Choice of wire flooring for Coturnix Quail?

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
My current cage is 2/3rds solid wood and 1/3rd 1/2" x 1" welded wire. The only time they are on the wire is when they are drinking (their 1 gal. waterer is on the wire to keep it drier in the pen) or when they are going from one of the solid areas to the other. It is | 1/3 wood | 1/3 welded wire | 1/3 wood | . They always sleep either on the open side of the pen on the solid floor or on the enclosed side of the pen on the solid floor. They are almost never on the wire by choice.

 

[ravenzero]

I bought and installed 1/4 wire, and regret every poop that sticks to it..

One day ill install 1/2, one day....

 

[TheRealTimShady]

Quote:
ditto

 

[Sudsyark]

1/2'' Hardware cloth is best. You may want to do as many also do and put a sandbox and some other small flat surfaces if you are duly concerned about their feet. However the cloth will be alright. TIME TESTED AND TRUE.

Thank you for your advice. I was wondering if I needed vinyl coated hardware cloth or could just use the galvanized 1/2"hardware cloth (more cost effective). But it looks like most people do fine housing quail on galvanized without injuring their feet.

 

[pac]

I went with vinyl. It just got delivered today.
I'm in a cold climate, my quail will be outside (as far as I know) and the vinyl sounds better for their feet. And I don't want them pooping inside the closed part all day because their tootsies are cold.

Plus I've never been a fan of galvanized hardware cloth anyway. There can be sharp pointy things where the zinc coating dripped off and it's a pain to work with. I haven't even opened the box on the vinyl, but I imagine it will be nicer to work with.

I'll probably do whole pen with it. Not just the bottom.

 

[FatherFalcon]

 

[Sudsyark]

I went with vinyl. It just got delivered today.
I'm in a cold climate, my quail will be outside (as far as I know) and the vinyl sounds better for their feet. And I don't want them pooping inside the closed part all day because their tootsies are cold.

Plus I've never been a fan of galvanized hardware cloth anyway. There can be sharp pointy things where the zinc coating dripped off and it's a pain to work with. I haven't even opened the box on the vinyl, but I imagine it will be nicer to work with.

I'll probably do whole pen with it. Not just the bottom.

Where can I find the vinyl coated hardware cloth? It isn't at Lowes, Tractor supply or Home Depot that I have found. What is the cost?

 

[FatherFalcon]

Where can I find the vinyl coated hardware cloth? It isn't at Lowes, Tractor supply or Home Depot that I have found. What is the cost?

Amazon…. 16 gage 1/2” Vinyl Coated hardware cloth seems to be the sweet spot

 

[pac]

Where can I find the vinyl coated hardware cloth? It isn't at Lowes, Tractor supply or Home Depot that I have found. What is the cost?

The stuff I bought came from Walmart. 3' x 50'.
At the time the price was decent and it was available in the size I wanted... but it was supposed to be shipped to the store for pickup in 2-3 days. It came direct to me in a week and a half. Not that I was ready for it, but not sure what the hold up was either.
It was 58 bucks.

 

[Sudsyark]

Thank you!! That is helpful information!!