Fencing in Turkeys?

We've got 24 chicks and 15 broad breasted bronze poults coming in next week. We have experience with chickens, but none with Turkeys. I was thinking of getting a section of Premier electronet and building a movable roost so we can rotate them on pasture, any advice? I've heard that they may or may not respect the electronet. The area they'll be in is a 3 acre flat open field.

Can I run them with the chickens, or no?

Are they likely to fly out of the electronet? Do BBBs stop flying when they get bigger?

We raise a few hundred turkeys every year for the farmer's markets around our area. We raise Midget Whites, White Hollands, and Broad Breasted Bronze. They will respect an electronet if it is electrified and they learn from an early age. You want to brood turkeys for about 8 to 12 weeks depending on weather conditions. We have moved away from electronets for our turkeys and fenced in 5+ acre paddocks to rotate them throughout the growing season. We used 4"X4" sheep and goat fence 48" tall. We shall see if it works. In theory if you provide them with a roost, fresh water, and plenty of forage/feed they should stay in that area. I don't expect many will go past it. Turkeys by nature don't like crossing fences.

The biggest problem with the electronet is that the turkeys tend to bum rush the fence and push it over. They will only do this if they are hungry, out of water, etc..

Good luck!

,Travis Krause
-Parker Creek Ranch
-D'Hanis, Texas

Jeff Thorpe wrote:
Can I run them with the chickens, or no?

You can run chickens with them if the turkeys grew up with chickens. A lot of people will tell you not to because of Black Head disease, etc...
We have had good luck running them together. Just make sure the turkeys are familiar with chickens. If they aren't they tend to be aggressive towards them.

,Travis

Travis,

Thanks for the info, this is what I wanted to hear! How high should their roosts be?

Jeff Thorpe wrote:Travis,

Thanks for the info, this is what I wanted to hear! How high should their roosts be?

Their roosts don't need to be very high. Just enough to get them up off the ground. Perhaps 24 to 36". Keeps them clean and away from wet weather. Will try to post a picture of our portable turkey shelter in the next few days.

,Travis

Travis,

Can you post a picture of your portable shelter? I'm going to be building a portable shade/roost soon...