How much coop space do turkey's need?

[frank53061]

This is only my second year keeping turkeys but I have kept them in a coop at night.

Last year we had 2 and they had a 2x6 for a roost, which they liked well. They had about 2 feet or so of roost space each but their coop was fairly small.

I brooded them inside their coop. Once they were allowed out to free range they were fed every night in the coop. Occasionally the hen would try to roost on top of the coop but that was only if I didn't get out there in time to open the door (I kept the door shut since they were in my goat field).

I have 12 turkey poults this year and they are currently brooding in a coop that will go to geese later this year. I plan to build space for the turkeys in my goat barn using the same methodology that I used last year...2-3 feet of roost space and 2x6 for roosts.

I'm not turkey expert by any means but this has worked for me so far. I hope it helps.

Have you used the goat area before for turkeys I think I have seen others say they have done this and for some odd reason there turkeys began to die off?.

 

[elevan]

Quote: Yep. That's what we did last year and it worked great.

(It should be mentioned that I have Pygmies and Nigerian Dwarf goats so it might not work if you have standard size goats)

 

[t2jws]

This site, http://albc-usa.org/documents/turkeymanual/ALBCturkey-6.pdf , should answer all of your questions. However it says a minimum of 3 sq ft per turkey-Chickens require five and turkeys get larger. If they are not going to be allowed out of this coop- or even if they will be in it for longer periods of time, like during your winter you will want more ground space than that. A 4x8 pen would give 3 birds just over 10sq ft each. 4x8=32 sq ft pen ......32/3=10.66sq ft per bird. build the pen high enough to allow them some flapping room and roosting space. At home depot, lowes, sears, etc you can get an 8x10 aluminium arrow shed for around $300- this would be plenty of space and would help keep them from being exposed to the winter. also with a red heat bulb in a bruding light you can keep one of those buildings fairly warm. I hope this helps. sincerly, John

 

[mikiemorris]

With turkeys free ranging do you have predator problems?

 

[feedman77]

With turkeys free ranging do you have predator problems?

I've had a few losses but not truly while freeranging.

My biggest losses came when I let hens have outside nests.

My next losses came from owls on poults up to 6 months old.

I now let birds range during the day while hens are not laying. Put them into pens at night safely locked up. Since I have done this have had no more losses.

Predators I have are owls. Coons. Hawks. Eagles. Coyote. Fox.

 

[Cliff5414]

Great insight from all! Thanks.