building a new type of flight pen

[Michelle K linnane]

I had some rodent and other issues with bird this past year so I am going to do stuff a little different. I am going to use more portable pens and not
as big. When you brood birds you can only have 1 age group in with each
they will pick on each other if you try and do 2 different age groups. Espically game birds.

I have draw some stuff on powerpoint, do not have any other software.

It will made with 4 20 ft larch 4 X 4 posts and 7 10 ft larch 4 X 4 posts.
The flooring will be welded wire 1 inch by 1/2 inch. Real stiff stuff.

20 foot long 9 feet wide. Height of building will be 4 ft one end 6 ft other end with metal roof. One door wood skirt 2 foot high 1/2 plywood keep the wind off birds and they will no panic as something approaches. The side will be chicken wire. It will have a metal roof with the height of the roof being 6 feet in one end and 4 in the other snow will come off pretty good.

When we build the base I will interlock the 4 X 4 the way we did with the frame for the other bird pens. shown in picture below I will ad a carriage bolt at each joint for added strength.

I am going to wire the building with three electric outlets and leave heat lamps plugged in so I can throw a switch from the outside. all I need do is run heavy duty lead cord to building and plu bulding in. At each corner
they will be some exposed wire and recall area so that the chukars or quail
can get back in the pen.

I will use 10 foot 2 X 4 for rafters that wall I will have a 6 inch over hang on each side. I plan on raising many of my own chukars this year and I figure
this pen will hold about 300 for while I can put the bird outside when they are about 6 weeks old with a roof I do not have to worry too much about the weather and heat lamps.

The supports for the wall will be about 5 foot on center and on the corners
and in the middle I will I will double my 2 X 4 and make my own 4 X 4. Rafters will have to rest on 2 X 6 more then likely held to gether with carriage bolts.

Will do all corners with carriage bolts when ever possible. I think so long as I even pressure I should be able to skid this any place I need.

Will use a PVC pipe the length of the pen will holes big enough for heads
of birds to drink and will elbow out a clean out and fill pipe. 6 inch should do.

I am sure I will change design as I go I generally due to problems.

1) The advantage to this design is I can use as a big recall pen.
2) I do not have to worry about having birds in the weather
3) Can make 2 for different age groups.
4) Can move then when I need them close to the house or in the field.
5) IF the pens are moved every so often the rodent problem will not
be as bad.
6) Having a roof saves for food and keeps birds out of rain and snow.

 

[galaxie428]

Sounds like an interesting build. One thing you might think about is the wire for the floor. One inch by 1/2 inch sounds a little big for quail depending on how soon you plan on putting them in there after the hatch. I used 1/4x1/4 for a recal pen that I built a few years ago and it seemed to work well for bobwhite quail.

I read on another site about a guy that had a setup for watering similar to what you described but he put his PVC on the outside of the pen where the birds could still drink but not sit on the PVC and mess in it. He said it was much cleaner that way. Just a thought.

If you are looking for more ideas, I have found a lot of useful info on a site called "That Quail Place - All About Gamebirds". You can get some pretty good info on stuff in the forum. Here is the link if you are interested.

That Quail Place - All About Gamebirds

I for one would be interested in some pics as you progress through your build. I would like to build a nice flight pen for bobwhites one of these days for myself.

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

Here's a link to a really neat water system. Quail Ranch of Oklahoma - Ranch Water System .The rest of the site has a bunch of ideas, too. I like the mobile idea, be sure and post lots of pictures so I can copy.....er ah.....look at them. . I have "johnny houses" now, look like outhouses in the field. Mark.

 

[Michelle K linnane]

Hi guys Galaxie428 (what is your name) I do not want to use anything smaller then 1 by 1/2 and I have had quail on that kind of wire before. But this is mostly for chukars. I want something I can tow with tractor so the birds do not see people and I can keep the rodents quessing( where did that crazy women move those bird to now?

My chukar pen I will now rasie chickens in. I am going to raise some chicks till they start to lay and then sell them. Many people do
not want to bother with chicks and I enjoy the little guys and have a good
set up in my kennel with brooders will take some pictures of them tomorrow
and post. In my area I see young hens who just started to lay for $15 a piece. I just went and got 45 and I think I will go back and get another 20. I am think of selling a chicken coop and chickens as package deal. Most people only want 6 so could be small coop. And the price people pay for coops is unreal. Time is real factor and if they can get some young hens, and small chick house for a reasonable price they may just buy a package.

