Breeding chickens requires a competent approach to their place of detention. Until these babies have reached 60 days from the moment of hatching, great attention should be paid to their health and development. If you are just a beginner poultry breeder, and you think that the main task of the breeder is to competently feed the growing bird, then this is an erroneous judgment. In fact, you need to pay due attention to the place of keeping these babies, because their neighborhood with adults may not turn out to be the most positive way for their health. But if there is no finance for the purchase of expensive equipment, you can use the following tips. In this article we will look at how to make a cage for chickens with your own hands.
Main features of cage for chickens
Do not underestimate the importance of the cage for chickens. Its main task is not only to isolate children from adults, but most importantly, it is protection from various external factors.
The cage protects small chicks from dangers.
Kids need protection every day and every hour. There are a lot of dangers around that can tear off such a fragile, most recently born life. It is necessary to protect chickens from forty, raven, cats, rats, dogs, rodents, from their own relatives, which have an impressive size.
How many times novice poultry farmers had to deal with the fact that the number of chickens was reduced due to the crush at the feeder, drinking troughs, and so on. But in addition to external factors, there are also weather conditions that can dangerously affect the health of babies.
It is necessary to save chickens from showers, frosts, too hot sun, strong wind. In the event that the cold comes, the kids will begin to clog up in groups, and they will be able to warm each other with their warmth. But if they do not have a cage, they will disperse throughout the entire chicken coop, and therefore will not be able to connect together. The weakest can die.
If the hot summer days come, the chickens can simply boil without proper shelter, especially when left in the open sun without drinking. The functionality of the cell is decisive for the preservation of the lives of babies.
In a cage, chickens are protected from wind, heat and cold.
Self-production of cells
The most important rule for self-fabricating cells is mobility. The cage should be, as far as possible, easy to carry or move. This is necessary so that on a fine summer day chickens can be carried to the fresh air, and in case of bad weather they can be hid in a secluded place.
Reference. Too bulky cells can be heavy to carry, and it will be very difficult to cope with such a weight yourself.
The second rule that must be observed in the case of independent production is the safety and environmental friendliness of materials. Chickens need safe materials because the slightest poisoning with plastic or paint can negatively affect their health. Some birds begin to peck on plastic or untreated wood, as a result of which the esophagus becomes clogged and the bird may die.
In case you have a large population of birds, it is better to give preference to several made cages, which will contain a small number of chickens. In this case, you can try to reliably unload the cells, while they will be easy.
The cage is made only of safe for poultry materials.
Making a cage at home involves the use of scrap materials, while a small amount of time spent. You only need these cages for a short time until the bird grows to a safe size. This means that the chickens will be in the aviary for a short time. Therefore, it is possible to experiment, check the made design on growing chickens. Consider how to make a strong, and most importantly, lightweight portable cage, which will be in the form of an aviary.
Necessary tools and materials
In addition to the fact that in advance you need to make drawings, you need to pay due attention to the choice of material.
For a cell that can be assembled using this instruction, you will need:
- A welded wire mesh made of wire (the main thing is that such a wire has a small cross section, for comparison, such a wire mesh is safe, since cells make it in industrial poultry houses). Galvanized mesh can have a size of 16 to 25 mm. The diameter of your wire can be 23 mm. In stores, it is sold either in square meters or in individual sheets.
- You will also need a piece of wire that can be used to fasten the mesh you have purchased.
- Stock up with pliers, pliers, hammer.
- In some cases, you may need a glue gun.
- Carry special work gloves to prevent injury to your hands.
The photo shows a drawing of a cage with dimensions for growing chickens.
Step-by-step instructions for making a cage at home
Let us examine how to fabricate a cell-shaped construction step by step from a grid.
The procedure is as follows:
- The first step is to cut the grid. To do this, you need to straighten and cut along, thereby leaving two strips of equal width and height.
- Use pliers or nippers to sever each wire in the right places. If the grid is rolled, then from it you need to cut a piece that will be equal to the length of your entire cell. Its value can reach from one and a half to 3 m. These will be the sides of your future plant.
- Cut a piece of the grid, which will be 95 cm wide. This will be the end for the aviary.
- Face and lateral parts cut again in half.
