It has been 3 weeks since the turkeys broke out of their shells and saw the world. This is the best time to move them to their permenant home where they can learn to forage for food (grass and bugs) and be turkeys! Its also good because the nursery (called a brooder) is getting really small for 28 of these growing guys.
To get ready I spent a few hours here and there last weekend getting the "hoop house" rebuilt. The first design from last year was too heavy and allowed too many opportunities for little birds to squeeze out. This design is much lighter and yet more secure. It also has adjustable "shades" on the sides to block the wind at night but allow ventalitation during the daytime. There are two perches at different heights for them to learn to fly up to. And it is still moveable since the entire unit is mounted on 2 skids (treated 4x4 posts). The foor is two cattle panels covered with chicken wire.
Here is a view of the back
Front View
Front and Side View
The Interior
In the last pic you can see the turkeys huddled in the corner around the feeder. There is the pile of shavings against the back wall for nesting.
When sundown came we decided to put a heat light inside, becasue they just looked too cold to make it their first night. Even after dropping hte shade on the wind side they were a tight mound of feathers. We strung an extension cord (3 actually) from the shop and hung the light form the roost over the shavings and within minutes there were a few of them baking in the heat.
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