Need a couple tips for DIY quail hutch

[Graphite91]

So... I am almost done building my first quail hutch, but I need a couple tips to finish.

First off, I need a pan/tray to be my slide out poop tray. The hutch is a double decker, so I need one to keep the lower quail from getting pooped on lol. It needs to be about 18" x 46", and no taller than 2". Anyone know where I can find something that will work?

Also, I am planning on making the floor out of 1/2" hardware cloth, and I wanted to use the coated kind to be easier on their little feeties. Is that stuff harder to clean than the regular kind? What all do my quail need in their pens?

I will take some pics in a little bit and start posting my progress.

 

[dc3085]

So... I am almost done building my first quail hutch, but I need a couple tips to finish.

First off, I need a pan/tray to be my slide out poop tray. The hutch is a double decker, so I need one to keep the lower quail from getting pooped on lol. It needs to be about 18" x 46", and no taller than 2". Anyone know where I can find something that will work?

I would suggest finding a local sheet metal fabrication shop and having trays made to fit your size. They can fold the edges to whatever depth you'd desire. Something like that would probably only cost you $20-30 each maybe less and would last forever if made from galvanized steel.

Also, I am planning on making the floor out of 1/2" hardware cloth, and I wanted to use the coated kind to be easier on their little feeties. Is that stuff harder to clean than the regular kind?

All floor wire is hard to clean. If using the coated use a soft brush with stiff bristles and it cleans up pretty quick. I'd suggest designing it where you can take everything out and wash it occasionally because after a while the poop and dander on everything starts to look kind of shabby in any cage.

What all do my quail need in their pens?

Watering device, feeder, oyster shell dispenser or tray, Sand box for dust bathing and to rest their feet (litter boxs work or those danish cookie tins you can pick up at thrift stores by the stack)

You'll want to raise the feed and water outlets 3" from the floor so the quail don't fill them with poop or scratch out all the feed. They are huge food wasters so make sure they have to reach a little bit up into their food.

I recommend horizontal nipple auto waterers if you go the auto water route.



I will take some pics in a little bit and start posting my progress.

Good luck keep up posted.

 

[pawtraitart]

So... I am almost done building my first quail hutch, but I need a couple tips to finish.

First off, I need a pan/tray to be my slide out poop tray. The hutch is a double decker, so I need one to keep the lower quail from getting pooped on lol. It needs to be about 18" x 46", and no taller than 2". Anyone know where I can find something that will work?

Also, I am planning on making the floor out of 1/2" hardware cloth, and I wanted to use the coated kind to be easier on their little feeties. Is that stuff harder to clean than the regular kind? What all do my quail need in their pens?

I will take some pics in a little bit and start posting my progress.

How many quail are you going to put in your hutch? What kind?

 

[Graphite91]

Well, if I follow the 1 bird/square foot rule, I can fit six in each level (coturnix quail) But that seems a little tight for me, so I'm gonna do one male and four females per level. Last night I got I really cool wooden shelf from behind walmart that was used to hold flower bulbs in the garden center. I love me some free, so I strapped that baby to the top of my car, and I'm making it into a grow-out pen for the extra males I plan to use for food. I haven't measured that one, but it's about as big as my first hutch!

 

[falconertomt]

Here is what I am building for my Quail. (Rendered horribly in MS Paint) It is 29"x48"x12" and stacks 3 tall. I put casters on it so it would move easy. The poop tray is slanted and will empty into a piece of cut PVC, so I can easily clean it. I am still modifying the design, but the end result will be about this.



Also the 1 sq ft per bird is not a hard rule. James Marrie Farms, considered one of if not the expert is cotournix, uses a lot less than that. http://www.jamesmariefarms.com/index-farmtour.html From what I have read the 1 sq ft rule is for flight pens, rather than indoor pens. I would not go less than 6"x6" for each bird, but you can certainly do less than 12"x12"

 

[Graphite91]

What are the best type of nipple/cup waterers for quail? any opinions?

 

[dc3085]

What are the best type of nipple/cup waterers for quail? any opinions?

A lot of people use the orange GQF cups. I used to for a long time but I noticed if you give quail who use those cups a real water font they drink like they've never seen water. The vertical nipples leak for a second every time the quail drink so they can be messy. The horizontal nipples are pretty much leak free and seem to work the best.