- Now find the plate that will be the top cover. In fact, chickens must be protected from external influences. In size, this cap should repeat the perimeter of the resulting cell.
- Spread out the available blanks in front of you.
- The next step is assembly and installation. Take the purchased aluminum wire. Cut out of it equal pieces of length from 3 to 5 cm.
The grid is cut into the desired pieces, and then fasten them together with a wire.
Now the breeder can be calm about the condition of his birds. Nobody will get to them for sure, and the chickens will grow safely.
When the chickens grow, they must be moved to a large house. We suggest reading the following instructions:
- How to build a small chicken coop on 10 chickens with their own hands.
- A hen house for 50 chickens is a room for keeping large livestock.
Metal construction
If the breeder does not trust the cage of the grid, you can pay attention to the metal structure. Of course, such a cage will not let air through properly, which means it will somewhat hold down the movements of the chickens.
But such a cage is perfect if chickens appeared in the winter cold season:
- To do this you will need three metal sheets. One of them will be the floor, the other ceiling. The third sheet will be the back wall. Between themselves, these sheets can be fastened either with special construction glue, or with the help of screws.
- Lay the sharp corners, which turned out inside the cell foam.
- The remaining three sides can immediately sweep the net. It can be either glued to a special construction glue, or fastened with screws or other wires.
- It turns out that the metal cage has three metal sides, and the other three sides, that is, the two ends and the side are open to light and fresh air.
- In such a cage chicks will be calm and comfortable. And in the afternoon there is such a necessary twilight in it. Chickens will be protected from external influences. True, such a cell is somewhat heavy and clumsy.
In the metal cage, the ceiling, rear wall and floor are made of metal sheets.
Wooden construction
In the manufacture of cages for broiler chickens, many owners are guided by the principle of environmental friendliness. They do not allow the bird to be contained in metal.
Therefore, treated wood is used as a material:
- First of all, in order to collect such a cell, you need to stock up on several sheets of plywood. These sheets of plywood should be divided into three equal rectangles. One of them will serve as the floor, the other ceiling, and the third rear wall.
- It is necessary to cut two wooden posts that will connect the floor and the ceiling of the cage in places where there is no contact with the wooden rectangle.
- You got a cage, though, it does not protect the chickens from three sides.
- In order to protect the chicks from the outside, it is necessary to purchase a metal grid. You can attach it with screws or building glue.
- You get a cage that protects chickens well, but is environmentally friendly, and therefore does not provoke any diseases of the bird.
Important. Remember that the bird should not peck at the tree, otherwise, you may encounter the fact that the bird will be injured.
We offer for viewing the video instruction, which shows the process of assembling the cage for growing chickens.
Choose the method that seemed most appropriate. If you are a breeder of chickens and for the first time faced with the need to keep them in cages, then, before acquiring expensive equipment, try your hand. Perhaps you will achieve excellent results without expensive acquisitions.
Cellular Benefits
Even before the chicks are acquired, care must be taken to ensure that proper conditions are created for them.
The cage for chicks should be placed in a separate room. Particular attention should be paid to the process of manufacturing the cellular structure, because the chicks will be able to fully develop only in the case when there are no negative factors.
Experienced poultry farmers distinguish the following from the main advantages of the cellular maintenance of chicks:
- the possibility of compact placement of young. Such constructions occupy minimal space.
- ease of care. To maintain the cells is quite easy. Litter and trash is collected in the pan, and, accordingly, cleaning takes a minimum of time,
- ease of manufacture. In order to assemble this design, special knowledge and expensive materials are not needed:
- protection of chicks from other inhabitants of the yard. Contact with other animals is completely excluded.
- feeding convenience. Containers for drinking and eating are placed on the outside of the structure, so it will not be difficult for the breeder to fill the chicks with food and pour fresh water.
How to build a chicken: step by step instructions
In order to build such a cell, it is necessary first of all to study all the structural features shown in the drawing.
The work will need the following materials:
- grid with cells maximum 7x7 cm
- wooden slats
- plywood sheets,
- metal plates
- fixing materials.
Build the construction in stages:
- Prepare six identical racks with dimensions of 7x7x165 cm.
