The roosts vary from 2x4 boards to approx 2 inches round roosts. I'm going to cut a bigger natural branch and try that. I could also use 2x4s. Our chickens are provided both and generally prefer a larger round roost pole made of natural branches.
If you are making round roosts for turkeys, I recommend using a minimum of 4" diameter. I use 4" diameter corral poles.
Ok we will try to get him up on a roost if he will. I'm going to work on it this evening. Thank you! I will probably enclose him tonight with a low roost because we are expecting some more rain overnight.
I would leave it alone. All birds will naturally roost if desirable roosts are available unless there is something wrong.
I fed him in the covered pen this evening and put a good sized roost in it about a foot off the ground (I can raise it higher once I see if he will actually use a roost). The door to the pen will be left open. The pen is good for shelter because it is covered on all 3 sides except for the door. I use it as a temporary holding pen for my baby goats while I'm doing chores to keep them from following me into the brooder building and getting into mischief. So it is plenty big enough for one single turkey to roost in at night. He isn't a large tom, I would say maybe 16 pounds but he is a little thin right now and he is a Royal Palm so a smaller variety of turkey. He free ranges in my goat lot so he has ample space. The turkey knows where the pen is if he wants to roost in there. The rest is up to him. I put a thick layer of pine shavings down on the floor of the pen in case he goes in there to get out of the rain and sleeps on the ground. There are plenty of places he can go to get out of the rain. I've done everything I can for him to make sure he is taken care of and healthy. He has been checked for bugs and de-wormed and I've been giving him 20% protein pellets to try to put some weight on him. He supplements the feed with bugs and grazing on grass during the day.
It isn't his appearance that worries me, his keel bone can be felt and his breast feels a little thin when you hold him.
That is normal for a Royal Palm. The Royal Palm toms that I processed dressed out at 15 lbs. when they were a year old.
Okay good to know then. Thank you!
