6 Best Wire Quail Egg Collection Trays For Small Farms That Keep Eggs Clean
Explore the 6 best wire quail egg trays for small farms. These roll-out designs keep eggs clean, reduce breakage, and streamline your daily collection.
There’s nothing more frustrating than reaching into a quail cage and finding every single perfect little egg speckled with droppings. You can wash them, of course, but that removes the protective bloom and shortens their shelf life. The real secret to clean eggs isn’t about constant cleaning, but about smart cage design that does the work for you.
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Why Wire Trays Are Key for Cleaner Quail Eggs
A sloped wire floor is the single most effective upgrade you can make to a quail hutch for clean egg production. The concept is simple: waste falls through the wire mesh to a collection tray below, keeping the birds and their eggs clean. The floor is installed at a gentle angle, causing the eggs to roll forward just after being laid.
This "roll-out" design moves the eggs away from the birds’ feet and out of the main living area. They collect in a protected trough at the front of the cage, clean and ready for you to gather. This system dramatically reduces the time you spend scrubbing eggs and virtually eliminates the problem of eggs being cracked by trampling.
Some people worry that wire is uncomfortable for the birds. While this can be true for poorly chosen wire, the right mesh size (typically 1/2" x 1" hardware cloth) provides plenty of support for their feet. The benefits in hygiene and egg quality far outweigh the concerns, provided you use the correct materials.
A flat, solid-bottomed cage with bedding is a recipe for dirty, broken eggs. Quail are not tidy birds, and they won’t reliably use a nesting box. A wire roll-out system accepts this reality and works with their nature, not against it.
Ware Manufacturing Sloped Hardware Cloth Tray
If you’re building your own cages or retrofitting an existing hutch, basic hardware cloth is the most accessible material. Ware Manufacturing and other similar brands offer pre-made sloped panels or rolls of hardware cloth that you can cut to size. It’s a straightforward, no-frills solution.
The primary advantage here is cost and availability. You can find galvanized hardware cloth at any farm supply or hardware store. It’s easy to work with using simple tools like wire snips, making it perfect for DIY projects. You have complete control over the size and slope of your floor.
The main tradeoff is durability and comfort. The galvanization can wear off over time, especially at weld points, leading to rust. More importantly, the cut edges of the wire can be sharp, and the bare metal isn’t as gentle on quail feet as coated options. It works, but it’s the baseline, not the premium choice.
GQF Manufacturing Quail Breeding Pen Trays
GQF is a big name in the bird breeding world, and their equipment is built for a purpose. Their replacement floor trays are designed specifically for their popular quail breeding pens. If you own a GQF system, sticking with their parts is a no-brainer.
These trays are engineered to fit perfectly, with the correct slope and wire spacing already figured out. They are typically well-made, durable, and designed to last through many seasons of use. You’re buying a piece of a proven system, which removes the guesswork.
The downside is a lack of flexibility. A GQF tray is unlikely to fit a custom-built cage or a hutch from another brand without significant modification. They are also priced as replacement parts for a commercial-grade system, so they tend to be more expensive than a simple roll of hardware cloth.
Hatching Time PVC Coated Wire Floor Panels
Moving up in quality, you’ll find PVC coated wire, and Hatching Time is a well-known supplier. The vinyl coating over the galvanized wire is a game-changer for two reasons: bird comfort and ease of cleaning. The plastic is much gentler on the quail’s feet, reducing the risk of sores or bumblefoot.
The smooth, non-porous surface of the PVC coating also makes cleaning incredibly easy. Droppings don’t adhere to it as stubbornly as they do to bare metal. A quick scrape or spray is often all it takes to keep the floor sanitary. This coating also seals the metal, preventing rust and significantly extending the life of the tray.
Of course, this premium feature comes at a higher cost. PVC coated wire is more expensive than standard galvanized hardware cloth. For many small farmers, the added expense is a worthwhile investment in animal welfare and long-term durability. It’s a classic "buy once, cry once" scenario.
