Turkey "Coop" in progress

[PolarBerry]

So we have 6 bourbon red turkeys turning 5 stinky weeks old... did I mention stinky?

Anyway, they're stinking up the house in quick order so their outside coop is being constructed out of a weird lean-to that existed off our well's pump house. We will add on a fenced run for outside time until they're old enough to free range some.

Anyway, here's some pictures. Nothing too spectacular. Got paint to redo it all to match since the pump house paint is peeling and need to get it done before Oregon's rainy season hits. That's why we did the sides mostly solid with a vented air gap at the top; to allow heat to escape and prevent sideways rain from coming in. The door is wire to allow extra airflow. It has 2x4 wire on the outside and we affixed hardware cloth to the inside to keep out predators.

Hardware cloth "subfloor" to keep out the local gophers and mice. It has buried hardware cloth around the outside ground edge as well. Just doubling up on varmint protection while easily able to. We screwed 2x4 to the joining of both boards and the hardware cloth to keep everything in place.

It's just about 9x9 feet and we're adding an outside electrical plug in from the ceiling and hanging hooks for feeders, extra locks on doors, and mounted perches.

Hopefully they enjoy having slightly more room to fly around (and stink up)!

They will certainly be missing me though... they follow me around their brooder and cry when I leave sight so hope they take it ok.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looking good, I don't know how you have had them in your house up until now. They will complain loudly, and may be a bit dramatic about the move. Mine stood in the corner of the bigger brooder for two nights before sitting down. They still will follow you outside.

We use construction sand in our coop which I scoop poop poop daily with a kitty litter scoop taped to a handle and one of those horse poop scoopers.

 

[PolarBerry]

Was looking at doing sand but the husband didn't want to deal with hauling buckets of it through the doorway and said shavings were cheaper.

We just spent way too much time and money at the emergency vet on our dog's bloat surgery and so that's why the coop is delayed and trying to do it cheaply. But he's still a perfectionist so the weird angles and odd size framing of the existing structure annoys him to no end because it's not square and perfect. I told him the birds don't care and paint will cover a lot of the flaws.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I started with shaving but they immediately got damp. My shed is built on the ground too. Wasn't on a wet or low spot but for some reason the shavings didn't work.

Hopefully the dog will be okay, must be a large breed?

 

[PolarBerry]

A large male Labrador, yes. So far he's ok but his medication schedule isn't conducive to a sleep schedule
for us.. but it means him not being in pain.

Yeah, I'll see how the shavings work out. If they get too damp quickly then I'll try sand and throw the shavings in the compost pile. Some people say that sand can cause silicosis and hold E. coli in the sand... so guess everything has pros and cons.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Best to read everything than figure out what works best for you and your situation. One aspect i enjoy about poultry is there's no one right way, and everyone can do something different and it's okay.

Never had a dog bloat before. I read Labradors like to power eat though. I hear you on messing with your sleep. Hopefully his recovery is quick.

 

[PolarBerry]

So I've moved them out into their coop and at first they were terrified but now they're sunbathing and dust bathing.

At first they were petrified by the guinea fowl.

Then they kind of decided to explore too.

I hung the feeder, waterer, and they have a dish of chick grit and another of mealworms.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looks really good, so do your poults.