How much coop space do turkey's need?

I'd like to get a trio of turkeys. How much indoor coop space will they need? They will have access to a 12'x30' covered run in addition to free ranging. How much indoor space will they need for when the weather gets below freezing? Which happens a lot here.

I don't know but was wondering the same thing, I thought about getting some after my meat birds are done this spring. I hope some one gives the info too!!

I thought the recommend was 2 feet of roost space per bird. Our turkeys stay outside year round and don't go into the house other than to lay eggs but our winters are much less than yours.

Steve in NC

Thanks Steve.

Yeah, I'm wanting to make sure I have a comfortable enough place for them to go because I have very vivid memories from my childhood. Our tom turkey stayed outside during an ice storm, froze himself to the ground and we had to dig him up and bring him inside to thaw. He even had one of his eyes frozen open. Why on earth he didn't go in the barn is beyond me. So it would be nice to get them inside on days like that or when it's -20 outside. I can section off a part of our barn for them and hopefully get them in the habit of going in at night. I know these first three will end up becoming pets. That old bird from my childhood ended up dying of old age even though he was bought for Thanksgiving that year.

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If you can get them in the habit of roosting inside that would be a best bet but that isn't always easy to do. once they pick a spot that's pretty much it. Also they like a wider roost than a chicken. The roost that gets the most use around here is a small pine tree about 6 inches in diameter and about 4 feet off the ground.

Steve in NC

When you say wider do you mean instead of a 2'x4' board they'd prefer a 2'x6' to roost on? More room for their feet? Just wanting to make sure I read that correctly.

Thanks for at least that number (2' or roost space). Someone out there must have enough experience to give a number in feet needed for each turkey. Who ever you are please come in out of the free range and share your great wisdom with us newbies, we really need you. Thanks, Dr Bill.

I am glad I found this while I was searching the web for more turkey info today. I have a pair of turkeys, looking to get another hen for my tom, but I am in the process of planning for a new coop. And I have been wondering the same thing. I have even tried to find pictures to get inspiration from, but all I find is chicken coops.....


Could the more experienced who I know are going to respond soon please post some pictures of your coops/runs too?? And tell us how many turkeys do you keep together/ per coop? Is there anything you would have done different if you had to re-build your coop again???

Right now I have them staying in a 8' x10' chicken coop version of Fort Knox (far from ideal, but its the only safe place from packs of dogs and coyotes on the property). Thus far they haven't shown symptoms of the notorious black head..but the sooner I get these birds seperated the better I think they will be in the long run. I wish I could let my birds free range, but out here in the "boon-docks" we have people that think that is OK to let their mangy dogs run around the country side and molest peoples yards and birds--plus it does get up to 115 in the summer--they need all the shade and pampering they can get!

I've tried keeping turkeys like chickens. They don't like it! Turkeys like the great outdoors. The building that they prefer to use on my property is more of a lean-to open front shelter with perches for them to get off the ground at night. One word of warning...perches should not be more than 18 inches off the ground because as these birds get bigger...and they will get bigger,... a big drop from the perch to the ground will hurt them eventually. Injuries to the feet and legs can lead to more serious problems like infection and swollen feet (Brumblefoot). The shelter does not have to be very big for healthy, natural, good-natured birds,,,it is much more important to have the largest pen you can afford to make for them to forage bugs and plants...also to minimize bacteria buildup from constant exposure to their own droppings. Good Luck!

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.