Quail pen question

[ANMwoodducks]

Hello everyone, I am currently working on a quail pen. I have plywood on the back and i am trying to decide if i should put plywood on the sides also leaving only the front open with wire. Is this too enclosed? Or is more enclosed better? Im fairly new with quail in a wire pen. Thanks for any help!

 

[thequietman]

I'm brand new at this, and I just built my pens. I have a solid back and top, and have wire on the bottom, sides, and front. I did however make provisions to close the sides off. I figured I might want the ability to close the sides if it helped in the winter (if it got cold and breezy). Not sure if I'll need to, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to the the option.

 

[James the Bald]

I think that would be determined by the type of species of quail that you plan to raise, and personal preference. The reason I say that is that the Coturnix isn't as timid as the Bobwhite, so you could have wire sides for Cots (as they won't get spooked like bobs), but the Bobwhites I have in my brooder flush when my 7yo walks by.
This weekend, I am building a cage for my Bobs, and I am planning to have wire on the floor and front only. I've also promised myself that I will document this build and post it on BYC. The cages for my Cots are 100% wire, but this one will be mostly of lumber.
James

 

[dc3085]

During rain and excessive cold I just staple 4-6 mil plastic sheeting over the wire to block the wind/rain.

The main concern is dont' leave any holes larger than a nickel, because that's all the space a raccoon needs to pull a coturnix through. This is what raccoons do, and the birds will not try to flee, so if he finds a hole, he'll get a bird.

 

[ANMwoodducks]

Thanks for the replys, currently i only have valley quail but plan on getting some other species as well, this pen is a double decker with dividers that can be removed. In total i can have four diffrent compartments. I dont plan on getting any coturnix im hoping to get some gambels and even some mountain quail in it someday. I havent had any racoons around my place for years so im not to worried about thoose. James im excited to see your posts on your new pen.