I am also going to make some Quail johnny houses have the plans for the phantom quail house. I am going to build a new of these but make bigger so they double as flight pen and recall pen. But the basic design on the CD
is a good starting place a friend of mine loan me the CD.

Also briar hill post I did not see the website you talked about did I miss it
in your post please take a look and if I did please point it out to me.
Sorry but did not see any link in your post but your website?

Will keep you guys informed will start the project in the barn and pull it out once we have the frame done. Thank you for the interest guys!!


But as far as design goes does the base sound rigid enough to tow around?
Any suggestions for making it stronger without add to much to the cost
would be welcome. Should be fun project also making brooder box from
plywood. Will post pictures of that hope to staart that this weekend.

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

The link is Quail Ranch of Oklahoma - Ranch Water System . Chukars are bigger than bobs, you'll need a heavier mesh, whatever you use. When I first raised ringneck pheasants, they tore the smaller wire up. I think your design is probably ok. I'm not sure if you want a real rigid frame, a little flex when skidding might be a good thing and keep something from snapping. Don't know that I understand what you're using for mesh for the sides and top, and how you're attaching. Mark

 

[Michelle K linnane]

Hi I really do not remember saying anything about quail. I am going to rasie chukars in these pens. But the bottom is welded wire and 1inch by 1/2 is pretty tough stuff. And the bottom 2 feet will be plywood. the side will be wire. The roof will be metal so this should be a solid frame work.

Breezehill britanys
"I think your design is probably ok. I'm not sure if you want a real rigid frame, a little flex when skidding might be a good thing and keep something from snapping. Don't know that I understand what you're using for mesh for the sides and top, and how you're attaching."

I was thinking if we do all the corners with carriage bolts that will give us a little flex. And I am not going to drag this thing that often. But it hold my birds when they are 5 to 6 weeks old and I will have to worry about weather. Thank you for the web sites that watering system they have is pretty slick to keep it from freezing.

I am going to rasie some chukars but I am going to use a already designed johnn house with my own modifications.

 

[GLyford]

I am think of selling a chicken coop and chickens as package deal. Most people only want 6 so could be small coop. And the price people pay for coops is unreal.

I think this is a great idea, and just about the right size package.

I overdesigned/overbuilt mine, not having had chickens before, and I probably spent at least what the locals were asking for a similar size completed coop by the time I was done. My flock started with 4 and we're down to three, which is about right for the two of us (4 had us giving away eggs), but there's easily room for 6 which I'm guessing would be about right for a family.

Inside is 4x4, with 2x4 storage, 18" off the ground, then an "outer" area that includes under the coop for a total of 6x10 under roof. I'd change a few details if I were to do it again with how/where doors are and inside framing and such, now that I know more about how they act and what they like.

The 2x4 storage is nice because there's just enough room for a grain bucket, bag of oyster shells, bag/bin of shavings, and a haybale (we throw a flake of hay out when there's too much snow for them to go out in their main yard, seems to keep them busy/happy).

I built my nesting box inside the main area, but were I to do it again, I think I'd hang it off the side so that the roosts weren't over any of it, even though they have a slanted cover. I don't have pics here but can put them up later.

 

[Mace Canute]

Sounds like you are building a CHICKEN TRACTOR.

 

[Michelle K linnane]

Well finally got the guys here to build the bird pen. I have got the amish doing it. I was a little worried first about how it would turn out but they are
doing a great job. Here is what is done on day one. They got a late start due to choirs and they do not observe daylight savings time.
Will get more shots of floor. I changed design a little I went with a solid wall of plywood on one side. And now it will have two doors. One to walk into
and the other to let birds into another pen. It will still have a two foot knee wall so birds can not see out of pen and will heard better.
Boy when those guys hammer a 4 inch nail they only bound it three times and it is like an airgun. but I think hand drove nails stay in better.
I think with pen I could in warmer weather brood birds in this and then just down the brooder part. When they are big enough they will get escorted to the big flight pens right next to this. It does not matter rain or shine I will be able to put birds in this pen. With the walls and roof.
Still will be skiddable.

 

[Michelle K linnane]

here are some more pics I took this morning