. The tom is a very good boy and always sleeps in the coop.

Is it possibly too crowded for all four? We don't have snow or ice but I worry about predators and nesting season.

How tall is the inside of the coop? How high and what dimensions are the roosts?

All of my turkeys sleep outside of the coop on roosts staggered from 3' to 6' tall. Their roosts are sheltered from the prevailing wind and are made from 4" diameter corral poles.

For nesting season, the tom must not have access to the hen's nests. The tom will take the hen sitting on a nest as an invitation to breed. This undesired breeding attempt can result in broken eggs, injured hens or in the worst case, a dead hen.

 

[fat brown hen]

How tall is the inside of the coop? How high and what dimensions are the roosts?

About 10' high. roosts are 2x4s wide side up. One at 6' and one at 4'. Everyone uses the tallest roost. Now that I think about it, maybe I need a second 6' roost.

For nesting season, the tom must not have access to the hen's nests. The tom will take the hen sitting on a nest as an invitation to breed. This undesired breeding attempt can result in broken eggs, injured hens or in the worst case, a dead hen.

I plan to add a plastic dogloo. Hopefully the three hens can share.

 

[R2elk]

About 10' high. roosts are 2x4s wide side up. One at 6' and one at 4'. Everyone uses the tallest roost. Now that I think about it, maybe I need a second 6' roost.

What is the total length of the roosts? In my experience, adult turkeys prefer not to be within reach of each other when on the roost. After rereading your post, I am guessing that you mean 10' long roosts.

I plan to add a plastic dogloo. Hopefully the three hens can share.

It really isn't a good idea to have turkey hens share a nest. Too many feet in a confined area can lead to broken eggs and and stepped on poults once they start hatching.

 

[fat brown hen]

What is the total length of the roosts? In my experience, adult turkeys prefer not to be within reach of each other when on the roost. After rereading your post, I am guessing that you mean 10' long roosts.

Right, two 10' long roosts. But they only use the higher one.

It really isn't a good idea to have turkey hens share a nest. Too many feet in a confined area can lead to broken eggs and and stepped on poults once they start hatching.

Will it work if I collect eggs daily? I don't want or need more poults

 

[R2elk]

Will it work if I collect eggs daily? I don't want or need more poults

It will only work in that case if you leave marked or fake eggs. Turkeys that have their nest emptied of eggs will find a more hidden place to lay their eggs.

 

[R2elk]

About 10' high. roosts are 2x4s wide side up. One at 6' and one at 4'. Everyone uses the tallest roost. Now that I think about it, maybe I need a second 6' roost.

In a building of that size, I would not have a roost above 5' high to prevent a turkey injuring itself when getting down from the roost. On my outside 6' high roosts, the minimum distance the turkeys land when getting down is 10" with many landing 30' or more away.

 

[fat brown hen]

It will only work in that case if you leave marked or fake eggs.

Will wooden chicken eggs work, or do they need to look like actual turkey eggs?

In a building of that size, I would not have a roost above 5' high to prevent a turkey injuring itself when getting down from the roost.

The 2x4 is resting on the cattle panel wires so I can lower it no problem. More importantly, will an extra roost or 3 keep them from roosting outside?

 

[R2elk]

Will wooden chicken eggs work, or do they need to look like actual turkey eggs?

They might. I use ceramic goose eggs.

The 2x4 is resting on the cattle panel wires so I can lower it no problem. More importantly, will an extra roost or 3 keep them from roosting outside?

it may or may not. Turkeys that get kept in a coop at night from when they are poults are more likely to roost inside.

If you want to make sure they roost inside, herd them into the coop in the evening and shut them in for the night.