That Quail Place Forum
Raising Gamebirds => Build It Yourself => Topic started by: Bobwhite quail24 on January 08, 2006, 04:47:03 PM
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I was thinking of making some quail cages. I read that 1.5 sq feet is good for 2 birds well I am making a wire cage that is 2' x 2' and was wondering what size wire mesh should I use for my breeders and is 1" x 2" wire good for the walls. Also I would am thinking of putting a nest box in there what size should I make it? Thanks for your help.
Bobwhite quail24
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2x2 is good size i would use 1/2x1/2 for sides and floor especially if these cages are in a barn or outside
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We use 1 X 1 wire for the sides, but our cages are fully enclosed in a predator proof barn. I agree if they are outside, go with 1/2 X 1/2.
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I live in a pine forest and they would be outside would that cause any problems?
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yes if they are outside cages, go with 1.5X1.5" fencing. anything bigger, and predators can get their claws in there and rip up your birds even though they can't take them whole.
Here's a pix of my CA Quail breeding pen. 2males, 3females. not sure about the length, but width is around 18" and height is 12". For the nest box, i just devided the width into 3 equals, around 6" and used the whole height. I made the tope of the nest box wider, longer then the box as to be weather proof. Also has hinges on the one end of the top of nest box so I can open to check for eggs. (under that is lined with 1.5" fench so the birds wont fly out when I check the nests)
(http://webpages.charter.net/yingcha/ca.quail01.JPG)
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I have a very large aviary sectioned off into pens and have the smallest wire you can get around the outsides to keep the quails in and the predators out, however when the babies are first hatched they can squeeze themselves through that small wire for the first week, so I have put shadecloth approx 8" high around the inside of the wire in the aviary (from the bottom up of course) that way the babies cannot get through the shadecloth and it also gives them extra protection from direct sun and even predator birds that can pick at them through the small wire opening. I live in Australia and we have 'butcher' birds' that will sit on the ground at the aviary and pull the babies through the wire if the babies get too close to the edge of the cage. They cannot do that now the shadecloth is there.
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I forgot to mention that I have Japanese and King Quails
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If you plan to have babies in the pens you'll have to use 1/4" x 1/4" or smaller, otherwise they'll fall through the holes. Also, if you can find it try coated wire for the floor (steel rust to easily with manure on it.)
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correction on my post, i meant 1/2" fencing hehe :laugh:
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I personally set traps by my cages bc I got alot of predators