Turkey Breeder Coops/Pens

[JimW]

I am looking to build some breeder coops/pens for my turkeys. Looking for ideas. My eventual plan is to keep 3 breeds for turkeys to breed, 1 tom and 3 hens in each breeding coop/pen.

Looking for suggestions or ideas.

JimW

[JimW]

Ok I have been doing a bunch of web surfing and I am thinking of building hoop houses using cattle fence panels.

For size I am thinking 12ft x 8ft = 96 sq ft, if I house 4 or 5 turkeys per house = 19-24 sq feet per bird. One end will be solid plywood, the other end will be wire mesh with access door. I will cover the top with a white tarp to protect from the elements but still let lots of light in.

I would like to build slightly raised external nest boxes on the plywood end to make egg collection easier and maximize interior space, but not sure if the hens will use them.

Eventually plan to build 3 pens... 1 for the Beltsville Small Whites, 1 for the Artisan Golds and 1 BSW hen and a 3rd pen for future additons.... Midget Whites or Royal Palms or Chocolates..... maybe I will need 4 pens.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

[ross]

Sounds good Jim . What yu gonna use round bottom edge to keep predators from digging under ? What size are spaces in wire for hoop & ends ?

[thejonesboy]

That will be a great setup Jim. Getting the hens to lay where you want is a different matter. I used 2 large totes with cutouts last year. One hen ended up nesting between the totes. Trying to get the eggs is next to impossible. I left her to it and she hatched out 3 poults. I also removed the tom and extra hen as they were causing havoc. I think using your hoop houses is great, but be ready to let a hen sit if she is intent io it. Good luck.

[baronrenfrew]

Jim... You need to buy feed by the ton. Call it a business.. Get the write offs... Jim's petting zoo... Or Jim's bird world... Or Jim's heritage and exotic meats.

[JimW]

QR_BBPOST Sounds good Jim . What yu gonna use round bottom edge to keep predators from digging under ? What size are spaces in wire for hoop & ends ?

For around the bottom I will probably use a bunch of the galvanized metal wire shelves I have, they are 4ft x 2ft, so would make a nice 2ft wide border around and then throw some wood chips on top of them.

On the sides I will use some 1"x 1" welded wire over the cattle panel wire and probably use 1" x 1" or some of the shelving panels on the ends.

Andy, thanks for the insights on turkey nests, I guess I will see what happens.

[ross]

Sounds goid Jim . Keep us posted & pics my 20 year old outside wood pheasant , turkey , dove pens are need of replacing if gonna use . Luck