- Cut the slats into three lengths of 10 cm, six lengths of 3 cm and a pair of lengths of 5 cm. The width of all prepared lengths must be exactly 2 cm.
- Plywood to perform the side walls. To this end, cut the material into parts whose dimensions are 57.5 x 30.5 cm.
- Attach newly prepared plywood walls to the frame.
- Using sheets of metal to make a pallet, its dimensions should be 30x66x20 cm.
- From plywood sheets cut and roof detail. It should be 140 cm in length and 70 cm in width.
- Run the front of the mesh design.
It remains only to place containers in the cage for food and drink, and then install it at a suitable height.
How to make a metal cage for chickens
This simple design can be used in cases where the brood is very small and it was born in the warm season.
The process of making such a cell is incredibly simple. You do not need to be an expert to build yourself such a product.
You will need the following materials and tools in your work:
- wire mesh
- aluminum wire
- roulette,
- scissors designed for working with metal.
The work is carried out in several stages:
- The grid must be cut into several parts. You should have two sides, a pair of end elements and a roof.
- The wire is cut into segments of a length of only 4 cm. With the help of these segments and connect all the elements into a single structure.
- The roof is fixed only on one side. This is necessary so that in the future you can easily open the cage.
- If necessary, an additional mount and bottom. The bottomless option is used for walking chickens on a green lawn.
Tiered cage for chickens: instructions for making
Those poultry farmers who still do not have enough experience in the manufacture of cages, you can try to make such a multifunctional design, but for this it is necessary to develop a clear plan of action and draw a drawing.
It will look like this.
In this scheme it is necessary to include absolutely all measurements. It is highly not recommended to neglect this item, since it is thanks to the drawing that the idea of how much construction materials will be needed in the process of work will appear. After that, it will be possible to start the main works, which are reduced to such actions:
- First you need to prepare the rack. The length of each of the six parts should be 170 cm.
- After that, you can proceed to the formation of the frame. For this purpose, only twelve rails are used. Additionally, you will need seven parts, the cross section of which should be 4x4 cm and four - 11x4 cm. It is recommended to prepare a reserve and a pair of elements with a cross section of 6x4 cm. The length of each of these elements should be 150 cm.
- You need to prepare the side elements in accordance with the dimensions indicated in the drawing.
- Front and rear walls are made of mesh. From the same material is made and the bottom of each tier.
- It is also necessary to foresee a small distance between the tiers, into which a tray will be placed for collecting excreta and debris.
- For the manufacture of pallets used metal sheets, which are simply cut and bend around the perimeter.
It remains to complete only install the feeders and drinking bowls, after which you can already nest in the cage.
Making wood cages
This spacious cage with solid walls, which are made of wood, will be able to collect any poultry breeder. The weight of the structure is quite large, so it will be very difficult to transfer it from the room to the street.
Such products are used exclusively in the case of birds in the room, without providing the possibility of walking.
Naturally, in order to avoid mistakes, before starting work you need to make a drawing that should look that way.
After the drawing has already been transferred to paper, care must be taken to ensure that all the necessary materials are available:
- wooden boards
- metal mesh,
- sheets of metal or plastic pallet,
- fixing materials.
When you already have everything you need, you can proceed to the main construction work:
- Taking into account all sizes, it is necessary to cut out all the details from wooden boards. Two identical elements will act as side edges of the structure, one will become the rear part, and one more - the roof. If the boards of the required width were not available, you can assemble one piece of the desired size from several parts. For this purpose, any fasteners are allowed.
- All prepared parts are assembled into a single frame.
- The front of the walls must be done from the grid, which is attached to the frame already assembled at that moment. All parts can not be made of wood, because the cell will not be properly ventilated. Yes, and the heat with the light will not be able to get inside, but they are simply necessary for the full development of the young.
- The roof must be made folding, fixing it with hinges.
- The floor also acts as a grid. The main requirement for this element - the cells must be very small, so that the paws of the chicks do not fall through, but at the same time could pass the litter.
The design is fixed on the stand, which in advance knocked out of the bar.
Клетку рекомендуется размещать на высоте не менее 40 см от пола.
Это необходимо для того, чтобы грызуны не смогли подобраться к птенцам. On this stand should be installed props to accommodate the pallet, made of sheets of metal.
