Building my Quail Pen , by Jen

[stevo]

Lookin flash there Jenni.

One thing I noticed after I made my chicken coop, was try to make sure they have enough dry area to live in during bad weather conditions, like if it rains for a week the rain comes in sideways and wets everything. I've made a few extra roof areas for mine.

 

[Jenni]

Thanks Stevo I will do. I was thinking of making my own feeder out of poly pipe. With the water do you guys use a dish or a nipple drip thingy...

 

[stevo]

For my chooks, I've got the "Royal Rooster" brand feeders, PVC pipe for the grain and one for the water. They work pretty well. I also use the old style plastic feeders, plastic green plate with the white plastic upsidedown bucket on top, they work pretty well too.

I'm currently using my cheapo green plastic dish/bucket one.

The main problem I think is grain thieves, rats and other birds stealing it. I get all kinds of other birds hanging out in my chicken coop, you may not have that problem if you have smaller hole wire.

Also, the chooks dig and flick up a fair bit of dirt which lands in the water container, happens to my royal rooster PVC one too.

 

[Mark]

Thanks Stevo I will do. I was thinking of making my own feeder out of poly pipe. With the water do you guys use a dish or a nipple drip thingy...

I agree with Stevo. And, cup drinkers work best for chickens.

One of those bell drink containers is fine but give it a little height like a few inches by sitting it on a thick concrete tile or block of wood (or just hang it) otherwise it will get dirty rather quickly.

For my quail, I use a nipple system (home made job) out of 25 mm poly pipe from Bunnings with nipples about 25 cm apart leading down from a 25 litre bucket perched on a brick. Just drill a hole slightly smaller than the nipple diametre, push it in lined with some animal friendly silicon, and zip tie the top of the clip. I've had it for years and the water lasts several weeks. The clip on nipples work well with piping but the straight nipples are good also with diy plastic bottles or pvc piping but whatever type I like to get the German made ones because they are superior to the Chinese nipple drinkers. There's heaps of them for sale on eBay.

 

[Jenni]

A bit more done on the project. I used cheap wire at the back to support tarp. On the sides I used Avery/rodent wire. Holes are quite small but a bit dubious about the wire strength but will see how it goes although I have used similar wire before as gutter guard and it has been fantastic for many years (best gutter protector ever).

 

[Mark]

I love these pictures! You're doing such a neat job there Jenni the quail are going to think it's the Taj Mahal

Good idea to save costs by using the standard netting at the back because it's covered anyway. I think you are right about the fine/smaller gauge mesh on the sides - it might feel a little flimsy but it is strong and long lasting, I've used it for lots of things and it's good stuff.

Not much left to do now hey...

 

[stevo]

yeah it's very neat, can you just twist it or smash it a little bit, so I'm not so embarrassed about the quality of mine

great job

 

[Jenni]

Was painting the door and playing around with a feeder idea today. Have ordered nipples off ebay (thanks Mark.. I got the good ones I think)... and started building some extra cover that stevo suggested to do. So thanks guys I am taking all your info in..

Not sure how this will work but giving it a go.. I don't have any food to test it yet.

 

[Jenni]

Not much left to do now hey...

Yeah getting closer.... and they had better love it..

Was thinking of planting some shade tolerant grasses in one of the corners for them to hide and play in... So will be Taj Mahal on Holidays.

 

[Jenni]

yeah it's very neat, can you just twist it or smash it a little bit, so I'm not so embarrassed about the quality of mine.

LOL give it 6 months and I am sure it won't be looking the same.. I haven't even seen your quail pen but I am sure it is great though.

 

[Mark]

Was painting the door and playing around with a feeder idea today. Have ordered nipples off ebay (thanks Mark.. I got the good ones I think)... and started building some extra cover that stevo suggested to do. So thanks guys I am taking all your info in..

Not sure how this will work but giving it a go.. I don't have any food to test it yet.

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I'll be interested to know how your feeder design goes!

I have a large round galvanised feeder in my pen and it works well except the quail tend to throw a lot all over the ground I let it run out and make them eat the feed they have thrown around the place first before I refill the feeder...

Your pvc feeder might be a less messy option because quail flick from side to side when they eat and if they are reaching into the pipe it may just work a treat...

