Turkey Coop

[Turkeyrangler]

Here are a few pics from last night. I worked on it a bit more tonight, but didn't take any pics. I put in the main stringer at the peak and closed up a small section of 2x4 welded wire to the right of the door. Tomorrow I'll make the gate and maybe get part of the top covered with 2x4 welded wire. I'll be running hardware clothe two feet up the sides and one foot out to prevent digging under. I will also be putting in a bunch of bracing all around to firm it up a bit more. I'm letting the run free float on the ground because in order to get below the frost line I'd need to go down six feet with the post. If I don't they will heave up in the spring. This thing is far from level, but it's not going anywhere. BTW- it's 12 by 24 feet. I'll cover it with big blue tarps in the summer and let the snow fall through it in the winter.

 

[MrChicken207]

That is AWESOME. I have room for something similar in my yard, but, seeing as where I'm located, It wouldn't be a go, because of stupid zoning regulations. BTW what type of turkey are they?

 

[thaiturkey]

Looks good!

I found that a hard floor is a pain with turkeys. Our second coop has a wooden floor covered with oil cloth. The daily cleaning job is a nuisance. We have taken out the floor of our first coop and put in a deep layer of rice husks that is easy to rake out and replenish. Coop number 3 will have an earth floor raised by 1-2 feet with rice husks on top. The mozzie net seems to be essential but only for poults. Mature turkeys don't seem to suffer from the blighters. They prefer to bite me.

Have you got space to let them run free during daylight?

You remembered the roosts, I hope.

Great to see a coop and run designed for the occupants rather than the neighbours!

 

[Turkeyrangler]

MrChicken and Thaiturkey,

I live on 23 acres in the country. I have a two acre lawn for them to free range on when the wife and i are home. Our township zoning regs are very loose. There are at least three others with some kind of birds within a half mile of me on our road. No one care and no one bothers. I've had a potbellied pig that grazes in my yard for the last 13 years (he's mine, his name is Orville). No one has ever said a thing. My birds are domestic eastern wilds. I'm getting two more this weekend if the coop is completed. I'm also getting a few chickens and one of the chicken is raising two peafowl chicks, should get really interesting this weekend if all goes well. Right now I'm dealing with spraddle leg with one of my 7 week old poults. I corrected the problem when he was a week old, but now it's back with a vengeance. It's been going on for a few days. Left foot is turned out a a 90 degree angle. Tomorrow I'm getting some foam and trying this method that I found on line. http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/ I can separate him in his old brooder for a week and see if it works. He can still get to food and water, even gets on the roost, but I know that if I leave it I'll be putting him down in the near future. Really bums me out. He is a very friendly bird and likes my company.

BTW-I remembered the roosts and I'm going with the deep litter method so the wood floor should not be much of an issue. I'll be putting in sand in the run in the near future.

 

[Turkeyrangler]

Also wanted to add that this coop and run are for the most part in the shade and protected from a north or west wind in the winter. It does get morning sun though.

 

[Turkeyrangler]

Run is complete except for hardware clothe. I moved in a tom and hen, one americuana hen who is brooding two peachicks. I'll be putting on the hardware clothe tomorrow after work. Until then they can stay in the coop until I'm finished. The coop is in the shade and if I open the windows they will be fine.

got the top covered last night with 2x4 welded wire, just needs the hardware clothe.

 

[GermanChick]

I love your set up. I think it turned out great !!!!!!

 

[Turkeyrangler]

Quote:
Thanks, I'm trying to give them a great setup. It seems that they are happy.

 

[MrChicken207]

Looks pretty cool.

 

[chicken farmer]

Love the run your makeing turkeyrangler