Another turkey question

[shelleyd2008]

I am getting a quad of slate turkeys and a black spanish tom this month. I plan on using some hog panels to make their pen out of. They are about 5' tall by at least 10' long. '

Me and my dad differ on how to construct the pen. I am also getting some woven wire, and my dad thinks I'll need to cover the turkeys pen with the wire. I think I can use some type of heavy string, or maybe electric wire to loop across the top of the pen to keep them from flying out. We don't have any problems with predators thanks to the dog, so which of us is right? The cover on the pen would be only to keep the turkeys in it.

 

[al6517]

I like the hog panel idea, and I would put the woven wire on the sides over the panels and also on top. it is not so much for keeping them in but for keeping things out. just because you don't have preditors now does not mean you don't need to still protect them just in case.

 

[ivan3]

I'd suggest the woven wire. Any `string' arrangement could result in serious injury or death (if there's a way to catch a wing on it or get wound up somehow they will). If you can use woven wire to extend ht. of panels a foot (6ft.) this will make it MUCH easier (covering/and getting around yourself).

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

What about bird netting? We were able to cover our runs with it. You can find it at most garden stores. It's made to keep birds out of gardens. It's not as expensive as wire since it's just thin plastic netting.

 

[moduckman]

I have standard bronze and basic 4' 2X4 wire around the pen. They can fly and roost on top of the chicken house. yet they do not fly out. I will ocassionally let them out to get fresh grass and bugs in the Spring and Summer and they will go back into the pen to roost. I feed and water them in the pen and they seem to want to stay there. No top is needed.

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

I would use the wire mesh or get some bird netting used for flight pens. Rope or string could cause injury or death if they got trapped. Unless you made the rope like a net ?? Just go with the wire mesh or netting or make the pen about 6-8ft tall and clip their wings every other month.

 

[Frosty]

You can also stand the panels on end and arch them over to make a hoop set-up. And remember, even if you have dogs there are still predators from above. I have had owls pick off turkeys before... Electric across the top (apart from the dangers as mentioned before about them getting caught and injured) won't do anything unless they are grounded when they touch the wire. That is why small birds can perch on an electric fence. As long as they don't touch a ground source, they won't get shocked. I have had a lot of turkeys that would fly up to perch on top of a fence at night, then when they fly down in the morning half of them would fly down and land outside the fence.

Just be careful... turkeys can be addictive!