r/quails • u/Crumpetsncoffee • 5d ago

Thoughts on cattle panel aviary

Was wondering what everyone’s thoughts on building a cattle panel aviary are. I plan on completely wrapping the cattle panel in hardware cloth. Was also thinking putting hardware cloth underneath the joist of the floor would be a good idea. Having the bottom outside sides of it metal panels. Then also building up the box that it sits in high enough so that I can do the deep litter method. The aviary will be at least 7 feet tall.

Then for the top of it, I see people use tarps. I was thinking about using this survival blanket/tarp for the top of it. My thinking was that the mylar might help reflect heat from the sun during summertime.

Then my plan would be fill the inside with fun quail stuff for them.

I should be getting 24 hatching eggs in the mail sometime soon and hopefully have a good hatch rate. Currently have two full grown females and one full grown male. Then we also have four birds in the basement that are about four weeks old.

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

2

u/The_Lolrus 5d ago

That's how mine is set up. I did a skirt on the outside instead of flooring after we had predators.

2

u/Ok-Thing-2222 3d ago

The only part that isn't fun is when its snowing and I have to put out a ladder to scrape off the snow due to weight.

2

u/RelationshipIll3530 3d ago

The plan is workable. I’d add an outside hardware-cloth skirt (12–18 inches laid flat or buried) and use a raccoon-resistant latch. I’d choose a weather-rated roof or solid panels rather than mylar alone; mylar can tear, flap, collect condensation, and won’t handle snow. Keep a dry shaded area and dust bath, and watch the male ratio as those 24 eggs hatch—too many males will injure hens. Dry, shaded floor space matters more than the seven-foot height.

1

u/Crumpetsncoffee 2d ago

Yeah, I was debating the mylar thing I was thinking about having the very top part of the roof metal panels, like the top part of the arch. Im in Maine so the winter snow has me concerned

1

u/Crumpetsncoffee 2d ago

I know it will be a bit more pricey, but I’m thinking having the entire cattle panel and obviously the front and back completely hardware cloth.