Quail

[GilpinGuy]

After considering chickens and then ducks, I decided to go with quail for my first adventure into fowl after LOTS of research. I built a cage this past week and got 20 birds today. Cute little guys. Well, most are gals, actually. I got 17 females and 3 males.

The plan is to get acquainted with each other for a while and gather eggs. Then I'll have them start procreating and hatching. We'll then graduate the older and lesser specimens to the freezer. We'll also hatch excess birds for the purpose of BBQ. Lots of them. Quail is yummy.


I built this cage up high so I could add more cages below if it works out and I want to expand the operation. If you look close, there is a bigger cage on the left, where most of the birds will live, and a smaller cage on the right. The left hand cage just has a smaller door, so it looks smaller. The right hand cage will be the "breeding cage" where I will have the biggest males and females, ya know, have fun. Those fertile eggs will be hatched for more birds. The cages look small in this pic, but they are way bigger than these birds need. I have 20 birds in there now and could easily double that.


The main cage.


Birds getting to know their new home.





The total cost for this was approx. $200, including 2X2's, 1 sheet of plywood, a roll of hardware cloth, some screws and staples, hinges and latches, a 50 lb. bag of feed, feeder, waterer, and the birds. Plus I had lots of material left over. I did use a bit of scrap material I had on hand, but $200 is about right for what I paid all said and done. And I'm no master carpenter, that's for sure. So you could probably do it for a bit less if you know what the hell you are doing with wood. In hindsight (birds in the cage for only 6 hours!), I'd change a few things, but I think this will work just fine.

[Irving]

Aren't they going to crap up your gas cans?

[fitz19d]

I think he has a tray underneath? I'm also concerned that over time, those wires are going to get nasty and you are going to get bumble foot and other foot health issues.

I've been wanting for a while to get button quail. Can put 3-4 or so in just a fairly small 40g or 55g aquarium works great or any custom made thing. Some of the bedding options on those are easily scoopable and like millet serves double duty. Granted again I realize thats for pets not for meat production. (Could give the tiny eggs to lizards at least) Just pretty much any animal I've been ever interested including birds, the bare wire wasn't ever great.

[beast556]

Very cool, wish I had the space for a set up like that at my house.

[Jamnanc]

When you get tired of them, it sounds like we need to have a club shoot.

[GilpinGuy]

I think he has a tray underneath? I'm also concerned that over time, those wires are going to get nasty and you are going to get bumble foot and other foot health issues.

I've been wanting for a while to get button quail. Can put 3-4 or so in just a fairly small 40g or 55g aquarium works great or any custom made thing. Some of the bedding options on those are easily scoopable and like millet serves double duty. Granted again I realize thats for pets not for meat production. (Could give the tiny eggs to lizards at least) Just pretty much any animal I've been ever interested including birds, the bare wire wasn't ever great.

I do have a tray underneath to catch the poo. That will all go into the compost. I'm using plywood right now but I have to come up with a better system.

Pretty much all the research I did on cages suggested using 1/2" hardware cloth for the floor. It's small enough for the birds to walk on comfortably and big enough for the poop to fall through. I'm sure it will get crudded up over time and I'll have to clean it off with a wire brush or something. I haven't read of any foot problems using it.

[rbeau30]

They look delicious.

Looking forward to updates as they happen.

[pickenup]

Need some mouse traps?

[TheGrey]

Very cute!

If/when you get hens laying a crazy amount, you might try and sell them to local fancy restaurants. Quail eggs are quite a delicacy for many dishes.

[Irving]

Just wait till you guys see my Sand Hill Crane enclosure.