Bantam Breeding Cages

[rilly10]

Very nice! Thanks for posting! I may have to copy this when I want to do controlled matings with my silkies!

 

[WyandotteTX]

Nadine, I do not take the outside and yes I do stack them. I usually build a stand out of 2x4s that will support their weight. The stands are usually no more than 18 inches high that way when i do stack a second cage on top it isnt too high to reach into. I have stacked them three high with just a 4x4 to keep the bottom cage off the floor. But thats probably taller than most would like for the third one unless they want a step stool to reach into them. Im almost done with a stand too. I will take a pic of it and the cage on top of it when I get it done.

Like someone else said, I have never been a fan of having chickens on wire personally. Especially for a breeding pen. You want your birds to feel comfortable and having them on wire is anything but. Yes its easier for you because you never have to clean. The cages I have built are that hard to clean either. It takes probably about 3 to 4 minutes most to clean one out and put new shavings in and you are good to go. In my experience chickens raised on wire just dont seem to do as well. Hence I have always put plywood bottoms on my cages.
Building them out of pressure treated and pvc coated wire might be the only way to make them better BUT that wouldnt be so cheap.
I bought 15/32 plywood then had them cut it twice for me to give me three panels of 3x4,3x4 and 2x4. The sheet was only $13. The 2x2s were $1.05 a piece, I used 5. The wire is 1x2 on the sides and is 2x4 on the top.
I think I have built somewhere around 30 of these over the years and the current design is the latest attempt to improve the ease of use and durability.
I made sure the door was big enough for me to go thru to reach in to every part of the cage also. Wire doors are economical and easy but I think the current door is more functional.

 

[WyandotteTX]

Setting them up tomorrow in the chicken barn. I am going to try and take pics once I have chickens in them. I have two built so far. Discovered a miter saw makes it go a whole lot faster building them.

This is just total curiosity on my part but I wonder if anyone would be interested in buying these built cages. Like Ive said, I have built many and put them together fairly rapidly. Would be more than happy to build some for anyone who would like them. For a reasonable price I think. So if anyone within a 100 miles or so of Central Texas/Austin area is interested let me know.

 

[WyandotteTX]

Just got through working on cage #3. I made the change to put 2x4s on the bottom to keep more of the shavings in the cages. Adds a pretty good amount more of weight but still very manageable.
I only need to put the door on this one but couldnt find the hinges I bought...go figure. I will take pictures of it tomorrow when its done and set up with my new quad of Buff Brahma bantams.
Here is a pic of it now.

 

[rilly10]

Love it! I want to do something like this but have it attached to the wall on a shelf. I bet this type of cage would work as it is not too heavy. It would be great for if I wanted to do a pair only mating for silkies. I think a row of these would be great and I wouldn't any floorspace below where my pens are. It is hard to utilize the vertical space with silkies since they don't fly!

 

[roycattle]

I am new to the poultry project so i have a couple dumb questions. Why didnt you make the cages 4 x 4 or do you use the 2x4 extra plywood for something. Also when people are talking about breeder pens where are the hens laying the eggs to collect? Thanks

 

[StevenW.]

I was just looking at this

 

[WyandotteTX]

Roy,
I have built them 3x4 because if you make them 4x4 they are too deep to reach into from my experience. I have built them 3x5 also in the past for a little bit bigger cage.
I have also built small next boxes that are about one foot square to put in these cages if need be. Lots of times I will just have deep shavings in them and the hens will just make a nest and lay in the corner...haha. They arent that picky...
I took some new pics today with my new Buff Brahma bantams in the cage. Also took a pic of the earlier two I built stacked up and with chickens in them
I will post them here in a few minutes.

 

[WyandotteTX]

Here are some pics of the cages in action.

 

[madamwlf]

Lovely cages and birds. I have a few questions since I'm interested in breeding bantams. How long do you normally keep them in the cage??? Are your Bantams part of a larger flock? Ever have problems putting them back with your other chickens?