Free range or pen heritage turkeys?

[Jamesthesilkie]

Hi all, I've recently acquired 4 beautiful week old Narragansett turkey poults. Currently, I'm living on an acre, but by the time they will go outside I should be moving or about to move to my new property with 7 acres.

I'm debating back and forth if I should free range or pen them? This new area has a lot of woods, so I'm planning on keep them cooped up with a small run for a few weeks, to see what predators I'm up against. But if I see it's a non issues or low threat I may let them free range while I'm outside.

If I keep them penned up, what should tbe run size be for 4? I want a good amount of size. So if it's recommended 25sqft per bird, I'm thinking I want to do 50 per bird.

Life is kinda up in the air right now, and only thing keeping me sane is thinking about my lil farm!

 

[Molpet]

100sqft per bird
Coop 10sqft per bird

 

[Jamesthesilkie]

100sqft per bird
Coop 10sqft per bird

Omg 100! Never mind I'll just stick with that then. Lol

 

[R2elk]

Hi all, I've recently acquired 4 beautiful week old Narragansett turkey poults. Currently, I'm living on an acre, but by the time they will go outside I should be moving or about to move to my new property with 7 acres.

I'm debating back and forth if I should free range or pen them? This new area has a lot of woods, so I'm planning on keep them cooped up with a small run for a few weeks, to see what predators I'm up against. But if I see it's a non issues or low threat I may let them free range while I'm outside.

If I keep them penned up, what should tbe run size be for 4? I want a good amount of size. So if it's recommended 25sqft per bird, I'm thinking I want to do 50 per bird.

Life is kinda up in the air right now, and only thing keeping me sane is thinking about my lil farm!

The best is to do a combination of both. Free range during the day and pen them at night. Once they are mature, you may want to pen them during laying season so that you don't lose them to predators when they are hiding out on their nests.

Even when mine get to free range, they are restricted to an approximate 2 acre area.

 

[Jamesthesilkie]

The best is to do a combination of both. Free range during the day and pen them at night. Once they are mature, you may want to pen them during laying season so that you don't lose them to predators when they are hiding out on their nests.

Even when mine get to free range, they are restricted to an approximate 2 acre area.

Yes I'm wanting to free range while I'm at home, but when I'm away I'm not sure if I will. I love my chickens, but i have plenty, and they are easily replaceable. My turkey poults are my lil babies and i want to be super careful with them. I would be devasted if they get wiped out from a predator.