This structural element can be replaced by plastic, which is sold in any specialty store.
Each breeder will be able to cope with such a simple task as making cages for young stock. There are many variations of these designs. They can be portable and stationary, single-tiered and multi-tiered.
Observing all the recommendations for their manufacture, difficulties in the assembly process can not arise. At minimum cost, it will be possible to get a reliable, strong and durable cage in which pets will feel as comfortable as possible.
Cage for quail do-it-yourself: step by step instructions
To make a cage for quails with your own hands, you need to follow the step-by-step instructions, which describe in detail all the steps of manufacture.
There are several important factors to consider when producing. (picture 1):
- Number of birdsto be kept on the farm,
- Egg collection trays and trays for litter, which greatly facilitate the care of birds,
- Places for fixing drinkers, feeding troughs and additional heating equipment.
You also need to prepare the material from which the structure will be made (plywood, metal mesh or wood), and choose the tools you need to work. For assembly, you will need scissors for metal, a hacksaw, self-tapping screws for the frame and a stapler for fixing the grid.
Figure 1. The main types of cells for quail
According to the step by step instructions, the design is made as follows.:
- Cut the workpiece for the back and side walls, and the cover of the future cell.
- Make a frame of wooden beams and fasten it with screws or nails. Wood is ground and treated with antiseptic, so that birds do not accidentally hurt themselves.
- The front wall is made of metal mesh with large cells so that birds can freely stick their heads in it and reach for food or water.
- A floor is made of a grid with small cells, and under it establish the pallet for collecting a dung.
To simplify the collection of eggs, equipped with a special tray with a curved edge, which is a kind of continuation of the floor.
Varieties
Regardless of the number of birds kept in the farm, each age group needs its own cages: for newborn chicks, young stock, laying hens, birds intended for slaughter and individuals for breeding.
Before you begin, you must always take into account the age of individuals. (Figure 2):
- For little chicks equip a brooder with a system of artificial lighting and heating. It is a box with transparent (preferably glass) walls and a lid. In such a brooder, the stable temperature and humidity necessary to grow healthy young stock are constantly maintained.
- Young birds and adults do not need a closed space, so they can be kept in small cages with mesh floors. The older the bird, the larger the size of the cell.
- Adult birdsintended for breeding or slaughtering for meat, contain in small structures of plywood, plastic or wood.
- For layers equip special houses with sloping floor for stingray eggs.
Figure 2. Types of structures made of mesh, plastic and plywood
In general, all models have the same design. The only exceptions are models for meat breeds: they must be small and low in order to restrict the movement of birds, slowing down their puberty and increasing their weight gain.
Requirements
Since quails have a restless nature, they are easily frightened by harsh sounds, the main requirement for equipment is the safety of birds.
All materials used for manufacturing should not have sharp corners or irregularities, so that birds do not accidentally hurt themselves. It is recommended to cover the floor with a net appropriate for the age of the birds, through which droppings and litter will fall on the pallet, but the birds' feet will not be stuck in the net.
In addition, you need to choose materials that are easy to clean and disinfect. For this purpose, you can use sanded wood, plywood, metal mesh or plastic.
The most popular materials are metal mesh and plywood. They are easily processed, cleaned, and their surface is sufficiently smooth and safe for quails.
For making use of drawings that allow you to make a design of the desired size. As a rule, first made wooden frame, which is later sheathed with a grid or plywood.
Note: Even if the cage is made of plywood or wood, its front part is made of mesh, since it is much easier to attach the feeders and drinkers to it.
To simplify cleaning, the upper part is made removable or provided with hinges so that, if necessary, the cage can be easily opened for cleaning and disinfection.
Place to build
Place for the content, you can choose almost any. But it is still desirable to provide a calm environment for the birds.
Figure 3. Main drawings for manufacturing
In the summer, cells can be placed in the shade of trees and other buildings, away from noise, and in winter - transferred to a heated shed with ventilation. Since quails are rather restless birds, it will be better to place them in a quiet place with a little shadow.
How to make a cage for quail from wood
Wood products are most often used to contain a small number of individuals. This material has several important advantages. First, it is environmentally friendly and will not harm the health of birds. Secondly, wood is a relatively inexpensive material that can be easily processed and polished.
