Raising turkeys is one of the most rewarding — and underrated — aspects of backyard farming. Unlike chickens, turkeys are calmer, intensely curious, and surprisingly good at following routine. They also need a properly sized, reliable automatic coop door to thrive safely, especially when spring predator pressure is at its peak.
If you're setting up your first turkey operation this spring, or upgrading from manual door management, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Why Turkeys Need a Different Automatic Door Than Chickens
The most common mistake first-time turkey keepers make is ordering a standard chicken-sized automatic door and realizing too late that their adult turkeys can't fit through it. Turkeys are significantly larger than chickens across all breeds — even "standard" broad-breasted whites are 2–3x the body mass of a large chicken breed.
A standard 12" x 12" chicken door opening is suitable for most laying hens, but a turkey needs a minimum of 14" wide x 15" tall — and heritage breeds like Bronze or Narragansett can require 16" x 18" or larger.
Turkey Door Sizing Chart: Find Your Breed
|
Turkey Breed |
Min Width |
Min Height |
Recommended Door |
|
Broad Breasted White (commercial) |
14" |
15" |
|
|
Broad Breasted Bronze |
14" |
15" |
|
|
Narragansett (heritage) |
15" |
18" |
|
|
Royal Palm (smaller heritage) |
12" |
15" |
|
|
Blue Slate, Standard Bronze |
14" |
18" |
Setting Up Your Automatic Turkey Door in Spring
Spring is the ideal time to install a turkey automatic door for three reasons: predator pressure is increasing, your turkeys are establishing routines as the season begins, and the weather is cooperative enough for straightforward installation.
• Mount height: Position the bottom of the door opening at ground level or with a minimal step (under 4 inches). Turkeys don't jump cleanly and prefer a ground-level entry.
• Light sensor vs. timer: For turkey operations, light sensor mode (Dusk-to-Dawn) is strongly preferred over timer mode. Turkeys naturally respond to light levels, and keeping the door synced with actual sunset eliminates the risk of birds being locked out or left vulnerable.
• First-week monitoring: Even well-trained turkeys may take a few days to accept an automatic door. Leave the door in manual open mode for the first 2–3 days, then switch to automatic while observing the birds' behavior through a few full cycles.
• Predator-proof the frame: Turkeys attract larger predators than chickens — coyotes, foxes, and even bobcats. Ensure the door frame is mounted to a solid wood or metal structure, not just coop siding.
Why Spring Predator Pressure Makes Automatic Turkey Doors Essential
Turkey losses to predators are almost always at night or during the transition windows around dawn and dusk. In spring, foxes with kits, raccoons with young, and coyotes with pups are all under extreme pressure to hunt — making those transition moments especially dangerous.
A reliable automatic turkey door eliminates the decision: the door closes at dusk, every night, regardless of whether you're home or whether you remember. Coop Tender's steel worm drive mechanism provides the closing force needed to secure a large turkey door against determined predators — a significant advantage over cable-based systems that can be forced or fail under load.
Frequently Asked Questions: Turkey Automatic Doors
Q: Can I use a standard automatic chicken door for turkeys?
A: Only for very small heritage breeds like Royal Palm under 18 weeks of age. Adult turkeys of any standard commercial or heritage breed require a door opening at least 14" wide x 18" tall. Using a chicken-sized door on turkeys creates a chokepoint that leads to injuries and birds refusing to use the door.
Q: How is a turkey automatic door different from a chicken door mechanically?
A: The mechanism is identical — Coop Tender uses the same steel worm drive motor for all door sizes. The difference is the door panel dimensions, the frame, and the mounting hardware, which are scaled for the larger, heavier door panel required for turkey-sized openings.
Q: Will my turkeys learn to use the door on their own?
A: Yes, with a brief transition period. Turkeys are intelligent and curious — most flocks adapt within 3–5 days of supervised exposure. Gently guiding birds through the opening a few times on the first day dramatically speeds up the learning process.
Get Your Turkey Flock Ready for Spring
Coop Tender's XL Turkey Doors are designed specifically for the demands of turkey operations — large enough for any breed, strong enough to deter spring predators, and reliable enough to run season after season without cable replacements or mechanical failures. Built in Pennsylvania, shipped ready to install.
Leave a comment