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dirt to wire

post #1 of 9
8/27/12 at 8:35am
Thread Starter 

I need to elavate my quail cage and to do so i need to go from dirt to wire.

What is the difference in dirt and wire to the birds?

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post #2 of 9
8/27/12 at 2:26pm

Of course the birds will prefer the dirt over wire, being more natural to them. Dirt is a solid surface on the feet, where as with wire, they are standing on stress points on the feet. Bumblefoot can be more common on wire, so make sure to keep the wire very clean. Make sure you use a barricade of some sort just beneath your wire floor so predators can not lurk in the night and grab toes that hang out. And always offer your quail a place to get off the wire to rest their feet. 

 

Edit to add: You can always bed the wire down with some grass hay for some sort of bedding if you wish. 


Edited by TwoCrows - 8/27/12 at 2:29pm

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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post #3 of 9
8/27/12 at 4:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by twocrowsranch View Post

Of course the birds will prefer the dirt over wire, being more natural to them. Dirt is a solid surface on the feet, where as with wire, they are standing on stress points on the feet. Bumblefoot can be more common on wire, so make sure to keep the wire very clean. Make sure you use a barricade of some sort just beneath your wire floor so predators can not lurk in the night and grab toes that hang out. And always offer your quail a place to get off the wire to rest their feet. 

 

Edit to add: You can always bed the wire down with some grass hay for some sort of bedding if you wish. 

thank you

and yes i was going to lay some bedding and have an area for dirt

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post #4 of 9
8/27/12 at 4:45pm
Thread Starter 

oh and the ants are a pain.

is it safe to use DE

i think i heard it was safe

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post #5 of 9
8/27/12 at 5:55pm

DE is quite safe to use. Don't over do it so the quail are breathing in too much dust, but you can dust around the walls, corners and a tiny handful in the dusting pans works well. 

 

Yeah, the ants are a pain in the arse this year in the southwest, aren't they? I got em all! Black ants, tiny brown ants and fire ants. 

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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post #6 of 9
8/27/12 at 6:13pm

I've heard that there's a product called Orange TKO that is supposed to work miracles against ants. I think that orange oil would also work. I use orange oil and vinegar to get rid of wasps and yellowjackets, it works great. Plus it's safe for my animals.

Mom to one rambunctious 4-year-old, and the one who brings the food to my "blended family" of several coturnix and a silkie hen. (Flock? Covey? Flovey?) Proud chicken momma of 2 easter eggers, 2 speckled sussex, and 2 silver cuckoo marans, and beginning the adventure of hatching coturnix eggs.
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Mom to one rambunctious 4-year-old, and the one who brings the food to my "blended family" of several coturnix and a silkie hen. (Flock? Covey? Flovey?) Proud chicken momma of 2 easter eggers, 2 speckled sussex, and 2 silver cuckoo marans, and beginning the adventure of hatching coturnix eggs.
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post #7 of 9
8/27/12 at 8:30pm
Thread Starter 

so i made the decision and i will stick with dirt and i found something that works miracles with ants and i can use it around birds/quail

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post #8 of 9
8/28/12 at 5:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by the outdoorsman44 View Post

so i made the decision and i will stick with dirt and i found something that works miracles with ants and i can use it around birds/quail

 

Well then, you are going to have to SHARE this miracle so I too can rid this place of ants! LOL

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

Reply

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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post #9 of 9
8/28/12 at 7:04am

Plant some mint around the coop or get a mint extract based spray to get rid of the ants.
 

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