A couple projects around the house

Cool, seems we have a bit in common.

Shawn

 

Sorry for the late reply...deployed to Puerto Rico and getting things rolling on this project. So far, loving the island and project.

The nipa is about done, needs a good coat of varnish. The little fish pond turned out well, still need to draw out what I want for the grow bed for the little aquaponic system. Installing the plumbing and pumps will be on me when I get home next.

The area for the quail pen is coming together, wanted plywood 4' high to keep the dogs from harassing the future birds, above that is netting to keep them in. Once done it is about finding the smaller quantity of birds but that is the lovely wife's job...she has also spoken about 10 or so chickens. I prefer quail but sourcing a small quantity of birds for home use is a challenge.

Shawn

 

We had a compactor job for a few days without much need in the future. RENTED one from SSG on Valencia road for P500 a day, worked fine.

 

I have some concerns over your Bird pen? any housing for them should have some low level ventilation to try and achieve air entering the low level and venting out the top, I guess chickens and quail spend a lot of time at floor level? in your case the air may be stagnant on that bottom 4ft, look at any design of Bird house and you will always see a venting system near to floor level, Birds are very susceptible to respiratory problems and were the ideal choice in deep mining to test for gas, where the term comes from FALLING OFF THE SPAR. Get that air flowing and your poultry house will smell a lot less, otherwise they do stink a lot without it and their own droppings and what they give off will gas them.

I keep Racing Pigeons and have met some of the top flyers here in the Philippines and in nearly every case their Birds are housed in Lofts/Pens where the front and both sides are all wire.

 

Thanks Dave...I hadn't really considered airflow as I figured with the normal breezes and the top being just net would be fine to keep the future birds comfortable. My concern was our dogs harassing them as they would see them.

Will definitely take your advice and drill holes (maybe a 1" hole saw?) every foot vertically and horizontally, and then staple wire mesh over the holes to keep any vermin out. Will have the wife make that happen before she brings any birds home.

Thanks again!

Shawn

 

I think if you concentrate the vents to the bottom 12 inches that will be adequate, you will then get the air to rise and create a flow of sorts?

Naturally Negros, used to have Quail and they may be able to help you out there?

I have my own design of Perch for my Pigeons, they are made so their dropping fall into a drawer that has sawdust in it, that quickly dries them out and reduces the odour, the size could be adapted to suit Chicks/Quail, let me know if you are interested in them?

 

Dave...when we placed concrete for the pen area it is 4" lower so the plan is to fill that with rice hulls to deal with the droppings. It will get cleaned out and composted.

I'll be the first to admit that I have no experience with either chicken or quail but this small set-up will let us figure things out as we look forward. Again, most interested with quail but that falls into what we can procure on a small scale.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Shawn