Arizona Chickens

[Parront]

I can move the rock out/around.. but i didn't think of the 5' clearance from the wall. The neighborhood is so quiet, even quiet clucking/quacking noise would travel. We do have plenty of quail that yap throughout the day.. which is what got me thinking a bunch of coturnix could work well. I am now thinking a fairly large dog run, with garden beds and an interior hardware cloth protected area. I don't think it is large enough to keep a duck/muscovy happy.

I have an area that is enclosed by 160 feet of netting for 6 ducks, it is not too large!

 

[Parront]

That is what I was thinking...

They are beautiful. You could make an enclosed gazebo, hardware cloth inside, shade cloth outside. It would be an asset to a desert garden like yours, and cute birds could roam inside! I had a neighbor in Riverside, CA with parakeets in something like that. You need an "airlock" door system for them.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

They are beautiful. You could make an enclosed gazebo, hardware cloth inside, shade cloth outside. It would be an asset to a desert garden like yours, and cute birds could roam inside! I had a neighbor in Riverside, CA with parakeets in something like that. You need an "airlock" door system for them.

I was thinking lovebirds too... there are a bunch that are wild not too far away. I kind of like the idea of the quail.. and yes, definitely and airlock.

My kids are 2 years ahead of their peers grade wise, and so socially are younger. i try to have enriching things here at home for them to participate with, and it just seems like it would be enjoyable to us all.

There is a water irrigation line that runs through the center of that space too, so I can make it a living garden within the enclosure. I think a proper gazebo with sitting areas, both within the bird area and maube the airlock area would be really nice. I have power available over there too.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Just did some quick reading, and it looks like japanese coturnix are a-ok to sell eggs from, but any other variety could cause licensing issues. I told my kids they need to be ready to move out at 18 so my daughter (age 8) wants to start her farmers market stand so she can start saving! She wants to sell fresh and pickled quail eggs.. as well as fruit as soon as our trees are producing. i was thinking celadon colored eggs so she can charge an extra $1 per dozen!

 

[Parront]

I was thinking lovebirds too... there are a bunch that are wild not too far away. I kind of like the idea of the quail.. and yes, definitely and airlock.

My kids are 2 years ahead of their peers grade wise, and so socially are younger. i try to have enriching things here at home for them to participate with, and it just seems like it would be enjoyable to us all.

There is a water irrigation line that runs through the center of that space too, so I can make it a living garden within the enclosure. I think a proper gazebo with sitting areas, both within the bird area and maube the airlock area would be really nice. I have power available over there too.

Water for some misters is nice for a desert garden. Some love birds are ear-splitting loud! They make roosters pale by comparison, but are accepted as "pets"! Cockatiels are my favorite small parrot, well adapted to the desert, too. A little electricity to run a tiny 7 watt bird heater for them is all you would need for such a setup. Quail would not need any heat after they were grown. Some hatcheries sell Valley Quail in season, which would be about now! If you look at all the hatching threads, quail are popular to hatch.

 

[BlueBaby]

View attachment 2603672

This area is 10x40.. i was thinking of some garden beds, painting and using those pallets as garden walls, just need to modify them a bit. I could attach a shade cloth from the roofline down to the walls. But if i enclosed maybe 10x15, i would think that would be a nice housing space.

Or you could try something like this with those pallet's, to save some room there>

https://concordiagreenhouse.com/pro.../container-gardening-2/wooden-pallet-planter/

 

[Parront]

Just did some quick reading, and it looks like japanese coturnix are a-ok to sell eggs from, but any other variety could cause licensing issues. I told my kids they need to be ready to move out at 18 so my daughter (age 8) wants to start her farmers market stand so she can start saving! She wants to sell fresh and pickled quail eggs.. as well as fruit as soon as our trees are producing. i was thinking celadon colored eggs so she can charge an extra $1 per dozen!

Tiny eggs are fascinating to kids. Hatching them, even more!

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Or you could try something like this with those pallet's, to save some room there>

https://concordiagreenhouse.com/pro.../container-gardening-2/wooden-pallet-planter/

Yes, that is exactly my plan! I just need to add some wood for each section bottom. And paint them, because everything has to match

 

[springvalley123]

I can move the rock out/around.. but i didn't think of the 5' clearance from the wall. The neighborhood is so quiet, even quiet clucking/quacking noise would travel. We do have plenty of quail that yap throughout the day.. which is what got me thinking a bunch of coturnix could work well. I am now thinking a fairly large dog run, with garden beds and an interior hardware cloth protected area. I don't think it is large enough to keep a duck/muscovy happy.

Maybe have a garden and coturnix in an area of the garden so they can’t be seen?

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Maybe have a garden and coturnix in an area of the garden so they can’t be seen?

I plan on growing grape vines and squash along the walls of the enclosure.. natural shade and insulation.. the neighbors on that side are hermits with some social phobias.. so i won't ever here from them. The neighbors from hell are on the other side.

Someone from the HOA COULD peek over the wall if they got a complaint, but we have annoying grackles and mocking birds and enough wild quail to go around.. as long as it doesn't sound like a duck or chicken, i should be good! But with plants growing all over, there'd be nothing to see! I imagine the quail would scatter and hide if some weird face popped up.