Getting four poults tomorrow - enclosure/fencing needs?

[chicorayner]

Hi. I have raised chickens for about four years now (layers) and have decided to venture into turkeys. We will be relocating our coop to a more private area of our yard (where the small wood deck is below). While we do have 2.5 acres of property the neighbours to our right are quite particular and don't appreciate our chickens visiting let alone future Red Bourbons.

Once we build a new coop we will make it chicken and turkey friendly. My question is, The perimeter of this area is fenced with only 4 foot high fencing (see attached photo). If I choose to clip my turkey's wings will they stay enclosed or is that height still not tall enough? I would LOVE to allow them to free range in our bottom acre of hardwood trees, hundreds of trees there for them to roost but I assume they would venture into the neighbours fields with their horses and that wouldn't go over well.

Does anyone have a similar situation with their turkeys and how do they create a reasonable living environment for the turkeys while keeping neighbours happy? The small fenced area is about 1/4 of an acre and surrounded by grapevines and jostaberry bushes with ample shade. I would create a "lean-to" for them with higher roosts on the outside of the chicken coop as well.

I just look at the photos online of these fabulous turkeys and I see our backyard and *sigh*

We do have predators in the area, owls, eagles, hawks, coyotes. Do turkeys act like chickens in the evenings and "go home" to roost? Our chickens, even if outside free ranging, will start to venture indoors on their own at dusk so all I have to do is close their perimeter door (coop entrance stays open for them to come out in the morning). Will turkeys do this? Or do I have to hunt them down and herd them back into safer surroundings for the evening?

Thank you, this is a fabulous site for poultry. LOVE IT. Appreciate all the help, I've learned so much here.

 

[ivan3]

Can they be trained to return to a specific roosting area/roost? Yes. However, this requires CONSISTENT training and, preferably, an enclosed shed. They have to be herded (two long sticks held out at arm's length will do) back to roosting area as soon as they start `eyeballing' nearby trees/roof of house/fence rails/etc. Ours took about a month of consistent `guidance' before they'd line up single file, at sundown, and march back into their run and into shed. Those hens taught their poults and, three generations on, they haven't `forgotten' (and we are in the woods - they could fly up in the trees). Even with clipped wings, a four foot fence is no impediment to escape (half-wings & a hop), though adult toms will usually stay put unless startled into flight. Adult hens will, if not provided with a safe/acceptable nesting area will get over the fence in order to nest where something can make a meal of them. We use 6 ft. 1"x2" welded wire fencing and keep an eye on poults two weeks old and up & the hens as they are the most likely to get out (two week old poults can half-fly/climb, and clear, 6 ft. fencing). Turks are the flightiest during their first year. If one turk gets out, it will usually (unless off to hunt a nesting site) stay close to its fenced-in buddies. Looks like you have an excellent location. You might take a look through the ALBC turkey handbook, as well, for more ideas (can be downloaded by chapter): http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/resources/internal /turkey-manual If the turks will be able to see the neighbors from fence line they will likely go exploring as they are very curious about most everything. If they imprint on you and the property as poults they'll usually stick close. Owing to your neighbor's disinterest in visitors you might consider 6 ft. fencing in a smaller area. Training of third generation by first and second Trained: Small runs in woods Well imprinted and out for a walk:

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

This is my second summer raising turkeys, so I am far from expert, but I'd agree with spurreden above that a 4 foot fence won't be much use with containing turkeys. I kept mine in a 6 foot enclosure and even that wasn't enough to keep them in without clipping their flight feathers. Most evenings I'd go out to their run and have to chase them off the top of the fence and back into their shelter and about 50% of the time one or more of them would fly down on the outside of the enclosure and I'd have to herd them back inside. However, although I live on 18 treed acres directly adjacient to National Forrest, they never strayed far from the house when I let them out for their afternoon hour or two of free ranging. Usually they'd just wander over to the kitchen window and see what I was doing. I have 8, 7 week old poults this right now and they haven't been let out to free range.

 

[jlynnp]

We are finishing up our turkey pen. It is 7 feet high over most of the run and slopes to 4 ft. It is totally enclosed with 2 x 4 fencing and has a 3 foot barrier of steel siding/roofing around the bottom to keep out predators. I still need to finish roosting poles and nest boxes which I understand need to be about 18 x 24" in size. When I get it done I will post pics, it isn't pretty but I will work.