How to control food waste on floor under quail hutch

[User635240]

Hi, this is my super duper quail hutch. The cages are yaheetech which actually work pretty well. The only issue is, they came with plastic trays that slide into slots under the cages, but rats get in there and literally nest there at night and attack the quail. So I took out the trays, but now all the grain that the quail kick up falls on the ground which is a buffet for the rats. I will have to rebuild this hutch anyway this summer (to make it taller, stronger). Any ideas?

Another question, the quail waste so much food, maybe 50% of what they receive. Is it ok to feed this fallen grain (mixed with their poop) to the chickens? It comes to 30-50 lbs of wasted food per week.

 

[TeresaW]

I don't have my quail yet, but I have watched a few youtube videos on how to make low-waste feeders. Maybe you can find one to suite your needs.

Let us know what you come up with. I'll be wanting one too.

 

[Nabiki]

Never feed poop to your birds. That's a good way to give them coccidiosis.

I would look into no waste (they're actually low waste, not no waste, but still a serious improvement) feeders. They are pretty easy to make out of dollar store plastic containers.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I used a gallon vinegar bottle to make my no waste feeders, they work great (and have a hopper style dispenser so I Don’t have to feed daily). I made a similar chick feeder out of a juice bottle but cut the holes too low and probably wasted half a bag of feed before I realized it (there is a learning curve!). Never feed contaminated feed back to your birds, especially chicks! It isn’t just coccidia but bacteria, mold and fungi (if wet), along with worms and Protozoa (coccidia et Al). Just compost it!

 

[aart]

I would look into no waste (they're actually low waste, not no waste, but still a serious improvement) feeders. They are pretty easy to make out of dollar store plastic containers.

I used a gallon vinegar bottle to make my no waste feeders, they work great (and have a hopper style dispenser so I Don’t have to feed daily).

Examples(pics or links) of these please?
Preferably something that you have used successfully.

 

[User635240]

I used a gallon vinegar bottle to make my no waste feeders, they work great (and have a hopper style dispenser so I Don’t have to feed daily). I made a similar chick feeder out of a juice bottle but cut the holes too low and probably wasted half a bag of feed before I realized it (there is a learning curve!). Never feed contaminated feed back to your birds, especially chicks! It isn’t just coccidia but bacteria, mold and fungi (if wet), along with worms and Protozoa (coccidia et Al). Just compost it!

Can you share a pic of your setup please?

 

[Kiki]

Can you share a pic of your setup please?

put you feeders in a dirt box like this: