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Coturnix wire floors.

post #1 of 10
10/5/12 at 12:15pm
Thread Starter 

Hi there.

 

I've just build some quail breeding cages and i'm working on some grow off cages.

The breeding cages are around  3ft 4 inch long, 1ft 8 inch deep and 10 ft high and divided in 3 sections.

I've designed the cages to be "roll out" cages but the floor isn't sloped, i want to mount the cages in a wooden rack and they'll be standing around 2 inch sloped.

 

This are my first all wire cages, and they are completly build from square 3/4 inch wire, the wire is around 18 gauge.

 

I'm not sure if this wire is suitable for a floor for coturnix, what do you guys think?

 

(Pics of the cages will come later)

 

Thanks.


Edited by kip - 10/5/12 at 2:24pm
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post #2 of 10
10/10/12 at 1:01pm
Thread Starter 

Someone has an idea?

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post #3 of 10
10/10/12 at 7:51pm

Im wanting to see the pics cause im getting into them as well.

Sorry only idea i have is we bought ours with A Battery cage and to me it seems small. 

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post #4 of 10
10/11/12 at 2:44pm
Thread Starter 

I'll will upload the pics this weekend.

 

What do you mean its to small? Are you talking about the dimensions or the wire?

I should have mentioned that the cages are for coturnix and there will be a roo with 2-3 hens in each section of the breeding pens.

 

I've finished the first grow out pen, it's the same dimensions as the breeder cage but it is only divided in 2 sections.

I'm planning on using the grow out for chicks who don't need heat anymore, all chicks in a cage will be the same age and the offspring of the same breeders.

 

I will hatch eggs each week so 2-3 hens in a cage will produce aroung 12-18 eggs in a week, lets say an avarage 15 and 10 chicks will hatch and make it through the brooding period, i'm going to separate the males and females in the 2 sections.

In my point of view this is big enough for them as they only be in the cages till they are fully matured.

 

I hope you guys understand it because English is not my first languagetongue.png

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post #5 of 10
10/12/12 at 10:18pm

3/4" square may be a bit big for the smaller birds.  They'll adapt (I'm sure ??).  The 1/2" square works well for quail as young as 2 weeks.  I have the 1/2" for the adults and it works fine as well.  If the 1/2" is available I'd recommend you get that but if 3/4" is all that's available -- you use what you have.  You may consider putting a piece of wood to allow the birds to get off the wire from time to time.

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post #6 of 10
10/13/12 at 2:48am
Thread Starter 

To be honest i thought the mesh would be to big and i believe 18 gauge isn't very comfortable for the birds to walk on.

There is 1/2" wire available but it's really exspensive and only for sale on large rolls, i will look for a (feed) shop were they sale it per meter.

I will put pieces of wood in the cages, i already thought about that because if i don't do that the people here wouldn't accept it that i have quail on wire floors.

in Holland were i live it's considered cruel to have rabbits or quails on wire floors by many people, however in almost whole Europe it's normal, except in Holland, Germany and the UK.

 

Thanks for the info, i never thought 2 week old quail could walk on 1/2'.

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post #7 of 10
10/13/12 at 10:37am

I found half inch wire isnt the best because its not as durable and its a pain to clean since the droppings build up. Once my Coturnix are about 3-4 weeks old they are moved to a 1 inch by half inch wire bottom cage which works well, it lets all droppings through, its sturdy and strong but during the winter time I will put alfalfa down on the cage to give the birds a break from the hard wire as well as the cold wire can cause damage to their feet.

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post #8 of 10
10/13/12 at 4:59pm

It sounds like your pens are similar to what I built.

I used 1/2" x 1" wire for the floors though. It's heavier guage and seems to be pretty comfortable for them. I would worry about 3/4" square allowing feet to slip through. but I don't have any to test on my birds for you.
 

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post #9 of 10
10/14/12 at 12:15pm

I am process building up a pen with 1/2" x 1" 12-14 gauge wire.  Is suck wire size available?

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post #10 of 10
10/15/12 at 8:39am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for all the good info.

I have seen a lot of cages with 1" by 1/2" wire bottoms on here so i wanted to use it but it isn't available here.

The only other available wire wich i consider to be suitable for the job are 1/2" square wire (available in 20 and 18 gauge), 2,5/4" square wire(only available in 16-17 gauge) and heavier gauge 3/4" square wire than i currently use.

I also can get 1/2" square laminated wire and 3/4" square laminated wire but it's still only 18 gauge and perhaps to slippy.

 

My money is on the 1/2" square or the 2,5" square, don't know wich one it's gonna be but the price is the same.

 

Please give your opinion.

 

PS the pics are coming but they are on my phone and i can't find my phone/pc adaptor.

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