Hubby and I want to try turkeys this year. We are looking at birds that will be flavorful and come in around the 18-23 lb range (that is what we normally buy).
We have a coop and run that is currently empty. This past year it housed our pheasants. (We raised 100 pheasants. But cannablism started about 5 weeks into it. We ended up with roughly 85 mature birds in this area.) The run is about 20x40. The top is covered in netting. With the peak about 12 feet high. The walls are 6 feet high.
The sides of the run are just standard chicken fencing. I dont think that will be strong enough for turkeys, but hubby says it should be just fine.
Do we need to reinforce with chainlink or hogfence? Will they push at the sides? Or is the chicken fencing enough?
We are looking at ordering 15 poults. A friend of ours wants to go in on them with us. I would like to raise them here all together in a warm brooder until they are about 5 or 6 weeks old. (our friend free ranges his birds and doesnt usually lock them up at any time) He raised a dozen guineas for us to 8 weeks, and in return we raised some chickens for him to the same age.
However, I know turkeys are more fragile. I'm sure we are bound to lose a couple our first year, but I want to give them the best start possible so they will survive.
As they are growing and maturing, is that fencing going to be sufficient? Is the netting for the top enough to keep them in?
I know we will have to put in some roosting bars, and build an area for them to get out of the sun/cold when they are bigger.
By 6 weeks of age, we will have given our friend his birds, and we will have a max of 7 birds (if they all live). Our birds will free range in the yard with the chickens and be put back into this run area at night, or if we are gone.
Here is what we have so far. Sorry it is covered in snow and you cant see much, but you get the general idea.
We have a coop and run that is currently empty. This past year it housed our pheasants. (We raised 100 pheasants. But cannablism started about 5 weeks into it. We ended up with roughly 85 mature birds in this area.) The run is about 20x40. The top is covered in netting. With the peak about 12 feet high. The walls are 6 feet high.
The sides of the run are just standard chicken fencing. I dont think that will be strong enough for turkeys, but hubby says it should be just fine.
Do we need to reinforce with chainlink or hogfence? Will they push at the sides? Or is the chicken fencing enough?
We are looking at ordering 15 poults. A friend of ours wants to go in on them with us. I would like to raise them here all together in a warm brooder until they are about 5 or 6 weeks old. (our friend free ranges his birds and doesnt usually lock them up at any time) He raised a dozen guineas for us to 8 weeks, and in return we raised some chickens for him to the same age.
However, I know turkeys are more fragile. I'm sure we are bound to lose a couple our first year, but I want to give them the best start possible so they will survive.
As they are growing and maturing, is that fencing going to be sufficient? Is the netting for the top enough to keep them in?
I know we will have to put in some roosting bars, and build an area for them to get out of the sun/cold when they are bigger.
By 6 weeks of age, we will have given our friend his birds, and we will have a max of 7 birds (if they all live). Our birds will free range in the yard with the chickens and be put back into this run area at night, or if we are gone.
Here is what we have so far. Sorry it is covered in snow and you cant see much, but you get the general idea.
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