We just got into poultry this spring, almost accidentally we started raising quail: a borrowed incubator and some shipped eggs. Now we have a small breeding flock, are raising our own eggs and chicks, and have even sold a few. As this was a 4-H project and a 12 year old was ‘in charge,’ not to mention a limited budget, we hoped to find some old unloved (and cheap) rabbit cages for our incubating flock. We put out a want ad on the local classifieds and hoped for the best. We ended up with two 2’x3’ dog crates. Quail flush and will break their necks on anything that is between 2-4 feet tall, must be shorter or taller to prevent disaster, these crates were in the danger zone. Could we make them a duplex?
Warning: I am not handy, we don’t even own a saw!
Then I saw some 1”x1” by 2’ tomato stakes at the dollar store and had an idea.
We took 4 stakes and laid them across the middle of the crate. We then put the crate’s removable pan on our new floor: instant duplex! The pens were the right height and roomy enough for 5-6 birds, an ideal size for a male and his ladies. For the bottom level we covered a piece of cardboard in a shower curtain and applied copious amounts of wood glue between layers. It rests on the floor so doesn’t have to be weight bearing like the tray.
We needed some low sides to keep shavings and birds in and to rest water bottle nipples on. A combination of cardboard, heavy plastic cut from one of those inflatable punching bags, and some plastic edging for flower beds works well (whatever you’ve got), we just wove it through the crate wires.
Waterers are external to save space, minimize mess, and for ease of maintenance. Feeders are basically an inverted vinegar bottle with holes in it to make a no mess feeder that lasts for a couple days. Add some pine shavings and you’re all set. You can also add a dust bath, hidey holes, etc.
The main issue we’ve found is getting eggs and catching birds when the cage is 3’ deep (my arms are apparently too short). Enter the fireplace tools and our very expensive and professionally designed bird net (a $2 bug net from the dollar store).
The poker works great for rolling eggs within reach (why do they always lay in the far corner?), but not so well for herding birds: they just hop over it or stand there looking at you like they think you’re dumb for even trying it (from a quail!). But they can’t argue with the bird net: quick, easy, and minimal stress for both of us!
Wire flooring is easier to clean, but the birds like solid floors and we used what we got. They are not weather or predator proof, they need to be kept inside a sturdy building: ours live in the garage and occasionally the basement. But they work great for us and our little flock!
Warning: I am not handy, we don’t even own a saw!
Then I saw some 1”x1” by 2’ tomato stakes at the dollar store and had an idea.
We took 4 stakes and laid them across the middle of the crate. We then put the crate’s removable pan on our new floor: instant duplex! The pens were the right height and roomy enough for 5-6 birds, an ideal size for a male and his ladies. For the bottom level we covered a piece of cardboard in a shower curtain and applied copious amounts of wood glue between layers. It rests on the floor so doesn’t have to be weight bearing like the tray.
We needed some low sides to keep shavings and birds in and to rest water bottle nipples on. A combination of cardboard, heavy plastic cut from one of those inflatable punching bags, and some plastic edging for flower beds works well (whatever you’ve got), we just wove it through the crate wires.
Waterers are external to save space, minimize mess, and for ease of maintenance. Feeders are basically an inverted vinegar bottle with holes in it to make a no mess feeder that lasts for a couple days. Add some pine shavings and you’re all set. You can also add a dust bath, hidey holes, etc.
The main issue we’ve found is getting eggs and catching birds when the cage is 3’ deep (my arms are apparently too short). Enter the fireplace tools and our very expensive and professionally designed bird net (a $2 bug net from the dollar store).
The poker works great for rolling eggs within reach (why do they always lay in the far corner?), but not so well for herding birds: they just hop over it or stand there looking at you like they think you’re dumb for even trying it (from a quail!). But they can’t argue with the bird net: quick, easy, and minimal stress for both of us!
Wire flooring is easier to clean, but the birds like solid floors and we used what we got. They are not weather or predator proof, they need to be kept inside a sturdy building: ours live in the garage and occasionally the basement. But they work great for us and our little flock!
