DIY quail battery cages

Well, I just got busy and built an indoor quail cage to house just a few of my biggest and best Texas A&M breeders. Gonna try to deal with the poop on newspaper and then composting it to keep things clean and smelling good. I will try to post a pic if anyone is interested.

I was able to build 4 individual cages 12" wide by 24" deep and 10 1/2" high with roll out egg catcher, feeder and bottle waterers (water bottles may change at a later date to a more automated system).

Everything was built using 1/4" hardware cloth. Certainly not as easy as using the stronger 1/2 x 1" wire, but already had some wire on hand. I used 3/4" grey pvc pipe, 6' long for each of the legs instead of wood. They were on .78 each at Lowes. I attached the cages to the pipe with those plumbing clamps that have the screw. Very easy to attach and adjust if you need to change things up a bit.

Years ago, I built some cages that were similar and put small wheels in the bottom of each pipe so I could roll the cage around. You can use conduit for the legs for a much sturdier cage.

Also, just ordered 50 JUMBO Texas A&M eggs for my new Brinsea ECO. I am promised these birds will weigh at least 14 ozs. Hope these are true to what was advertised.

Of course, post the pics! Please, it's easier to see than imagine!

Pics would surely be appreciated! I'll be here with my coffee...

Sorry for it being so blurry. And the newspapers don't help it look as good as it really is ...........

Looks great! So, on the edges of the cut wire....whatcha got on there? Is it electrical tape (or other tape) or is it foam weather stripping? I've got SO MUCH left over lumber and wire from my chicken coop that I want to build my own cages. My quail are currently residing in a large wire dog crate. Plenty of space, not so easy to clean. Your cages look good!

ETA: Your A&Ms make mine look like miniatures! Those are some beauties. Mine are stubborn and tiny....no eggs yet.... *sigh*

I have my first A&M eggs coming to me this week (should be here today or tomorrow)... So I decided to go big and got about 10 dozen! LOL

How many are in each of the pens? I'm trying to see just how many pens I need..

I used the green edging 'cover' that you buy in the garden area at Lowes. You use it to slide over the top of edging in the yard. Kind of quick and easy and works well.

I keep 1 roo and 3 females in the 12 x 24 cages. They seem to not be too crowded. I don't like to crowd my birds too much. They are laying well and have been laying most of the winter. They eat 20% protein feed all of the time and I feed them some homemade whole grain bread periodically just for a treat. Wanna keep'em healthy, you know.

These birds are not too big, but my biggest of the bunch. That is why I separated them so I could keep up with the egg and sizes for hatching.

Thanks bigjohn! Where's the diagrams and instructions?! LOL

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Holy cow!! I'm jealous. 120 eggs....I hope they all hatch for you!

Pretty cool and I hope that they deffinatly are atleast 14oz please keep us updated on that!!!