Quail Pens for the home

After several months and beta testing customers, we have arrived at a design that we believe will stand the test of user satisfaction, predator prevention, and time.

Features:

• Stands 3’ tall at the top of the wire pen. This makes it reasonable for kids to participate.

• 2’ deep by 8’ long. This makes it easy for adults to reach to the back of the pen to collect eggs while giving the hens plenty of length for exercise.

• Wire floor eliminates the work of collecting the droppings. For nuisance control, such as flies, see below. The main purpose here is to keep rats and mice from attacking the legs of the quail and from trying to get into the feedboxes. Please contact us for pictures of the latest models in the pens.

• Feed is supplied with a modified shoe box. 1 shoe box filled to the ‘fill line should be enough for 48 hours per 12 hens, while 2 shoe boxes would be sufficient for long weekends, i.e., 4 days. Water is supplied from the 5-gallon pail, which can be refilled manually or automated with a water hose timer and float valve inside the pail.

• Pens can be divided into 2 or 3 sections. Quail hens need a minimum of 0.25 square feet per hen, so a 16-square-foot pen can hold up to 64 birds (Quail are very social and love to snuggle beside each other). We can divide the 8’ front into 3 pens (doors). The maximum density that we will support is 3’ (6 square foot total) for the 12 hens (0.5 sf/hen), and then 2.5’ fronts for up to 2 groups of males for meat, each with 24 males from 3 weeks of age up to maturity. Please note that males enter the pen at 3 weeks of age and do not require as much space. Males should be harvested with the largest first to liberate more pen space for the remaining birds, thus maintaining optimal quail welfare.

• Pens are to be picked up at our location. A truck or lightweight trailer is required. The pens are more difficult to handle due to the long dimensions rather than the weight. Accessories such as tin roofing and legs can be easily added for those wishing.

• The standard pen comes with 2 doors and no divisions. It is made of 1/2” hardware cloth. It has 4 watering cups and plumbing to hook up to a 5-gallon food-grade pail with a lid. Two feed boxes are included for each pen. Lighting is included with a 24 hr timer.

• Accessories

  • pressure treated 2”x2” legs, three feet tall. ($15)

  • Tin roof ($40)

  • Divisions for more groups

    • Divide the pen in to 2 parts (4’ wide and 4’ wide) ($25)

    • Divide the pen in to 3 parts (3’ wide for hens, and 2.5’ each for males) ($75)

• What you will need:

  • electrical cord to supply electricity for the LED lighting system

  • option: water hose and water timer to hook up to the 5-gallon water pail.

• Responsibilities

  • Collect quail eggs daily.

  • Feed the quail every 2 days or daily if needed.

  • Replenish the water every 2 days or daily if needed.

  • Apply sawdust pellets to the droppings below the pen. Standard shavings or sawdust pellets are fine and will capture the nitrogen that causes flies and odors. Regular mixing of the sawdust/shavings improves the compost quality and reduces odors/flies. Consider adding our B-squared mix to improve nuisance control and increase nitrogen capture for your future gardens.

• Cost $400 at Quail Power. Note that we do not currently have a delivery option.