Pen size for Bobwhites?

[Birdman18]

Hi,
i'm planning on hatching Bobwhite Quails this Spring, i just wanted to get your opinion on the pen size i'm preparing for them.

The pen size will be about 10ft long, 3.5 ft wide, and 1.5 ft high. I'm looking to fit maybe 5 to 7 birds in this pen which will make 2 trios.

What do you think, could i put more birds in the pen?


Thanks I appreciate it !!!!!

 

[Tony K T]

The floor space is good,but I personally would make it high enough to walk thru.You can always place different levels inside the pen to get them more floor spaces.How would you catch them if your pen is 1 1/2 foot tall?At 10'x3.5' you have 35 sq ft.In N.H you are required 1 sq ft per bird.Remember you need to have a permit to raise bobwhites.Your state may have different specs for pen sizes.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[aliena614]

my avery is 9ft by 15ft and 6.5ft tall! it is huge but my dh builds everything with extra overkill! lol its ok though just means i can get more birds to fill it out!
Sorry Honey!

 

[Birdman18]

well i could use a net to catch them in the 1.5 high pen, shouldnt be a problem.




Thanks Tony and aliena for your inputs i appreciate it!!

 

[Lophura]

Quote:
Agree with Tony, I would make it higher - min of at least 6'. Will it be a ground aviary or wire cage? If you are going with an aviary (which I hope and recommend), be sure to plan for rocks, perching (logs and stumps), and plantings. Bobwhite males like to get up high in the aviary to crow. The more natural items in the aviary, the better luck you have with more than one male in the aviary. Each pair or trio will often bond and establish their own "territory" within the aviary, lots of natural items and enrichment will keep the males occupied and less fighting will occur.

Dan

 

[Birdman18]

Well, i just want to raise a few (5 or 6) and it will be a ground pen, not on wire, i live in a residential area so won't have a lot of room, i do have coturnix quails and doves that i keep together they don't seem to bother the neighbors, they aren't too loud. I have property in NC i believe about 1.5 acres or so, and as you might imagine can't wait to one day build nice large pens and raise all kinds of birds down there. I guess you can say the birds i do have now are pets but their helping me to learn more about quails, etc then when i do move down there i will have attained all the knowledge which i think is the smart think to do.
I might not have room for a flight pen here, but i do have a nice cluster of tall bamboo, would you recommend me make a nice pen there (i could maybe get 7 ft high or so) The only reason i really dont want to make a tall pen where i have my bamboos is because this is where i usually plant a few of my vegetable plants in the spring, but i might just plant my vegetables somewhere else and make the pen there.

Thanks for your help!!

 

[Lophura]

Quote:
I would absolutely use the bamboo in the aviary, I've been trying to get bamboo established here for years!! It is an awesome aviary plant once it goes going, my birds just won't let it get started!! Have some small strands (4ft) started and will build an aviary around it, but my birds crave the tender new shoots.

The taller pen allows for more movement for both you and the birds, not a necessity, but is more comfortable to work in.

Sounds like you've got a good plan!!

Dan

 

[sweetshoplady]

Oh! What neat pens for quail! I've been wondering if they could have a "ground pen" so they could live more "freely", ie, dustbathe in dirt, scratch around, be sloppy with their food and not waste it.

Do they sit in trees? Or would they rather just hang out under bushes? I didn't know they liked bamboo. That's a neat tip, thanks.

Dan, how high do the males like to get to to crow?

I'm so excited I have 7 little bob white hatchees and I have to get their pen done.

Birdman, thanks for starting this thread.