To properly make a wooden cage, you need to take into account some features of its manufacture.
Schemes: wooden quail cage
Wooden structures with their own hands are made according to drawings, with which you can comfortably place all the birds (Figure 4).
To begin with, they knock down a frame of a suitable size, and then attach the side walls, the floor and the top cover to it. Small holes are drilled in the side walls for ventilation. The front door is made of mesh, mounted on the sheds, so that it is convenient to clean the inside, and you can hang a trough and a trough on the net.
Figure 4. Examples of making wooden models
Wooden floor is desirable to cover the grid at a short distance from the boards. It is better if the floor is retractable (like a pallet) so that you can quickly collect the accumulated droppings and debris. In case they will be laying hens, the floor is made under a slight slope, and in the end they make a small chute for the stingray of eggs.
Choice of place
Wooden cages, in comparison with similar products from the grid, are quite massive, so before making them you need to immediately determine the place where the birds will be.
It is better to place them on multilevel racks in a room with good supply and exhaust ventilation. Quails are well tolerated by such content, without reducing egg production, so you can place them in any building, and if one bird or two - even on a balcony in a city apartment.
How to place quails correctly
Improper conditions of detention adversely affect the egg and meat productivity of birds. To avoid such difficulties, you need to properly place the livestock, focusing on the age of birds.
Youngsters up to 10 days old are lodged in brooders - special boxes with heating and artificial lighting, where they adapt to new living conditions.
Laying models should be quite spacious, as in the complete absence of movement in females, egg production is significantly reduced. Meat birds, on the contrary, are kept in small and low cages. Species intended for breeding, contain in pairs.
Features of construction
Depending on the number of individuals, they can be single or combined into sections. Single made on the basis of the frame, which is simply sheathed with sheets of polished wood.
Layered also made on the frame, but the side and upper compartments are attached to the wall wall.
Schemes: wooden quail cage
Wooden structures with their own hands are made according to drawings, with which you can comfortably place all the birds (Figure 4).
To begin with, they knock down a frame of a suitable size, and then attach the side walls, the floor and the top cover to it. Small holes are drilled in the side walls for ventilation. The front door is made of mesh, mounted on the sheds, so that it is convenient to clean the inside, and you can hang a trough and a trough on the net.
Figure 4. Examples of making wooden models
Wooden floor is desirable to cover the grid at a short distance from the boards. It is better if the floor is retractable (like a pallet) so that you can quickly collect the accumulated droppings and debris. In case they will be laying hens, the floor is made under a slight slope, and in the end they make a small chute for the stingray of eggs.
Choice of place
Wooden cages, in comparison with similar products from the grid, are quite massive, so before making them you need to immediately determine the place where the birds will be.
It is better to place them on multilevel racks in a room with good supply and exhaust ventilation. Quails are well tolerated by such content, without reducing egg production, so you can place them in any building, and if one bird or two - even on a balcony in a city apartment.
How to place quails correctly
Improper conditions of detention adversely affect the egg and meat productivity of birds. To avoid such difficulties, you need to properly place the livestock, focusing on the age of birds.
Youngsters up to 10 days old are lodged in brooders - special boxes with heating and artificial lighting, where they adapt to new living conditions.
Laying models should be quite spacious, as in the complete absence of movement in females, egg production is significantly reduced. Meat birds, on the contrary, are kept in small and low cages. Species intended for breeding, contain in pairs.
Cage for quails from plywood do it yourself
One of the best options for construction is the manufacture of plywood. This is an inexpensive and practical material that is easy to work with, and the finished product is easy to clean and disinfect.
Making a cage out of plywood is easy if you know certain manufacturing features.
Features of construction
As in the case of polished wood, plywood models are made on the basis of the frame to which the walls are attached. The frame can be made of sanded wood treated with an antiseptic (Figure 5).
Also, reinforcement is used for the frame, but in this case it is necessary to make sure that the rods are not rusty and do not stick inside the cage, since birds can easily get hurt about them.
Construction scheme
The plywood cage fabrication scheme is very simple, and its construction will take a lot of time.
