Quail Housing Part 2: Cages

 

Once we decided to stop using aviaries for our quail, Cletus started perusing YouTube Videos (a wealth of information!) for how different people built quail cages.  We both thought "Roll-Out" cages were interesting for the design to allow eggs to "roll out" to the front of the cage where they could be retrieved easily.  We got this idea from Dale's Quails (he sells kits) and Wynola Ranch (they sell prebuilt wire roll-outs).  Cletus was still working an 8 to 5 job at this time, but he got to work after 5 and on weekends to get these built.  Oh my!

The first time you build anything is the most challenging, isn't it?  We did not purchase a set of blueprint plans from anyone, or a kit; he simply went to Home Depot, bought the lumber, the wire, and the hardware, and got to work.  It cost more and took longer than we were expecting.  There were some frustrations along the way.  But eventually he got 'er done (he always does; Cletus is AMAZING like that!).  As you can see, the doors opened up sideways instead of up or down and I usually prefer that style.  We did learn ahead of time that we needed to construct the cage around the size of the poop trays we were able to find and we were glad for that advice!  Automotive stores have a metal oil drain pan which is 3 or so feet wide and these work very well.

To digress for just a moment here: poop trays are essential in stacked cages to keep the downstairs neighbors clean.  You might notice in the above pictures we initially went with doggie pee pads to line the trays.  We swapped over after a while to pine shavings in order to be able to compost and have garden mulch.  Poop trays are a regular part of stacked cages and you will find yourself spending quite a bit of time each week cleaning these.  The frequency of necessary cleaning depends on the number of quail in each level and whether or not your water leaks.  If water is leaking, you will need to clean twice each day at least (find that leak and fix it!!!).  We usually cleaned a minimum of every third day when numbers were down.  If the cages were at capacity we would clean daily.  If you can smell the poop trays it is past time to clean them!

The second set of cages were grow-out cages.  We were hatching pretty regularly at this point and needed somewhere for young quail who no longer needed a brooder.  Cletus was able to construct these cages more quickly since they did not need to have a slope on the floor and these worked well, even after they started laying.  It is important when you are constructing cages to make sure you are able to reach in to all corners.  If the cage is larger than your reach, you are going to have a hard time catching the quail when or to reach their eggs.

Initially we installed the cages in the aviary as it was covered and sheltered from the elements.  As our quail multiplied we found ourselves needing more room than the aviary could provide.  We talked about pouring some concrete and building a small covered patio-type structure and placing cages there.  One day I asked if we could do something with the large concrete pad out back.  Cletus had put up a PVC hoop house and was storing the tractor and gardening tools there but might it be converted to a quail shed and not have to worry about pouring concrete?  Turns out we could and he did!  He covered it with plastic corrugated roofing and then put a tarp over that.  Wire hardware cloth went around the bottom.  Electric was run out to it.  Foam insulation was added.  By the time we got to moving day, it was as snug as it could be.  We are at this point able to fit 3 large brooders (where the babies stay for 3 or so weeks after they hatch until they are fully feathered) (yes, quail are fully feathered by 3-4 weeks, rather than the 8 weeks chickens require).  In the winter we keep it closed up and the temperature stays consistently 10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature.  In the summer we keep both doors open for air flow and have a fan running.  

One of the early layouts.  Now we have a door behind the stacked cages in back and those are no longer in use.

 

As time went on and our numbers grew we needed more room.  Cletus sat down, perused YouTube videos and came up with what we refer to as the Condos (we live at the beach).  The idea for these came from Chris at Slightly Rednecked (VERY helpful for all things homesteading and all things quail).  These are not in a shed but outdoors.  They have two sides; one is enclosed with wood and the other with wire with a wall between the two sides.  This gives them a side where they are protected from the elements and a side where they can enjoy fresh air.  Initially we did not use treated lumber so they were painted.  These are significantly larger than the stacked cages (we don't have to worry about poop trays outside).  We include 2 sandboxes in each condo.  The first four we built had side feeders accessible from the outside and the next 2 have bucket feeders inside the cage.  The doors open downward instead of sideways and we quickly learned there needs to be a lip at the door so the quail do not tumble (or jump!) out when the door is opened.  As you can see, they have both a ceiling and a roof with space between for stashing things like water buckets and egg buckets.

 

The blue is the feeder and the orange is the water bucket.

Since the ceiling is plastic sheeting, having the roof keeps it from leaking in a tropical rain.  At times we have been known to put some of the plastic poop trays on top of the plastic sheeting for an extra layer of protection!

With the condos we put pine shavings underneath and those have to be shoveled out every week or two; again, depending on the number of quail in the condos.  You may notice we have wire around the bottom and a brick on top of the feeder.  This is because we had a time when possums and raccoons discovered our condos and thought the quail were easy-pickings.  This caused us to put wire, add the brick, and even have an electric wire hooked to the fence charger running around the bottom.  Additionally, we placed traps.  No, we do not do catch and release and neither would you if you had to clean up a quail cage after a possum or a raccoon visit!

At this point we have the four original condos and two more (Called "New Condo" and "Newer Condo".  I'm not very creative).  These two are 10' x 3' rather than the 8' x 3' of the original condos.  We will be using one or two of the originals for grow-outs, one or two for Freezer Camp, and the New and Newer for our breeder sets.

And now some technical points

• Use coated wire for flooring.  Use coated wire for flooring!  Coated wire protects their feet and helps prevent bumblefoot, an infection they get on their feet and toes.  This is more expensive and can be challenging to find but it is necessary.  Here is the link for that.
• Have sand baths and provide fresh, clean sand as needed (every day or two).  Make sure the height of the sand baths is low enough they can get in and out easily.  If you are careful with the sand baths, most of the girls will lay their eggs in them.  Clean sand boxes will also help with bumblefoot in our experience.

They love their sandboxes!  Litter boxes from Dollar Tree.

• Spacing in cages is 3 quail/square foot.  We use 2 quail/square foot to give a little more room.  Remember that some of the interior you measure for this will be taken up with feeders and waterers.If the ceiling is more than 24 inches high you will have some broken necks when they flush.  Keep the ceiling under 24 inches (you can see that some of ours are over 24 inches.  we learned the hard way). 
• If you can smell the poop under the condos ~ whether that be a poopy smell or an ammonia smell ~ you should have already shoveled it out.  Clean areas make healthy birds.
• As I mentioned earlier, we designed ours to have a wall between the two sides.  This allows the birds to get away from one who is being a bit too aggressive (we also cull the overly aggressive!).  
• I staple a card on each cage with the date of hatch, the number of birds, and what they are eating (layer vs high-protein).  This makes it easy to keep them straight.  With as many as we have now, I have also started numbering them so that when I refer to "Number 8" or "The East Condo", Cletus knows what I am talking about.  I have also started putting the interior measurements on one of the support columns so that we can remember the sizes of each.  No two condos are the exact same size.
• Each outdoor cage has lights for supplemental laying light.  Some of them use driveway-style lights and the two newer ones use multiple strands of Christmas lights.  17 hours each day of light helps your layers.

Not terribly clear, but the circles are the driveway style lights we use

• Cages may be large condos which can house 70-80 quail at a time, or they may be small and more like a rabbit hutch (keep the ceiling low).  But we have found that having a roof over the ceiling is a really good idea. 

One of the "Rabbit Hutch" style cages.

Please feel free to ask questions or leave a comment.  Next up will be the hybrid style or tractors!