In the article we will look at how to make a quail cage with your own hands. Of course, the successful breeding of this poultry depends largely on the quality of the feed. However, birds' habitat and environment also affect their well-being and productivity. If you properly equip the cage for keeping quails and make it comfortable, then the brood will grow up without loss of numbers, and the layers will begin to bring eggs on time.
Scheme
In the network and special literature, you can find many schemes for making cages for quails.
Some of them are based on the use of separate parts of industrial cages, others involve the use of scrap materials to ensure the life of a small number of birds.
The best for home use are semi-industrial cages used in personal subsidiary farms specializing in commercial breeding of birds.
Knowing how to properly make a quail cage can greatly facilitate bird care and prevent fresh eggs from pecking and breaking.
Basic requirements for the cage
Dimensions (edit)
Let's highlight several universal requirements for a quail enclosure.
The area per individual - the comfort of living of birds directly depends on this indicator. One quail in a cage should receive 100 sq. see your own space. This norm is comfortable for birds of any purpose - layers or meat birds.
If you do not comply with the indicator, then egg production will decrease, and meat quails will grow small and skinny. Based on this norm, it is easy for a breeder to calculate the size for the desired number of individuals. For example, the size of a cage for quails for 10 heads is 30 by 70 cm.
The height of the ceiling in the sparrowhawk is another important indicator for the quail.
When making cages for quails, the height is made at least 20-25 cm. The ceiling should be made of soft material to avoid damage to shy birds.
Internal equipment
Each quail enclosure should have feeding and drinking equipment, a lighting device and a tray for collecting bird waste. In egg-laying quails, the pen should provide a place for collecting the eggs.
In the future, the cages and their arrangement have features depending on the age and type of quail.
Brooder
This is the room in which the bird stays for several weeks after the incubator - approximately 2-3 weeks. How to build a structure correctly, read the article "Building a brooder for quails".
Cage for young animals
Quail up to 45 days old lives here. A large net is laid on the floor, along which it is convenient for birds to move. It is comfortable to grip with the paws on the cells of 12 by 25 mm.
Smaller mesh cells are filled with droppings and clogged, contributing to unsanitary conditions, and legs fall into large cells.
The size of the side mesh cell is 25 by 25 mm so that the quails do not get through.
For adults
You can put combined aviaries. The floor should have a slope of 6 to 8 degrees so that the eggs roll to one side. A limiter is placed along the edge of the bevel in the sparrowhawk.
Quail meat cage
May be slightly lower than that of layers. Here the quails move slower and less, gaining weight faster.
This also affects the timing of puberty - they are postponed, and poultry farming is aimed at quail size and improving the quality of meat.
Metal cage for an adult bird
You can make a cage for quails with your own hands according to the same drawings as for chickens. For this you will need:
- Metal corner;
- Welded metal grating with a mesh of 185 x 185 mm;
- Metal mesh with a mesh of 10 by 10 mm;
- Welding and electrodes;
- Litter shield.
From a metal corner it is necessary to weld a rectangular base of the cage 80˟50˟ 20 cm in size. The metal mesh is welded as the bottom of the cage, and the welded mesh is welded onto the rest of the cage. A hinged door with dimensions of 25˟25 cm is cut into the roof.
It is important to weld the floor at a 10˚ slope so that the laid eggs do not remain in the cage, but fall into a special chute outside the cage, in which the eggs will accumulate.
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For the convenience of cleaning, a shield is installed under the cage to retain the droppings. To save space, feeders are installed outside, and drinkers are most often represented by a nipple system.
Wooden cage for adult birds
Photos of such self-made cages for quails often appear in manuals for home-keeping poultry. This method of creating a cage does not require the ability to work with welding, and the structure itself significantly loses weight, which makes it easy to carry it if necessary.
To create a wooden cage you will need:
- Wooden slats for the frame;
- Plywood 10 mm for side walls and roof;
- Lattice slats;
- Metal mesh with a mesh of 10˟ 10 mm;
- Nails and hammer.
The dimensions and construction of a wooden cage do not differ from a metal cage; it is also equipped with a door in the roof and an inclined floor.
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The only difference is that the frame, roof, front and side walls are made of wood and plywood. The floor is also made of metal mesh to prevent bird droppings from accumulating inside the cage.
Model "Professional +"
Manufacturers offer to purchase cages for quails "Professional +". The model is presented in various modifications for layers and poultry, which are fattened for meat. For small livestock, there are Professional + models for 30 heads.
