Getting started w quail

[calicocows]

You can have a lot of quail in there, but I would start with a small number, maybe five or so to see how you get along with them. You can always add more later.

Alright, thank you!

additional question: mesh skirt or mesh floor? (The walls will be hardware cloth anyways)
and what gauge hardware cloth and where in the HECK are y’all finding anything under 16 gauge???

 

[Nabiki]

Alright, thank you!

additional question: mesh skirt or mesh floor? (The walls will be hardware cloth anyways)
and what gauge hardware cloth and where in the HECK are y’all finding anything under 16 gauge???

I don't like mesh floors personally unless they're completely covered with dirt. 1/2" hardware cloth is fine in most cases. I uses a lighter gauge because I don't have much of a predator problem in town and they're in a greenhouse as well. It depends on what kind of predators you have around.

 

[calicocows]

I don't like mesh floors personally unless they're completely covered with dirt. 1/2" hardware cloth is fine in most cases. I uses a lighter gauge because I don't have much of a predator problem in town and they're in a greenhouse as well. It depends on what kind of predators you have around.

Yeah I’m planning to do deep litter method
as for predators, we have a lot of raccoons and foxes. My dog scares them off when she’s outside but we keep her indoors overnight in particular

 

[007Sean]

A 2' wide apron of 1/2" HC, buried 6" in the ground all the way around the enclosure will deter most predators from digging into the enclosure. Raccoons in particular are good at grabbing and pulling the birds through the wire on the sides of enclosures.
Three to 4 feet high HC or 1" x 1/2" welded wire works pretty well to deter them from doing so!

 

[calicocows]

A 2' wide apron of 1/2" HC, buried 6" in the ground all the way around the enclosure will deter most predators from digging into the enclosure. Raccoons in particular are good at grabbing and pulling the birds through the wire on the sides of enclosures.
Three to 4 feet high HC or 1" x 1/2" welded wire works pretty well to deter them from doing so!

Sorry, what do you mean by a 2’ wide apron?
and can I use a weaker gauge or larger spacing of hc above 4 ft of height?
and do wood and plastic need to be reinforced by hardware cloth to keep mice out?

 

[eddie_van_quailen]

Sorry, what do you mean by a 2’ wide apron?
and can I use a weaker gauge or larger spacing of hc above 4 ft of height?
and do wood and plastic need to be reinforced by hardware cloth to keep mice out?

This is a predator apron. It's to discourage predators from digging under the walls of your aviary. It's generally recommended to make it 18-24" wide (measuring perpendicular from the wall to the edge of the apron).

Above 3-4 feet I've seen others use different fencing to save money (chicken wire etc.), but keep in mind that rats can still climb and get in that way. I'm doing 1/2" hw cloth all the way around mine, but it is more expensive.

 

[calicocows]

This is a predator apron. It's to discourage predators from digging under the walls of your aviary. It's generally recommended to make it 18-24" wide (measuring perpendicular from the wall to the edge of the apron).

Above 3-4 feet I've seen others use different fencing to save money (chicken wire etc.), but keep in mind that rats can still climb and get in that way. I'm doing 1/2" hw cloth all the way around mine, but it is more expensive.

So extending 2 ft out parallel to the ground on each side, buried 6 in down?

I’ll probably do the same then, we have a pretty big rat problem in the area.

also here’s my quick little sketch - ignore the functions at the top, I was doodling it in math class lol

also does this look like an acceptable hardware cloth? https://www.amazon.com/YARDGARD-309...ds=14+gauge+rabbit+wire&qid=1683471005&sr=8-6 I genuinely can’t find anything that’s 0.5x0.5“ and lower than 16 gauge

 

[eddie_van_quailen]

So extending 2 ft out parallel to the ground on each side, buried 6 in down?

I’ll probably do the same then, we have a pretty big rat problem in the area.

also here’s my quick little sketch - ignore the functions at the top, I was doodling it in math class lol View attachment 3497963

also does this look like an acceptable hardware cloth? https://www.amazon.com/YARDGARD-309...ds=14+gauge+rabbit+wire&qid=1683471005&sr=8-6 I genuinely can’t find anything that’s 0.5x0.5“ and lower than 16 gauge

I only buried my apron a few inches, maybe 2-3 in some areas and 4ish in others, but my soil is very hard. Most people recommend burying it deeper. Your diagram looks correct.

That hardware cloth looks good. Remember, the wire gets smaller as the "gauge" number gets bigger. For example, a 19g wire is thicker than a 23g wire. Most folks recommend the 1/2" hw cloth because it's 19g, and that's the minimum I've seen recommended & used by most. This is the stuff we used. It's 19g before coating, 17g after. The PVC coating makes it much easier to work with, it looks nicer, and will (allegedly) rust more slowly.

 

[calicocows]

I only buried my apron a few inches, maybe 2-3 in some areas and 4ish in others, but my soil is very hard. Most people recommend burying it deeper. Your diagram looks correct.

That hardware cloth looks good. Remember, the wire gets smaller as the "gauge" number gets bigger. For example, a 19g wire is thicker than a 23g wire. Most folks recommend the 1/2" hw cloth because it's 19g, and that's the minimum I've seen recommended & used by most. This is the stuff we used. It's 19g before coating, 17g after. The PVC coating makes it much easier to work with, it looks nicer, and will (allegedly) rust more slowly.

Holy heck thank you so much, I’ve been unable to find adequate hc!

 

[eddie_van_quailen]

Holy heck thank you so much, I’ve been unable to find adequate hc!

Sure thing! It shipped & arrived quickly for us, too. I hope you have the same experience if you decide to order from them.