Breeder cages

[mustanger]

I have been thinking about building some quail breeder cages. I would like to have an egg roll out built in. Does anyone know what angle is good to get the eggs out? What sized wire mesh would be best?

David

 

[95yj]

having never used a system like this i can't speak from personal experience but i'm gonna guess that you want a relatively small angle, idk maybe 5-7* play around with it. The wire size depends on the type of quail, obviously the smaller the wire the better so the egg won't get hung up, quarter inch would be best, but it would also probably get pretty disgusting from what i'v heard. Why don't you just reach in and grab the egg, how many breeders do you have?

 

[CARS]

I think my cages have a 2" drop across the 2' floor length, 1/2" square wire floor.

I don't have any real good pics I guess. And I am snowed in at my shop (again) otherwise I would get out the protractor when I got home.

 

[anthonyjames]

I can't tell is there a door you open at the bottom of the cage? Or is it always open and when they lay an egg it just rolls out? I am not quite getting the concept.

 

[mustanger]

Great Pictures! Thanks for the great response! I don't have any breeders yet, I'm just getting ready and want to make it as easy on myself as I can as well as making it comfortable for the birds. I now have what I need to start building my own cages. I sure appreciate the pictures and the dimension info.

David

 

[youridreezen]

Quote:
Hi again CARS.
do you find yo get any eggs that don't make it out with the 2 inch drop?

i am thinking of making them in the roll out way.

cheers youri.

 

[farrier!]

I have less then a 2" drop. All the eggs roll towards the outside of my first breeders cages. The really big eggs do not roll under. I just have to reach in and retrieve them, they nicely collect.
I increased the size of the roll out opening on the next cage and the breeders squeezed out. I added a lip and now things are working well.
I just purchased 5 more breeder pens and am looking forward to setting them up.

 

[CARS]

Quote:
There is about a 1" opening at the bottom for the eggs to roll out.

 

[CARS]

Quote:
Just the really big eggs. When I make the transition to jumbo Bobwhites this year, I am going to have some issues

It's not that they wont roll, they just don't fit the opening

 

[mustanger]

It looks to me like it might be a good idea to put an adjustable opening in to be able to fine tune it to let just the eggs through. I don't think it would be too hard. Just take a piece of sheet metal the width of the cage and put a couple of bolts through to small plates on the other side. Make the hole in the sheet metal like a slot so you can adjust it. I am going to get some material and try my hand at making one. I'll let y'all know how it works out.

David