Pop Door Sizes

[anthonyjames]

I am thinking about raising some turkeys next year and building a small coop just for them as I don't want my layers disturbed and stressed out as they get larger.

What size door would be needed for turkeys? I know I would only need a basic structure and no nest boxes which makes it pretty simple. My concern is the door size.

Thanks

 

[patandchickens]

I have an 18x24" popdoor for my turkeys (formerly BBB, current ones heritage bronzes) which is a bit -- but only a *bit* -- larger than they need, if that is of any help. I would imagine 14x18 would be ok for anything but large broadbreasted toms (if you let your BBs *get* that large!).

If you don't get a good answer here in a day or so, try reposting on the "Turkeys" section of the forum, and I guarantee you'll get the info you want.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[anthonyjames]

Thanks much.

Is the rule the same for them in the coop? 6 Turkeys = 24 sqft in the coop?

 

[gsim]

No. They are bigger and need more space. Likely 5 or 6 sq ft per bird. Crowding can cause stress and fighting . Ferer eggs and slower growth. Not worth the short-term savings to make a too-tiny coop.

 

[patandchickens]

Oh my, I think that *industrial* space standards for BB White turkeys are like 3-5 sq ft per turkey, right? (And that is with them only getting to 15-30 lbs live weight, not growing 'em up giant like some do at home). AND, that is with a large area, so that they actually have more room to move around.

IMHO, if they have an *ample* run or are free-range, then 4x6 is BARELY adequate for nighttime quarters for 3 BBWhite or BBBronzes. (Having done that myself last summer). If you have heritage breeds that don't get as large and the turkeys are young, you might put another one or two in there.

Really, though, even just for nighttime quarters, I don't think you'd want any less than 8x6 for six turkeys of whatever description, and if their run is rather unappealing (soupy mud, or on the upwind side of the building, or if you're going to keep them over winter in a cold-winter or nasty-storm-prone area) then I'd suggest at least doubling that.

My current heritage bronze pair has 8x6' indoors, and while it is comfortably adequate while they are going out all day right now, because I will not be able to do that for some parts of the winter (for various reasons not related to turkey hardiness) I am going to have to figure out how to section off another part of the indoors of the building so they can have more area then.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat