Netting for aviary

[NotTheMomma]

What's the opening size in the netting that I would need to keep the quail in, and other predatory birds out? Aviary dimensions are 16 ft by 8 ft for 11 bobwhites. Will that be big enough for them? They are 3-4 wks, and outgrowing the rabbit hutch. They need room to fly. Aviary walls at 8ft. Not as high as they want, but the best I can do right now.

Any suggestions on the netting? I'm getting ready to go to the feed store to pick it up. Thanks!

 

[CoyoteMagic]

1/2 hardware cloth is the only thing going to keep out predators. That size is plenty big enough for 11 Bobs.

 

[JJMR794]

1/2 Inch Square Commercial Avairy Netting Should Work Fine, But I Would Definately Reinforce The Bottom 3-4 Feet With Some Sort Of Fencing To Keep Them Safe From Dogs, Cats, Etc...

 

[NotTheMomma]

Ok, a bit of change in plans.

Aviary is now 8 ft wide, 32 ft long. Livestock panels covered in 1/2 in hardware cloth. Top is deer netting. Gonna put electric wire at the bottom about 5-6 inches up, and at the top. One side of the aviary is chainlink with poultry wire. That's the side connecting to the chicken run. In order for something to come in on that side, it would have to go through two chain link fences, and two poultry wire. Which I realize the poultry wire isn't going to stop any predator. Only purpose is to keep the quail and chickens from sticking their head out of their enclosure.

For the coop....just a dog house on the ground. We'll see how it works and if I need something else. I'm planting a dogwood in there for shade, and if they want to roost. Though they'll have to wait for it to grow! LOL!

Anything else you all can think of? Anything that will make it as close to a natural environment as possible.

My goal is to ATTEMPT to get the bobwhite breeding, and raising their own. We'll see if it works out or not.

 

[NotTheMomma]

The aviary has just a few more minutes of work to do, and it's done!! When we moved here, a ground hog had made a hole under my chicken coop. We eradicated the ground hogs, and now just need to fill in the hole, and add some wire and boards so the quail can't sneak under the coop. Tomorrow it will be done!!

 

[chicken_angler]

That aviary is plenty big for them. I have 25 in a 7 by 7 coop and a 8 by 8 flight pen. Mine has treated fencing for the sides. They love it so much. I think they are wild quail becasue they want to sleep in the flight pen at night. I am going to let them once when it gets a little warmer.

Cody!!