Build a turkey house to protect your future Thanksgiving Day feast.
Raising turkeys can be a fabulous, low-maintenance way of keeping your pantry stocked with homegrown food, not to mention giving you bragging rights during holiday feasts. But in order to keep your turkeys safe till they reach your table, you'll need a secure place for them to roost at night. A simple raised-turkey house can keep night predators away from your sleeping flock, and shelter them during bad weather. An 8 feet by 8 feet shelter can house up to 12 birds.
Instructions
1. Choose a location for the turkey house. It should be a place that is dry and has well-drained soil to keep from spreading disease.
2. Dig four post holes, 8 feet by 8 feet apart and 2 feet deep. Cut the posts at 10 1/2 feet. If you want the roof of the house to be pitched, cut the back posts shorter at the desired pitch.
3. Place the posts in the holes. At one foot above the ground, attach the 2-by-4 boards on the outside edge of the posts using the 2 1/2-inch screws. Do the same at the top of the posts, making sure all the sides of the house are square.
4. Attach 2-by-4s vertically to the outer sides of the 4-by-4 posts using the 2 1/2-inch screws. Run three 2-by-4 floor joists across the length of the house's floor, spaced evenly.
5. Cut the welded wire fence panels to fit the floor of the turkey house. Using 1-inch staples, attach the welded wire fence panels to the floor joists.
6. Attach the plywood to the 2-by-4 frame with 1 3/4-inch screws. Before finishing all the walls, install two or three horizontal 2-by-4s for the turkeys to perch on. Cut a 2 1/2 feet high by 2 feet wide opening for the turkeys to enter.
Tags: 2-inch screws, feet feet, fence panels, fence panels floor, floor joists