I would like to make a quail, pheasant surogator. Any ideas.

[Redneck in training]

My son is a hunter and would like to increase population of quail and especially pheasant on our property. I looked at commercially available surrogators but it seems to me that 2000 for fancy box is little too high.
The place where I would like to place it is not too far from electrical outlet so I could use electric power for keeping the chicks warm. I think I could make one with electric heat for few hundred USD. Otherwise I have no experience with raising pheasant chicks at all so I rely on TBN brain trust to give me the right idea and guidance. My idea is to use hardware such as waterer and feeder used for domestic chicken but implement it such a way that I could add water and feed without a contact with the chicks. Does anyone of you have drawings or pictures of a surrogator?

 

[Tabasco Jack]

Go to backyardchickens.com There's a quail forum with lots of information on raising quail.

 

[nybirdman]

I raise pheasant,bob-whites and chukars.Pheasant will not "imprint" to humans,quail will for sure,chukars maybe a little.
We do not release any birds until they are 16wks old or older.I would recommend raising in a barn,garage or out building where you would have better control of the environment and predators.

 

[muddstopper]

been thinking about doing something similar myself. Just havent gotten around to learning how its done. Nothing to add, but I will be following with interest.

 

[nybirdman]

For quail or chukars;an elevated run made with 1/4" hardware cloth(wood frame) 20'x4'with a small enclosure to hold feed and water and the sides covered(so the birds can't imprint) should allow you to raise a couple hundred quail or a hundred chukar.
So;a little building maybe 6x6'x8'H,the bottom of the run at about3'.Build roost in the building.Feed the smallest size feed you can find(turkey feed or game bird;
higher protein).You may have to further grind feed until the chicks are 4wks or so.
Try to make it vermin proof,wood floor with large size cedar shavings.
I deal with Page Redirection for all my supplies.Purchase "quail sized feeders and waterers"
If you have never seen quail chicks they are tiny.

 

[super55]

Ultimate Pheasant Hunting Forum - The #1 National Pheasant Forum

Go to the forum pen raised upland game birds. There's a wealth of knowledge on raising upland game.

 

[Redneck in training]

Thanks for the responses. I will check the links.
We have three flocks of quail on our property I know of. Each has more than 10 birds. So our focus would be pheasants. I hear them every evening when they fly on trees to roost but there are only few.

Quail pictures from two days ago.