Dog crate modifications

[SandraMort]

I'm getting dog crates for my coturnix. I know they'll need some modifications to make functional, but am trying to do it as inexpensively as possible. Today I'm hitting the recycling center because I was told they have rolls of hardware cloth. I'll attach that to the sides and probably put a board or something solid over the top to give some protection from weather.

Questions:
Will the widely spaced wires on the floor need hardware cloth over them?
What else will I need to do to make them appropriate for quail?
I was a little concerned that they're too tall, do I need to put a false bottom in to make the floor closer to the roof?
Or perhaps try to create a floor halfway up and make a two story quail house?

Thanks!

 

[SandraMort]

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a two story quail house. What would be a good floor for the upper story? I could put hardware cloth as the floor, then have a newspaper covered sheet of plastic or wood underneath it to catch the poop.

 

[kahlertm]

Hard ware cloth all the way around and accross the mid section. You can use plexiglass, or some other sort of thin but strong firm plastic to cover top and to put just under (say half inch) the middle cross section wire (second floor). Since most dog crates have one door on the end and some even have a door on one end and along the side as well, you can make sure to cut your plastic poop catchers to that you can remove them easily, or remove the quail and hose the whole thing out. You can always have a small holding cage while you hose or clean out cages..That can be the same type of plastic tub we normally brood in, with wire over the top.

Just some thoughts...

Tonya

 

[SandraMort]

Wow, I'm feeling super extra dense tonight, my apologies in advance!!

You can use plexiglass, or some other sort of thin but strong firm plastic to cover top and to put just under (say half inch) the middle cross section wire (second floor)

Okay. Any suggestion on where to pick up cheap plastic for that purpose? Not sure.

remove the quail and hose the whole thing out.

I can do that? Awesome! How do I keep from getting the yard nasty if I do that? Hose them off into the street gutter or into a bucket to use for um... uh... what could I use it for?

Thanks!!!​

 

[kahlertm]

I think you are in a different country than I am, I am not sure where you live. In Colorado, you can find plastic like that at harware stores, gardening or building supply stores. If you have an establishment that recycles building materials, you can find a wealth of things to use. Some people have even used large baking sheets to put under the hardware cloth for drop pan. Others have reported using just a plastic "feed sack" on top of some wood (you would want to paint wood so it would not swell or rot).

As far as hosing it out and making your yard nasty. If you have planters, or an area in your yard where you can compost, you can drag it over there and do it there. Or you can simply empty out the trays that have droppings in them into a bag and put them in the trash. Use a disinfectant such as table spoon of bleach to gallon of water to wipe down surfaces and air out for sanitation once a week.

The droppings will need to be removed daily to every 3 days in my opinion, depending on how close to the house the quail are. Even when they have clean trays, they get dusty in their dust pan and can shake it off. If they are in the house, you may want to use a seed catcher net (sold by big animal box style stores online) extra large.

Best to keep "slosh" down to a minimum.... empty the trays of droppings into the garbage or a compost pile for fertilizing plants in 3-6 mos. It will be to "hot" with nitrogen to put on a plant's earth base. It might kill the plants. And once a week or when the cages are looking too dirty wipe it down.

Tonya

 

[SandraMort]

Quote:
The faraway country of NY.

If you have an establishment that recycles building materials, you can find a wealth of things to use. Some people have even used large baking sheets to put under the hardware cloth for drop pan. Others have reported using just a plastic "feed sack" on top of some wood (you would want to paint wood so it would not swell or rot).

The issue isn't not having a place to get stuff. My recycling yard is FABULOUS. I'm just trying to brainstorm so I know what to look for when I get there.

Or you can simply empty out the trays that have droppings in them into a bag and put them in the trash. Use a disinfectant such as table spoon of bleach to gallon of water to wipe down surfaces and air out for sanitation once a week.

That's exactly what I needed to know, thank you.

The droppings will need to be removed daily to every 3 days in my opinion, depending on how close to the house the quail are. Even when they have clean trays, they get dusty in their dust pan and can shake it off.

The neighbors are not being neighborly, they're going to be indoors.

If they are in the house, you may want to use a seed catcher net (sold by big animal box style stores online) extra large.

For what purpose? Not following.​

 

[mhwc56]

seedcatcher netting.... b/c if you have Coturnix in the house in dog crates there is going to be a HUGE ,GIANT,GROSS amount of MESS from the birds as they bathe in their bedding and food, throw their food ,etc out through the cage's wire .They are COMPLETE SLOBS...NO Manners at all .The netting will help contain at least some of the mess.They are easy and inexpensive.