darn turkeys keep roosting on the poarch rail!

[muddymomma]

so we've had our turkeys a couple weeks and at first I thought it was cute that our burbon red tom wanted to roost on the porch rail right by the back door. (he'd tried to come in the house before we closed the door!) the first night he'd pooped over the rail to the ground below. gross but ok, it's not in the way. now it's a crap shoot as to which direction he's facing. 1/2 the time we go out in the morning to a huge mess of some solid and some gross runny almost black poop splattered all over the place! I've tried shooing him away, he just comes back. now he's joined by a hen that just lost the last of her poults. I really like the idea of them roosting there, but can't take the poop so they have to go! I propped a couple of umbrellas on the rail last night. she just moved to the other side of the stairs, he sat on the edge of the umbrella and guess what it's covered with now. I don't want to lock them up (they free range obviously) but not sure if there are any other options other than sitting out there all night shooing them away. if I do have to lock them up how the heck do I catch them to get them in the pen at night?!? I was thinking I could set them up a place somewhere with a rail to sit on but not sure if they'd sit there...

 

[kuntrygirl]

You probably need to lock them up in their own coop. Not sure where you live but if you have predators, something will get them and kill them.

You can catch them at night when they are roosting. Sneak up behind them and grab them.

 

[KrisH]

so we've had our turkeys a couple weeks and at first I thought it was cute that our burbon red tom wanted to roost on the porch rail right by the back door. (he'd tried to come in the house before we closed the door!) the first night he'd pooped over the rail to the ground below. gross but ok, it's not in the way. now it's a crap shoot as to which direction he's facing. 1/2 the time we go out in the morning to a huge mess of some solid and some gross runny almost black poop splattered all over the place! I've tried shooing him away, he just comes back. now he's joined by a hen that just lost the last of her poults. I really like the idea of them roosting there, but can't take the poop so they have to go! I propped a couple of umbrellas on the rail last night. she just moved to the other side of the stairs, he sat on the edge of the umbrella and guess what it's covered with now. I don't want to lock them up (they free range obviously) but not sure if there are any other options other than sitting out there all night shooing them away. if I do have to lock them up how the heck do I catch them to get them in the pen at night?!? I was thinking I could set them up a place somewhere with a rail to sit on but not sure if they'd sit there...

Great choice of of words

, but you could rig up a railing a little higher and hanging out farther. and therefore all the crap shoots off of the deck. or possibly a piece of pond liner that is easy to shake off. if you have a garden it would make the "fertilizer" easier to collect.

of course it may be fine for two birds, but could be an issue if you end up with more.

as a note, we lock ours up for safety.

RobertH

 

[retlaw]

I agree.

Build a roost just a little higher and further out then the railing.
They like high advantage points and often compete for the highest roost.