- Jan 6, 2013
- 1,022
- 136
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Sniper, this review is great. About 3 weeks ago, you had a post that asked if anyone had experience with this battery brooder, and I was waiting patiently to see if anyone would reply with any type of feed back. Like many others, I would like to keep my quail in a central location, and not have my cages taking up a lot of room in the yard. I have seen this type of battery brooder at my local feed and seed, where they sell chicks, ducklings and turkey poults from spring to early summer. I'm the type of person who would rather "do it myself" than pay somebody a ton of money. So, last summer, I made three 24 x 36 x 10 cages using 1/2" hardware cloth, and learned the hard way that the hardware cloth was very flimsy; I ended up putting metal rods on the bottom for extra support. I decided to put a wire divider down the center of one of the cages so I separate some of the hens that don't get along. I suspended these cages under a 5 tier shelf with some cup hooks and zinc chain. I put some galvanized sheets under it lined with newspaper. The reinforced hardware cloth has worked, but I later read a post from a member who used 16 gauge 1/2 x 1" pet cage wire that can be purchased at Tractor Supply Company.
I was lost in Tractor Supply when I spotted this rabbit cage kit that is stackable with drop pans, and figured that I could make the same thing. So just before Thanksgiving, this one hair started to grow on my head (most people get that one that wild hair up their ***, so maybe it was the same principle), and I went out and started pricing assorted hardware that I would need to build one of my own battery cages (wire, structural support, along with nuts and bolts). The first cage that I built worked like a charm. So then I quickly built another. As I pondered about my creation like Dr. Frankenstein, I decided that my last one would have an angled floor so the eggs would roll to the front. I wish I would have thought about that when I was in the R&D phase. Each one was built directly into the structure, so there was no chance of removal for cleaning... another oops moment. The one thing that you had pointed out was that each of the cages were removable, so it made it easier to clean. So in the very near future, I will be re-building my monstrosity so that the cages could be removable, and modifying the flooring so each cage is angled. Then I will consider building another structure to handle the 3 that I have suspended under that shelving unit. If have considered getting this metal bending tool; I could really have some fun making cages.
And I swear when I fist talked with my wife about raising quail (for their eggs), we both agreed that I would have no more than 3 cages and no more than 12 quail... that was 7 cages and 60+ quail ago... I have lost track of how many roos I've baked or grilled. Our budget per month for feed was $15, which has doubled in the last 9 months, but I really do like having eggs out the wazoo. Man, this is addictive.
OH, back to the reason I wanted to reply to your post was to recommend that you go onto the manufacturers website and do an official review. It really is the best way that the manufacturers to get feedback on their product.
James
I was lost in Tractor Supply when I spotted this rabbit cage kit that is stackable with drop pans, and figured that I could make the same thing. So just before Thanksgiving, this one hair started to grow on my head (most people get that one that wild hair up their ***, so maybe it was the same principle), and I went out and started pricing assorted hardware that I would need to build one of my own battery cages (wire, structural support, along with nuts and bolts). The first cage that I built worked like a charm. So then I quickly built another. As I pondered about my creation like Dr. Frankenstein, I decided that my last one would have an angled floor so the eggs would roll to the front. I wish I would have thought about that when I was in the R&D phase. Each one was built directly into the structure, so there was no chance of removal for cleaning... another oops moment. The one thing that you had pointed out was that each of the cages were removable, so it made it easier to clean. So in the very near future, I will be re-building my monstrosity so that the cages could be removable, and modifying the flooring so each cage is angled. Then I will consider building another structure to handle the 3 that I have suspended under that shelving unit. If have considered getting this metal bending tool; I could really have some fun making cages.
And I swear when I fist talked with my wife about raising quail (for their eggs), we both agreed that I would have no more than 3 cages and no more than 12 quail... that was 7 cages and 60+ quail ago... I have lost track of how many roos I've baked or grilled. Our budget per month for feed was $15, which has doubled in the last 9 months, but I really do like having eggs out the wazoo. Man, this is addictive.
OH, back to the reason I wanted to reply to your post was to recommend that you go onto the manufacturers website and do an official review. It really is the best way that the manufacturers to get feedback on their product.
James
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