How much space do turkeys need?

Turkeys need 6 sq ft of coop floor space per bird and 20 sq ft of run each.

Figures reviewed against university extension guidance · Last reviewed July 2026

Turkeys need about 6 square feet of indoor floor space and 20 square feet of outdoor run per bird, according to Poultry Extension — half again the coop space of a chicken and twice the run. For four turkeys that works out to roughly 24 square feet inside and 80 square feet of run.

The extra room tracks the bird: even in a backyard flock, hens commonly reach about 15 pounds by 14 weeks and toms 28 to 30 pounds by 17 to 18 weeks. A cramped turkey is a heavy, powerful, easily stressed one, so this is a case where building to the minimum is genuinely too small.

Unlike waterfowl, turkeys do roost — but they need low, sturdy, wide perches rather than the thin high bars chickens use, because a full-grown tom coming down off a high roost can injure itself on landing. Give them a solid perch not far off the ground and plenty of headroom above it.

Work out your flock's space

Multiply 6 sq ft by your bird count for the coop floor, and 20 sq ft for the run. Want to try different flock sizes, switch to metric, or compare species side by side? Use the Poultry Coop Space Calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much coop space does a turkey need?
About 6 square feet of indoor floor space per turkey, per Poultry Extension. For six turkeys that is 36 square feet of coop floor.
How big should a turkey run be?
Allow about 20 square feet of outdoor run per turkey (Poultry Extension) — 120 square feet for a flock of six.
Do turkeys need roosts and nesting boxes?
Turkeys roost, but need low, wide, sturdy perches rather than the high thin bars chickens use, since a heavy tom can hurt itself landing. They do not use elevated chicken-style nest boxes.

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