Day 46 Small Pen

I started with 5 of these smaller pens. Each pen held up to 6 quail. 1 male and 4 to 5 females.

The birds ended up with foot problems because of the wire cages. They seem much happier now that they can scratch the ground. I was worried about how many of the eggs would be fertile by moving them all to one big pen. The hatch rate has stayed the same.

If you only have a small area to raise them you might have to go with the small cages. Check out the internet for different kinds. They come in all shapes and sizes.

Day 45 The Pen

 

 

This pen will hold around 100+ quail. It was made as a chicken tractor to hold a dozen hens to be moved to a new patch of grass every day or so. Didn't work so well with quail. It is now put in one spot with a deep mulch method and is working well.

 



set over raised bed for quail to clean up last years crop.

 

 

 

 5 gallon bucket is the watered. It has 4 chicken nipples in the bottom.

5 ft long 4 inch PVC cut in half for feeder.

 

 

 

This pen cost about $200.00 in material and about 4 hours to build.

 

Here is the link to buy the plans.

http://foodcyclist.com/stress-free-chicken-tractor-plans/

 

I am pretty handy at building things and am glad I spent the $19.95 for John's plans. I am guessing it saved me at least 5 hours just because of the material list and trips to Home Depot..

 

John built these to raise meat chickens on his farm. Watch his videos on how they work.

 

Tomorrow, some pens I will not do again!