Turkey roost question

[Thanera]

My tom Bronze breasted turkey hasn't had a roost bar for the last 6ish months because he had a case of bumble foot that made it near impossible for him to get up on a bar and I was afraid he was going to hurt himself more or something. He of course isnt happy that all his chicken friends are up high while he's had to make due with sleeping on the ground (Nice bedding and everything for him) and for the past few weeks he's been trying to get up on really high roost bars and now I'm even more afraid he'll hurt himself trying. I was thinking I should add one back for him? Make a small platform with a ramp? At this point he's just so BIG at 2 years old. I also noticed if I put any bars at neck height for him he bullies the other chickens off the bar, so they are currently extra high for the chickens to be left alone. My coop is 8ftx8ft so there is room to make him his own bar or perch thing.

 

[R2elk]

My tom Bronze breasted turkey hasn't had a roost bar for the last 6ish months because he had a case of bumble foot that made it near impossible for him to get up on a bar and I was afraid he was going to hurt himself more or something. He of course isn't happy that all his chicken friends are up high while he's had to make due with sleeping on the ground (Nice bedding and everything for him) and for the past few weeks he's been trying to get up on really high roost bars and now I'm even more afraid he'll hurt himself trying. I was thinking I should add one back for him? Make a small platform with a ramp? At this point he's just so BIG at 2 years old. I also noticed if I put any bars at neck height for him he bullies the other chickens off the bar, so they are currently extra high for the chickens to be left alone. My coop is 8ftx8ft so there is room to make him his own bar or perch thing.

Broad breasted turkeys don't need anything more than a bale of hay or straw for a roost. They do need to get up off of the ground but just don't need to be very high off of the ground.

FYI, there is no such thing as a Bronze Breasted turkey. There are Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys.

An 8'x8' coop is tiny for an adult turkey especially when being kept with other poultry. Come breeding season your chickens will be in danger when he tries to breed them.

 

[Thanera]

Broad breasted turkeys don't need anything more than a bale of hay or straw for a roost. They do need to get up off of the ground but just don't need to be very high off of the ground.

FYI, there is no such thing as a Bronze Breasted turkey. There are Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys.

An 8'x8' coop is tiny for an adult turkey especially when being kept with other poultry. Come breeding season your chickens will be in danger when he tries to breed them.

Thank you so much, Im actually pretty sure you told me about the breed name before I just keep mixing them up on a previous post xD. I didn't have any issues of my turkey trying to breed them this past spring but I'll keep an eye out, they spend very little time actually in the coop, I have an auto door so they are all out right at dawn and in and going to bed at dusk. He's been very good with the chickens and raised with them, havent had any issues at all with him.

 

[R2elk]

and raised with them

This is why he is likely to try to breed them. The imprinting caused him to lose the ability to understand that there is a difference between chickens and turkeys.

Toms have a very high sex drive during breeding season. When they don't have turkey hens to breed, they will try to breed other things, such as chickens, soccer balls, upside down buckets, etc. If the choice is a chicken, it is not likely to survive the breeding attempts.

 

[Thanera]

This is why he is likely to try to breed them. The imprinting caused him to lose the ability to understand that there is a difference between chickens and turkeys.

Toms have a very high sex drive during breeding season. When they don't have turkey hens to breed, they will try to breed other things, such as chickens, soccer balls, upside down buckets, etc. If the choice is a chicken, it is not likely to survive the breeding attempts.

If I get him a hen will he turn more aggressive towards me? or do you think it's too late to find him a hen? I've been told by a friend who has more turkeys that he would be more aggressive towards me since he would have a hen to protect

 

[R2elk]

If I get him a hen will he turn more aggressive towards me? or do you think it's too late to find him a hen? I've been told by a friend who has more turkeys that he would be more aggressive towards me since he would have a hen to protect

I don't recommend getting a hen for a Broad Breasted tom.

I would recommend housing him separately from the chickens. If you feel the need to add another turkey, make it another tom and house them separately from the chickens.

 

[Thanera]

I don't recommend getting a hen for a Broad Breasted tom.

I would recommend housing him separately from the chickens. If you feel the need to add another turkey, make it another tom and house them separately from the chickens.

Okay thank you for the info I appreciate it