 

[Jenni]

Well its done and built..... Quails ready to go in.. I might need to build a little more cover though... Water can be filled from outside of pen. The old roof sheet cover I can lift up to clean under it and check for eggs if need. Grass so quail can scurry and hide in. A sand pit and lots of sand and ground cover litter over top of dirt. A few logs for a bit of nature. Water nipple may be a bit low? It all may change once the quail go in though. As I am sure they soon tell you what they like.. Might collect some quail tomorrow.

 

[Tim C]

Oh Jenni, it definately has the womans touch. An eye for detail and very well thought out.. An angled slot in the feed down-tube would allow you to twist it to regulate/adjust the flow/level of seed...Just a thought.. I also just got a bag of chook tucker seed off fleabay, to put in my chook-house in advance. Mainly stuff that will grow back when nipped off. You could plant this and cover with mesh an inch or 2 up so they can pick the leaves without digging out the roots?
As a point of interest, when I was up at Tibooburra, I inadvertantly left an opera-house yabby net set up in the shed with (wet then dry) expanded dog nuts in a piece of stocking bait holder- and caught many a Stubble Quail!!!??? If you lose any, that may be a way to re-capture them? Maybe putting it in the brush would also help. I"m sure quails like chooks aren't total vegetarians and would find dog-nut/crumbles a tasty treat.

 

[Mark]

You've done an awesome job there Jenni!

It looks like an animal enclosure at Australia Zoo very professional.

What feed is that?

 

[stevo]

Lookin great!

Looking at the door reminds me of something, have a latch on the inside of the door so when you're in there you can keep the door closed so they don't escape. (you may already have done that)
Maybe also a short 1ft high bit of chicken wire at the bottom to stop them making a break for it when you're not looking?, you have to step over the wire on entry and exit.

I assume Quails aren't as brave as chickens so they may just hide in their house when you enter, but my chooks stand at the gate and try rush me when I open the gate.

As you say, you'll probably change things around after watching the Quail for a while.

 

[Jenni]

Oh Jenni, it definately has the womans touch. An eye for detail and very well thought out.

Thanks Tim... Got lots of ideas from reading all the posts here..Got to make it homely for them.. LOL

An angled slot in the feed down-tube would allow you to twist it to regulate/adjust the flow/level of seed

I have added that in now and flowing a lot better..

cover with mesh an inch or 2 up so they can pick the leaves without digging out the roots

Great idea I will have to do that.. The male dug a hole so big he buried himself...

 

[Jenni]

have a latch on the inside of the door

I didn't but now I do.. when I read your post I said oh bugger how right you are...

 

[Jenni]

You've done an awesome job there Jenni!

It looks like an animal enclosure at Australia Zoo very professional.

Thanks Mark I thought I would have some fun with it.. I am surprised how quickly they have taken to it.. seeing as they have never seen a leaf, sand, dirt or grass. At one stage they were all together poking their little heads over the timber and looking out across the property.. You could definately see "what the" look on their faces..

When I first put them in they
1. all jumped in the sand pit and bathed in it so much its now half empty...
2. They walked through and explored all the logs and literally buried themselves in the leaf litter.
3. The male was having such a great time with whole thing that he had his way with one of the ladies..
4. Then they all went to sleep under the grasses after such a big day.. LOL

Its funny watching them in the land of discovery.. One found a worm this morning and she took several minutes and a few goes to realise that rather than just peck at it that she could eat it. A couple of them have now worked out the nipples and have spent heaps of time playing with them.

What feed is that?

Mmm the story on this is I went to the local poultry supplier and of course there was an empty spot where the game bird feed was meant to be.. He then said.. don't worry.. I used to feed my quail this product and it worked well. Its Jenco 18% fine layer mash. From doing some research when I go home it seems a bit under the required protein content. But I have ordered some meal worms so I am hoping this will help supplement their protein levels. Do you think I should also add in something else?

 

[Mark]

But I have ordered some meal worms so I am hoping this will help supplement their protein levels. Do you think I should also add in something else?

Meal worms will be fine Jenni. That's a great supplement.

It sounds like your quail have found the garden of eden! It's nice to see how committed you are to give them a good life. Quail pens like yours are a fantastic way to keep this type of poultry and I hope more people start gravitating away from small stacked cages towards this way of keeping these birds. Very inspiring!

 

[Tim C]

It's great that you've gleaned a bit of helpful info here Jenni, that's what it's all about!! After all, two heads are better than one