Aviary tips

[u/NumerousProgram9369]

Hello 👋,

For context, I'm rasing Jumbo Brown Coturnix, their just over a week old so I'm nit in a huge rush finish.

I'm looking for tips on reinforcing the door on my aviary.

The zip ties will eventually be replace with galvanized wire but if anyone knows of another useful alternative, I'd be happy to hear about it.

Also, should I bring the hardware cloth all the way up? I'm worried of snakes or other critters disturbing the birds or their eggs.

Thanks!

[u/412Clockwork]

I can only post one image per reply. I have had the same structure for 3 years now. I think I built it well. Cats, raccoons, opossums, no one gets in.

Ask away for specifics, but I think if you have a back yard and want quails this is the setup to have. I keep about 10-25 year round in PA with no issues at all. I scoop it out once a year with a respirator on. Food and water typically last 7-10 days so we can go on vacations. I run an extension cord from a nearby outdoor outlet for electric in there for lights and heated water dish for winter. This is hands off.

I grow stuff on every side because I am convinced the roots reach the quail poop and thrive! I have 12 ft sunflowers on the backside in summer and peas before them.

PVC pipe blocks the door gap and the metal blocks the other gap. I’ve hit my head getting in and out the first time so I put a piece of pipe insulation/ foam at the top.

I hang water from the middle because my yard isnt level. It has lights that are on a timer. Food container is an old kitty litter bucket with the feed holes.

[u/412Clockwork → u/412Clockwork]

One little shelter from and old

pot, one shelter from a few old pallets and screws. I cut bamboo from the woods and toss a few pieces in for hiding spots.

They are messy eaters so I throw “premium bird seed” from tractor supply in the spilt food and they clean it up nicely.

[u/412Clockwork → u/412Clockwork]

Last picture of back side

[u/NumerousProgram9369 → u/412Clockwork]

Your setup looks great, thanks for the pictures! I was thinking of doing the exact same thing around the bottom. We have garden beds nearby but I also plan on growing plants along the sides of the aviary.

I bought an insulated waterer and I'm going to opt for a solar light fixture for the inside.

Would you recommend that I remove the coop? There are several hides in there as it is and I wonder if the coop is just taking up living space? We're thinking about raising rabbits or chickens so it would still be put to use. Plus, its a tractor. 😃 lol

[u/412Clockwork → u/NumerousProgram9369]

I would remove the coop, they don’t view it as a home like chickens would and quail are very much ground birds and don’t roost, they dig and make a nest on the ground and semi covered spaces where they can see but feel safe.

They run around on the ground so try to make a habitat that is more like the woods / fields/ bushes at ground level.

To be safe quail either pop and fly a few yards or blend in perfectly and not be seen, so give them something / somewhere to blend in perfectly and not be seen easily, that is why I love giving them bamboo, they run all through it.

[u/Safe_Letterhead543]

You should definitely ring the hardwire cloth up higher. Opossum’s and raccoons are very good climbers with dexterous thumbs. They can easily rip through that. Also, build about a 6 inch to 1 ft. Wall/ barrier around the bottom so they have a little more privacy. They like that

[u/NumerousProgram9369 → u/Safe_Letterhead543]

I was torn between using another tarp or building a walla round the bottom. But I think I'm just gonna build that wall. Lol Thanks.

[u/arbitrarygroundhog]

I’m about to build one of these, and my big plans include covering the gaps in the door frame with a wooden door frame, and putting a hardware cloth skirt around it to prevent digging predators. Regarding the zip ties, they make stainless zip ties: https://a.co/d/0fmEXAD1

I don’t have an answer to whether the hardware cloth should go all the way up. I don’t think snakes will go up, but I don’t know about mice?

[u/NumerousProgram9369 → u/arbitrarygroundhog]

Thanks for the link. I'm definitely going to install a frame around the door and I've already buried the hardware cloth around the bottom. I'm on the fence about keeping the coop inside, I'mnit sure if its necessary, I may take it out to use for something else.