Wynola Ranch Supplies Welded Wire Egg Tray
Wynola Ranch and similar suppliers often specialize in welded wire products tailored for specific animals, including quail. Unlike woven hardware cloth, welded wire is stronger at each joint, making for a more rigid and durable floor. This is especially useful for wider cages where a flimsy floor might sag.
These trays often come in ideal quail-specific mesh sizes, like 1/2" x 1", which is large enough for waste to pass through but small enough to comfortably support the birds’ feet. The quality of the welds and galvanization is typically higher than what you’d find in a general-purpose roll at a big-box store.
The main consideration is that you are often buying pre-made panels or rolls of a specific type of wire. This is great if it fits your plan, but less flexible for unusual cage dimensions. It represents a solid middle-ground between basic hardware cloth and premium coated options.
Little Giant Galvanized Steel Roll Out Nest
This one is a bit of an outlier, as it’s technically a roll-out nest box insert designed for chickens. However, for certain quail setups, particularly small colony pens or A-frame tractors, it can be adapted. It provides a pre-fabricated sloped floor and collection tray in one unit.
The advantage is its all-in-one design and wide availability at stores like Tractor Supply. You get the slope, the wire floor, and the egg trough without having to build it from scratch. This can be a huge time-saver if the dimensions happen to work for your hutch.
The major disadvantage is that it’s not designed for quail. The wire mesh might be too large, and the slope might be too steep for small, fragile quail eggs, leading to cracking. You’ll need to carefully check the specs before buying. It’s a potential shortcut, but one that requires careful consideration to ensure it’s suitable for your birds.
Kuhl Cages Plastic Coated Quail Floor Wire
Maximize space and simplify quail breeding with this stackable, easy-to-clean cage. Features include a gravity-fed water system and removable middle walls for flexible configuration and easy egg collection.
Kuhl is another major manufacturer of poultry and game bird equipment, and their plastic-coated wire is top-of-the-line. Similar to other coated options, it prioritizes bird foot health and cleanability. The plastic coating is thick, durable, and provides a slightly softer surface for the birds.
What often sets suppliers like Kuhl apart is that they sell the material in large rolls. This is ideal for farmers building a whole battery of custom cages. You can cut exactly what you need, minimizing waste and ensuring a perfect fit for your specific design.
This is a professional-grade material, and it carries a corresponding price tag. It’s an investment. If you’re raising a significant number of birds and plan to be in it for the long haul, starting with high-quality flooring like this saves you from having to replace cheaper wire in a few years.
Choosing Your Tray: Slope, Wire, and Size
Making the right choice comes down to balancing your budget, your setup, and your priorities. There are three key factors to consider when selecting or building your roll-out tray.
First is the slope. The ideal angle is around 1.5 inches of drop for every 12 inches of depth. Too shallow, and the eggs won’t roll. Too steep, and they’ll roll too fast and crack when they hit the front of the cage or each other. You may need to experiment slightly to get it just right for your specific setup.
Second is the wire.
- Bare Galvanized: Cheapest and most available, but rougher on feet and prone to rust.
- PVC/Plastic Coated: More expensive, but much better for foot health, easier to clean, and lasts longer.
- Mesh Size: Stick to 1/2" x 1" for Coturnix quail. This provides good support while allowing droppings to fall through easily.
Finally, consider the size and construction. Are you buying a pre-made tray for a specific brand of cage, or are you building your own? If you’re building, measure your cage dimensions carefully. Remember to account for the egg collection trough at the front, which should be low enough for the eggs to roll into but high enough to contain them.
Ultimately, the best wire tray is the one that fits your system and helps you achieve your goal: a steady supply of clean, fresh quail eggs with minimal daily effort. By investing in a good roll-out floor, you’re not just buying a piece of equipment; you’re buying back your time and ensuring a higher quality product.
