Quail Pen

[pauljval]

I've decided to raise some quail in order to train my bird dog. I built the pen about 15' x 5' x 7' high. I thought that would be plenty to hold the 15-20 quail I wanted. When I went to the West Virginia DNR office to get the permit they wanted the pen to be 100 sq feet for 1-5 birds and 30 sq feet additional for each bird over 5. Is that crazy? I'm not sure what to do. I thought the average was about 2 sq. ft. per bird.

 

[SkyWarrior]

That seems excessive, but it may depend on the quail. What kind are you raising?

 

[pauljval]

Bob White.

 

[Margitas]

Bob White.

You don't need bob white for dog train , you need coturnix don't fly away, you can raise them fast and train you dog.
15-20 quail is nothing you need that many per week, if you want the good dog.
If you want the permit dont ask for keeping tel you want to breed and breeding pen is one sqft for 3 female1male .
I said the coturnix because 6 week of age is full grow and they lay age of 8 week old.

 

[Fat Daddy]

You don't need bob white for dog train , you need coturnix don't fly away, you can raise them fast and train you dog.
15-20 quail is nothing you need that many per week, if you want the good dog.
If you want the permit dont ask for keeping tel you want to breed and breeding pen is one sqft for 3 female1male .
I said the coturnix because 6 week of age is full grow and they lay age of 8 week old.

But you dont want your dog to catch the bird, thats why the coturnix is a real bad choice for dog training. Once the dog catches the first one, thats what he thinks its all about. CATCHING and not POINTING the bird....

Edit to add: W.V. Has some of the strangest rules as to game bird pen size. Its come up in the past and I cant believe there are a lot of bobs be'n kept legal there. Chukars work just as well for training your dog if the pen size is any more logical.... Good Luck, Bill

 

[pauljval]

Thanks. My dog trainer who is working with my Brittany now is using Coturnix because he couldn't get Bob White. He has been placing them in a vented game keepers pouch. When the dog finds and points the bird, he simple re-hides the bag. So the Coturnix are working okay. But after he is good and steady I will want to work on shoot and retrieve so Bob White will be better. I have been at stocked preserves where the birds don't fly well and Jake would grab them and come trotting back to me with a bird. Very bad lesson and I have been working on breaking him of this bad habit.

 

[Fat Daddy]

Well I hope it works out for ya man. Aint nuthin in the world prettier than a fine dog locked up on a bird.... Good Luck, Bill

 

[SkyWarrior]

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