New coop - with a question

[NickyPick]

Finally finished getting the turkey coop finished. I'm still waffling on whether to put wire on that slim opening on the back wall. It's about 6 inches. What do y'all think? Do raccoons really bother birds that are 3 times bigger than them?

Also, should I trim wings? It's a large pen for them, with 6 foot fences.

 

[NickyPick]

Here are two of my guys. They're getting way too big for the nursery coop.

 

[R2elk]

Finally finished getting the turkey coop finished. I'm still waffling on whether to put wire on that slim opening on the back wall. It's about 6 inches. What do y'all think? Do raccoons really bother birds that are 3 times bigger than them?

Also, should I trim wings? It's a large pen for them, with 6 foot fences.

An adult raccoon can easily kill an adult turkey especially if the turkey is in a confined space.

 

[kwhites634]

Finally finished getting the turkey coop finished. I'm still waffling on whether to put wire on that slim opening on the back wall. It's about 6 inches. What do y'all think? Do raccoons really bother birds that are 3 times bigger than them?

Also, should I trim wings? It's a large pen for them, with 6 foot fences.

I'd wire over it; why take the chance? I don't have turkeys, so I'm not positive, but I don't think domestic turkeys fly well, if at all. I'd be more concerned about something coming in over the fence. Both scenarios can be avoided with netting over the top.

 

[TurkeyTimes]

Wire it up. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Molpet]

1/2" hardware cloth over everything that has a hole bigger than 1/2", in a coop
coons can reach through and weasels can go through and kill turkeys. They both climb also.

 

[NickyPick]

Welp, that makes up my mind. I'll be wiring up that gap this evening! Thanks!
I use hardware cloth for everything in the coop nowadays. Spent a month battling a big boar coon in the chicken coop in the old house. No more chicken wire for me. Ever.