Quail pen idea...

[Bigdtc]

Looking for thoughts, suggestions on this idea...
I've been gathering wood for my quail pens and the only thing else I need is to get to Home Depot to acquire some plywood, hardware and some 1/2" X 1/2" hardware cloth. So last week I found a plan here for a wood hutch that is pretty thrifty as it uses only 1 piece of plywood. Add a few smaller pieces of and wire and you end up with a 3' X 4' pen that slopes front to rear..
That said, I was behind the shop today looking at a white plastic drum and got an idea. What if I lay the drum on it's side and work(cut) the ends to make doors and ventilation for a coop? I can get clean drums for $10-$15.00..
Then I can build a scrap wood frame with some hardware cloth attached to it for a floor, placed in the drum part of the way up from the round bottom. The space below the wire frame becomes a cleanout for waste that can be pulled out with a tool shaped like the bottom in one pull. I may also add small holes for drainage/ventilation. Then I would add a full wire door to the front and a door in the rear with a window for ventilation that can open/close depending on weather.. I can add a rabbit water bottle to each pen on the side and a ceramic feeder inside. There will be room in the back to add a small shelter/nest box that can be removed if needed. I can build x-frames under each barrel for support off of the ground and add a roof if I want but I'm not convinced this set up needs one other then for a sun shelter. The white barrels will let a lot of light through and I can also add 1 strand of white christmas lights to extend the days to 14 hours for continuous egg production. This would save having to put 1 light in each wood pen.... I'll post pics when I get started. It will not be long before I start as I am expecting some adult birds shipped from a member here an a couple of weeks... Cheers!

 

[MobyQuail]

the wild type brown and wild type range seem to be dominant

all the colors are actually just different combos of on/off switches (and half switches) for the primary underlying colors.

Im not a color expert, I am sticking with what I know, the browns and whites. problem with all the fancy recessive colors is the populations required to carry to keep a recessive trait popping up.

If you only got a specific color 25% of the time when breeding 2 already recessive gene carrying birds together, you could see how you would soon have completely inbred stock?

most like to stick with color sexable birds, meaning you know boy from girl by breast feather color early on, the wild browns, even some goldens are color sexable

if you birds are currently Br/Br pure browns, when bred to another Br/Br pure brown, thats all you should get. There is a Quail color calculator that can give general percentages if your interested.

 

[jbobs]

they might take a week or two off if they had a move from one location to another. Most of mine would stop for at least a few days when I took them to a different place or brought new ones home.

 

[mossypath]

Congratulations on the new birds!
I am so glad everything worked out for you.

 

[The Critter Place]

I think it's a neat idea!
I'll be interested in hearing what others think. Here in Arizona I would probably add some screen to the side also for air. I see food grade drums on craigslist all the time!

 

[rittert3]

sounds like it might work, i'll have to watch.

 

[quailgal]

Looks like a dandy plan. Hope you'll post some pictures when complete!

 

[JJMR794]

What Are You Gonna Do With All The Poo In The Bottom Of The Drums?

 

[Bigdtc]

Compost.... Or do you mean IN the pens??.. If so, the front will open completely so the space below the wire floor frame is accessible and the droppings can be scraped out with a tool I'm making that will match the circular shape of the bottom. I may also drill some drain holes in the bottom for thorough cleaning..

 

[chickenarmy]

I think it's neat, I'd like to see them when you're done;-]