Midget whites housing question

[Frogdogtimestwo]

I cannot get them to actually use the housing we have set up for them. They are in a large run with a windshelter and a house to go in but they stay perched in the trees all night (no where near either) and I am worried about them freezing or getting wet. (they are 5 months old) Should I force them to use the house at night or not worry about them too much? We are due for our first night of freezing with wind and am concerned. We generally live in a mild climate but do get a month or so of freezing but no snow. Thanks in advance.

 

[Wildsky]

I think predators should be your biggest concern, not sure where you are or what you might have lurking around looking for a free meal. I would think the cool/cold weather wouldn't be too much of an issue for fully feathered birds.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

My midgets haven't been in a 'house' for a year and a half, last winter we had -40 wind chills not even any frost bite, i figured I'd have turkey Popsicles in the morning, the only predator problems I've had was this spring a hen with poults was attacked and eaten but she was on the ground out in the open, i've got great horned owls, red tails and other hawks, foxes, coyotes, coon, possum and a stray wolf.

 

[Frogdogtimestwo]

Well I have not worried too much about predators due to they are 10 feet or so perched in the trees in the middle of a pasture (within a 5 foot chain linked 2 acres)with a very protective horse in the field. Their fence is 5 ft. with electric around the top within that 2 acres. I am most concerned about the cold wind (30 mph gusts) and rain we are expecting tonight. I guess I am just a turkey newbie and want them to be okay.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Turkeys can be trained to roost somewhere you want, but it takes some persistance. What I do/have done is that I go out in the evening before they start to roost, but close to bedtime. I herd them in. Takes some time, and I never trust them to do it completely on thier own. It helps to offer them a tasty ration in the roosting pen around bedtime. It also helps to keep them in the pen confined for a week or so- so they get used to using the roosts before you start letting them out and herding them back in. Make sure your roosts are sturdy, spacious and have no sharp edges. If the roost's are not right, they will not like it. Also, put the roosts up fairly high (although not too close to the wall & ceiling) this re-creates the feeling of safety for them. If you let them roost outside, you have to be okay with the likelyhood that sooner or later something will probably come along and eat one or more of them.