Questions about housing for turkeys

[User635240]

So I'm starting with turkeys this year. I have 10 mini white poults, 4 royal palms, and around 20 BB bronze and white. They are all under 1 month old now. Planning on butchering the majority of the BBs for Thanksgiving, leaving the rest for breeding for next year. I thinking of making 1-3 moveable tractors for them. Questions: how many square feet is recommended per bird? How hard is it to move a 16*8' tractor? Will they be ok outside over the winter (NE Ohio) or will they need a space in the barn? Would it be advisable to house the mini turkeys by themselves, or with the royal palms?

 

[R2elk]

10 sq. ft. minimum for adult turkeys as coop space with a minimum of 50 sq. ft. of run space in addition.

Personally I would not use "tractors" for turkeys.

 

[User635240]

10 sq. ft. minimum for adult turkeys as coop space with a minimum of 50 sq. ft. of run space in addition.

Personally I would not use "tractors" for turkeys.

Could you link to the preferred housing construction?

 

[R2elk]

Could you link to the preferred housing construction?

Turkey housing is as varied as are the turkey owners.

Consolidated turkey housing thread

A 3 sided lean-to type structure is sufficient for turkeys as long as predators are fenced out and controlled.

My adult turkeys spend their nights on roosts that are protected from the prevailing wind. They have been out there and done fine in temperatures as low as -40°F.

They do need shade from the sun even in the winter.

 

[User635240]

Turkey housing is as varied as are the turkey owners.

Consolidated turkey housing thread

A 3 sided lean-to type structure is sufficient for turkeys as long as predators are fenced out and controlled.

My adult turkeys spend their nights on roosts that are protected from the prevailing wind. They have been out there and done fine in temperatures as low as -40°F.

They do need shade from the sun even in the winter.

Ok thanks that was helpful.
I'll start with a Salatin style box 6*6*3 until I have the funds to build something larger.
At what age can the poults be moved outside? Temps here range from 45'F at night to 82'F during the day. Lots of rain.

 

[R2elk]

Ok thanks that was helpful.
I'll start with a Salatin style box 6*6*3 until I have the funds to build something larger.
At what age can the poults be moved outside? Temps here range from 45'F at night to 82'F during the day. Lots of rain.

I start poults at 90°F measured at the bedding level and reduce the temperature 5°F each week. By the time mine are 3 to 4 weeks old they are fully feathered and off of heat.

I do not leave my poults outside at night until they are at least 3 months old as the young ones are too vulnerable to predators.

 

[User635240]

@R2elk is there any benefit to the cattle panel frame over the wooden a-frame? The aframe will cost a bit less.

 

[R2elk]

@R2elk is there any benefit to the cattle panel frame over the wooden a-frame? The aframe will cost a bit less. View attachment 3850382View attachment 3850383

For that style the cattle panel is a much better option. A frame has no advantage for turkeys who like to roost high.

I wouldn't use either for adult turkeys.

 

[User635240]

Pardon, so which kind then?

 

[Turkey chicken]

So I'm starting with turkeys this year. I have 10 mini white poults, 4 royal palms, and around 20 BB bronze and white. They are all under 1 month old now. Planning on butchering the majority of the BBs for Thanksgiving, leaving the rest for breeding for next year. I thinking of making 1-3 moveable tractors for them. Questions: how many square feet is recommended per bird? How hard is it to move a 16*8' tractor? Will they be ok outside over the winter (NE Ohio) or will they need a space in the barn? Would it be advisable to house the mini turkeys by themselves, or with the royal palms?

Broad breasted can't reproduce naturly