Sturdy Roosting Bars

Install roosting bars using 2x4 lumber placed wide-side up, mounted 2-4 feet off the ground. Allow 15-18 inches of linear roosting space per adult turkey. Secure bars with heavy-duty brackets or notched supports rated for 80+ pounds per bar, since multiple adult turkeys will roost together.

Why It Works

Turkeys instinctively roost off the ground at night, keeping them away from floor-level moisture, droppings, and parasites. The flat 2x4 surface (3.5 inches wide) lets turkeys rest their keel bone comfortably and cover their toes with breast feathers in cold weather, preventing frostbite.

Tips

• Round the top edges of 2x4s slightly with a rasp to prevent keel sores
• Space multiple bars 18-24 inches apart horizontally so birds do not soil those below
• Place a droppings board beneath roosts for easier cleaning