Hope they don't freeze to death!

[turkeyschicken]

I have 2 bronze toms that just will not roost! They are around 8-9 months old and they used to roost when they were younger but will not now! So my question is what is the best way to either keep them warm on the ground or get them to roost? I live in Oklahoma and we are supposed to get snow tomorrow!! I put some hay down were they usually lay so maybe that will help..? Thanks for any info!

 

[Frosty]

Are they heritage birds or Broad Breasted? Do they have enough room to fly up and down from a perch, and how high is the perch?

As long as they can get out of the snow and wind they'll do fine with bedding to sleep on (though straw works better than hay). They would probably be ok without bedding or shelter too, but this way they'll be more comfortable. Right now it's -9F here and supposed to go down to -15 tonight. Half of my birds have been throught temps to -38, I never had one freeze to death.

 

[turkeyschicken]

They are heritage bronze. They have a perch that is about 3 feet off the ground. They made throught last night! When I went out the check on them they had snow on them! They were just fine other than that! Should I lower the perch? They aren't really that flighty anymore so I don't know if even lowering the perch with help.

 

[frank53061]

FROSTY

You are right on the Button the Heritage Birds are able to fly up at least a few feet to roost were as the double breasted birds get so heavy they cant go more than 1 to 2 feet off the ground I have inside and out side roost the inside 2 feet off the floor and the out side roost 4 1/2 feet off the the ground.
My Toms are able to roost on the 4 1/2 foot high roost but not any higher due to there weight.
The Hens on top of the Coop is were they like to perch 8 foot off the ground.
By the way I have Red Bourbons 9 months old.

 

[Celie]

I agree with Frank, these sound like BBB, not heritage turkeys. My hens like a soft material in their nests and will sometimes sit inside on nests on a cold night, but be all over the place in warm weather, but it has been such crazy weather here lately, from a high of 80 degrees down to a low of 27 in 36 hours, Bbbrrrrrrrrr! BTW, I have heritage Holland Whites ranging from 6 months to 21/2 years.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Put them in ( install) a low roost. Even 6 inches off the ground will let them get their feet up out of the cold.

My broad breasted tom was still roosting, but I took the roost away because he was so heavy, I was afraid he would injure his legs when he jumped down. The hen got so she would not jump down. She waited for me to come to feed and then complained until I lifted her down.