Quail and doves

[iamkingtim01]

Jak,

Yes, I made it myself. it was pretty easy. If you were closer, I would help you make one and not charge you a thing. Well, maybe a beer or two. I have only been a homeowner for about a year, and since then I have pretty much gotten this DIY thing down pat.

I would love to add some other birds to the mix, but already my wife thinks I am a "bird nerd". I don't get it either, but I could have worse hobbies I guess. I am enjoying it and I guess that's what matters.

I am going to try the branch thing that you mentioned. they don't seem to do much other than sit on the branch, so If i give them a little room to fly I think that might be nice for both them and me. I sit out there and watch them for hours, so if they move a few times, that would be cool.

I am going to do the dust bath thing. I saw it on a few other threads and think its a good idea. School started back up and I have class two nights a week, so its going to have to wait til this weekend when I can get some sand. In SE Louisiana we dont have sand unless its hauled in. all we have is clay and mud. Not even rocks. We make our gravel roads out of clam shell. I'll have to go to the HD for a bag of play sand I guess.

Mice and RATS!!! I thought it was cute that the squirrels came to eat some of it and that my rabbit nibbled on the seeds that fell, but I am going to have to put an end to that. I think of myself as a pretty smart guy, but I never thought about the possibility of mice and rats. Yep, not only is this tin cookie pan going to save me from feed waste, but also less that I am going to have to get off the ground. Hmmm.

I already give them some store bought crushed oyster shell. I could crush some of the clam shells that we have so many of here, but it was just easier to buy something than to crush it myself. After seeing myself type that just now, I am going to have to start crushing my own shells. I hate buying something when I can DIY!!! or rather DIM.




loves2hatch,

Yeah, the dollar store would have been a better place to buy the tins rather than Hobby Lobby. Everything in there is a bit pricey. That's just where I was standing in front of the tins when the idea hit me.

The water heater is a good idea. I use a small plastic bottle and it wouldn't work for me unless I put in a much bigger waterer. There are a lot of good ideas on this site. That's why I joined. I am digging it.

 

[jak2002003]

What other birds would you like to add?

I think that you will soon have enough birds already once the doves start producing young.

Other birds like budgies and parakeets will injure the doves by biting their toes. They will also harass the quail and pull out their feathers (I know this from trying it myself).

The only other bird that might work are a pair of cockatiels. They are usually very gently and placid - although they might play around with the doves nests and eggs and cause trouble that way. You can get the natural colour ones, and I love the yellow ones - they are so cute.

Finches are not a good idea either as the quail may kill them when they are on the ground - just one sharp peck would be enough.

If you put sand in the cookie tray, then you can sift it through each time you clean it and re use the sand - throwing away the dry poop and old seeds.

 

[iamkingtim01]

Jak,

The reason I want to Addie birds is because my pen seems empty. After reading what you have to say I think I just going to let the doves do their thing and get some more doves that way. Thanks for he input. Everyone on here is so helpful.

 

[jak2002003]

Just thought of something else you can do to make it look more full.....

You can buy some plastic plants - hanging ones and ones in pots. They you can attach them inside you aviary. The birds will love them, especially the quail, which will like to hide in them.

As the doves won't eat live plants you could also have some of them inside - but hang them up away from the quail - as they might be dangerous to them.

 

[iamkingtim01]

I was thinking about putting some ivy in there once it started to warm up a Little. Ivy does well in shadey ares and once it takes its pretty tough, but I don't think it would do well if it were to freeze again, and most likely it will. I was thinking about hanging it kind of in the middle and letting it grow out the pot and down towards the bottom so everyone can have part of the plant to play in. I just have to make sure I can still get in and out of there pretty easy for maintenance. Good idea though. I think I am going to use it. The weather is supposed to clear up a bit Saturday and I will have some time from work and school, so after I move the stick I will try to figure out the plant situation.

 

[jak2002003]

Ah no.......don't use live Ivy!!!!!!

It is poisonous to the birds - the quail will try to eat it.

Plastic plants are much better, and you can wash them when they get dirty. They will not die in the cold, or if you don't water them.

 

[iamkingtim01]

Well geez. I like the idea of a live plant, but I don't want to kill the birds. It is getting closer to the weekend and I want to do something.

I looked at the feed store here and decided on not getting any new birds. I will try to get the doves to do their thing. I don't know what my male to female ratio is, but since I have 4 of them, odds are someone will end up laying fettle eggs. I have hay for the rabbit, so I going to put some of that in there so they can use a nesting box thingie made. I really need to readier about doves, but I am kinda addicted to the quail.

Ill put up a pic or two of whatever I do this weekend. Thanks for the heads up about the ivy.

 

[bonnie in indiana]

Please go back and read through the last couple months of Quail here at BYC. There are several threads on feeders and waterers.

I have very little feed wasteage.

Myself, I use game chick feeders and put the feeder in an old rectangular cake pan. I also use cookie sheets under feeders. Your picture tells me you are using a chick feeder--big waste. A small bowl with a big rock in it would be better than a chick feeder.

dont for get to give the quail a sandbox. they love to bathe.

 

[iamkingtim01]

I did an amazon search for "game chick feeders" and I don't know if what I am finding is what You're talking about. I am going to read more in here and try to fund something new, but at this point what I have is working pretty good.

 

[bonnie in indiana]

GQF Manufacturing


or wwwCutler Supply

google poultry supplies,game bird supplies and similar sites.

Prices vary from $9.00 to $24.00 for the same thing. Amazon-I have found is always sky high and more for the preppy rich people and not the down home country boys that want to stretch their dollar.

The above feeder works well, if you put a brick on the lid. It has no locking mechinism. I also put a cake/cookie sheet under to catch the "scratch out".