It is done in several stages.:
- Cut out the blank wall: side size 350 * 200mm, back 700 * 200mm, ceiling - 700 * 350mm.
- Vents are drilled in the side walls.
- Details are treated with an antiseptic or varnished.
- Blanks are attached to the frame with the help of corners and screws.
- The grid is laid on the floor with a slight slope. The size of the cells depends on the age of the birds: the older they are, the larger the cells can be.
- On the front wall mount the door of the grid.
Figure 5. Manufacturing of plywood structures
At the final stage, a feeding trough and a water bottle are installed on the door, and you can start populating the birds.
Calculation of materials
Calculate the amount of materials needed for manufacturing, can only be done individually. This is due to the number of livestock that they plan to keep on the farm.
Having calculated the number of cells according to the schemes, you will be able to independently calculate the amount of materials, guided by the schemes given above.
How many quails should be in a cage
Cellular content is considered to be the best for quails, as in these conditions they retain high egg production and meat productivity.
On average, a cage with a floor area of 20-30 cm is considered to be the normal content of 5-6 adult birds. But the best is when a cage measuring 150 * 50 cm contains up to 80 heads.
Video "Building a cage with your own hands"
Video from maks-sheriff will tell you how to make a convenient and functional cell with your own hands. Do not miss the detailed instructions.
We do the chicken yourself: step by step instructions
We make a cage for layers with your own hands
Mini-house for 5 layers: do it yourself
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Design features
The cage for small chickens should be a reliable protection until they get stronger and turn into adult chickens and males. It must protect them from birds of prey, rodents, domestic cats or dogs for which newborn birds are easy prey. In addition, it is desirable that the cell was mobile. Well, when there is an opportunity to easily raise it and change the place of deployment of chickens, choosing for them the most friendly places in the sun.
Chickens grown in a cage
In the design for feathered babies should be a source of light and heat. If you plan to take out your cage on the street, think about a small canopy so that the chicks can hide in case of bad weather: strong sun or rain.
Much also depends on how many chickens you plan to keep at home. If a little, then you will suit a small construction of wire, perhaps even without a bottom. If you want to be engaged in growing young stock seriously, then in order to save space, the cage for chickens is built in several floors. Also, such structures provide a removable bottom-pan for easy and quick cleaning.
In any case, small birds do not settle on drafts and provide them with sufficient space. Chickens can live in cages until the age of 45 days, then they can already be moved to the pen. Expect that in the house of 1 m square. You can accommodate up to 50 heads of young.
Feathered Caged Babies
Master the cage yourself
In order to save money, a cage for keeping young stock at home can be done without any problems with your own hands. But, as in any case, the approach here requires a responsible and careful, because the safety and health of day-old birds will depend on what kind of accommodation you will accommodate them. At the first stage you need to decide exactly what number of chickens you want to grow.
Based on this, cell dimensions and materials that you will use for construction are determined. Make a drawing of the future structure or sketch at least an approximate scheme. Next, we propose to look for clarity of the video, which shows what houses the future chickens live in.
Metal mobile design
This cage is suitable for a small number of chickens and it is preferable to use it in the warm season. It is quite simple to make their own hands and at home is useful for a dozen chickens. It is planned that the cell will stand on the street and you will be able to transfer it from place to place. So, for such a closet you will need:
- galvanized wire mesh with a cell diameter of 16x24 mm,
- aluminum wire
- pliers or pliers.
Simple cage with wooden walls
You can choose a simple structure with wooden or plywood walls to hold your little ones. This design is quite convenient and easy to manufacture by hand, but transported is not so simple. So in order to make it prepare the following materials:
- sheets of plywood or chipboard (suitable for walls),
- a net for the floor (depending on the age of the chickens, the size of the mesh can vary
- galvanized sheet,
- fixing materials (nails, screws),
- jigsaw.
Wooden wall construction
Stationary battery design
For the maintenance of a large number of young animals or broilers, it is better to make metal multi-storey (battery) cells with your own hands. They are located one above one, like floors, and allow you to place a large number of chickens in a small area. So, for the construction we need the following materials:
- galvanized metal sheets,
- plywood sheets,
- wooden bars
- mesh with different cell sizes,
- fixing materials.
Little chickens in a cage