To maintain a large herd on a quail farm, structures for 1200 heads are purchased. They are collected in a cell battery. The manufacturer divides all models into groups:
- standard; side walls, ceiling of the cage are made of stainless steel; the floor mesh is double galvanized; there is a pallet made of galvanized steel, the depth of the tray is 2 cm; a bunker feeder, a nipple drinker with drop catchers, a 4 liter water tank are provided; the body of the equipment is made of stainless steel; plastic drinkers;
- prestige; the body is made of galvanized; differs from the "standard" by a deeper pallet, 4 cm; the tray is made of stainless steel;
- premium; body and pallet are made of stainless steel; single pallet, 4 cm deep; galvanized steel floor; drinkers are installed inside; the feeders are placed behind the front wall.
Quail cage "Professional +"
Battery models differ in material, pallet size, but have a general manufacturing scheme. The design of the products provides for the assembly of individual cells into multi-storey blocks:
- quails are shy birds, so the manufacturer has provided deaf side walls. They will protect quails from external sounds, limit the field of view, and prevent garbage from being thrown outside. The "Professional +" model is recommended for poultry farmers who breed quail in urban apartments;
- the floor and the front wall are made of mesh. Cell size 10 * 10 mm;
- the ceiling is made removable for the convenience of looking after birds. The panel is removed, revealing access to equipment and quails. The interior is easy to clean;
- in structures for laying hens, an inclined floor and an egg collector are provided;
- the feeder consists of a tray and a hopper. The tray is closed with a lid with stops in the form of round holes. They are necessary to prevent birds from scattering food;
- the drinker is located inside, fixed on the back wall. The side panel has an outlet for a plastic water pipe. Through it, the liquid flows from the tank to the nipple devices. In one quail cage there are 2 nipples with drip catchers;
- the pallet is equipped with a handle and moves along the rails.
The size of the product for a herd of layers of 30 heads is 710 * 580 mm, ceiling height is 300 mm. Two-storey blocks are offered for 100 heads.
More on the topic: Why aren't quails rushing? Main reasons
The block can contain up to 6 floors. The "ultra" modification involves the use of roller wheels. They are installed on the legs of the bottom cell of the "stack". In this case, the bird block is easy to move.
Quail females are larger than males. If the structure is intended for 30 heads of layers, then 40 heads of cockerels can be planted in it. The birds will not notice the inclination of the floor. For fattening males, products with an even floor level are intended. The parent flock requires more space than the hens and fattening males. For 30 heads, the product size is 100 * 50 cm.The ceiling height is 20-25 cm.
To keep quails at home, experienced poultry farmers prefer to make cages with their own hands. They are installed in poultry houses, where they can withstand a certain microclimate and light intensity.
Designs with blind and mesh walls are provided. Deaf walls shade the inner space; it is recommended to install additional lamps in quail cages.
Keeping young animals
Cages for young animals have almost the same design as for adult quails. The differences are only in the height of the cage and the absence of a tilt of the floor. For growing quail, a cage height of 15 cm is sufficient.
Multi-tiered cages
If quails are bred for meat rather than eggs, then multi-tiered cages are well suited.
These cells are inexpensive, very quick and relatively easy to make. The video on how to make a cage for quails will clearly explain all the nuances of the design.
To build a multi-storey cell you will need:
- Metal corner for creating a frame;
- Welded mesh with meshes 185 x 185 mm;
- Metal scissors;
- Clamping tool with staples;
- Manure trays.
In this case, the cage is made entirely of mesh. To do this, a mesh is cut to create the floor, roof and walls of the cage, after which the cage is assembled using staples. All produced cells must be of the same size.
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After the required number of cells has been made, the structure frame is cooked. It is important that there are gaps between the tiers of the cage - trays for manure will be installed in them.
Lighting and heating in cages
With a reduction in daylight hours, when the owner needs to maintain a high level of egg production, the quail cages should be illuminated for at least 17 hours a day. It is better to create lighting with fluorescent fluorescent lamps LD-40 or ordinary lamps, but not more powerful than 40 W, so that the light is not too bright.
It is recommended to cover the fluorescent lamp with additional paint to soften the light. Appliances should provide good lighting for the feed. In places where it is cold, an infrared lamp is placed. Usually near the wall or on the side of the door, from where the cold air is blowing.
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Photo of quail cages
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