RECALL PENS.. ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE?

[BIGINNER]

I'VE BEEN READING UP A LITTLE ON RECAL PENS FOR QUAIL/CHUKAR,..  DOES ANYINE ON HERE HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM? 
HOW LONG DOES IT USUALLY TAKE TO TRAIN THE BIRDS TO GET BACK IN?
HOW MUCH PROPERTY DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO MAKE THEM USEFULL?
WHAT WORKS BETTER? FUNNEL INTRANCE OR TRAPDOOR?

PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES,   

ALSO,  WHAT BIRDS WORK BEST?

[Machias]

Bobwhite Quail work the best, IMO the funnel is the best thing, do some research on Johnny Houses.  You could get by with just a acre or so of land.  The birds learn pretty quickly a couple of weeks in and they will consider the Johnny House their roost, then the trick is to only release a few and let the rest call them back.

[jackelope]

Never heard of such a thing...
Whats the purpose?
Note: possible dumb question...don't take it the wrong way.

[BIGINNER]

HEY MACHIAS,
YOU HAVE A JOHNY HOUSE?  DO YOU RELEASE YOUR BIRD ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY OR SOMEONE ELSES?  IS THE JOHNY HOUSE IN A FIXED LOCATION, OR DO YOU BRING IT ALONG FOR TRAINING?

ARE YOUR BIRDS SKITISH? (DOG WON'T BE ABLE TO CATCH THEM?)

[Machias]

You can buy 24 quail or so, build a Johnny House and house and feed and protect the quail.  Then you can go out, release several of the birds and leave a few in the Johnny house.  Now you take your pup out and train them on live birds.  You can shoot them or let them fly.  Once your done training the birds left in the house call out and the ones who are out that you've been training your pup on and didn't shoot will come back, walk up the one way tunnel and be safe and waiting for you on your next training run.  You can replenish birds as they are depleted.

[BIGINNER]

Never heard of such a thing...
Whats the purpose?
Note: possible dumb question...don't take it the wrong way.

ITS BASICALLY A PEN WHERE YOU KEEP QUAILS/CHUKAR, AND YOU RELEASE SOME OUT IN THE FEILD FOR TRAINING BIRD DOGS,  AND USUALLY BY THE END OF THE DAY THEY REYURN INTO THE PEN. ITS USUALLY ALOT BETTER TO HAVE SEVERAL BIRDS ALWAYS IN THE PEN TO CALL BACK THE BIRDS THAT ARE OUT.  THE PENS HAVE A FUNNEL OR TRAPDOOR THAT LETS THE BIRD IN, BUT NOT OUT.

[Machias]

I have plans for a Johnny house, I can send you a copy if you want.  I put an add on Craigslist last fall for permission to bulld a Johnny House on some CRP land that no one was using with the understanding I would remove it at anytime they wanted it gone.  I got several responses, much to my suprise.  The Johnny House is semi-permanent, it's a 4x4x8 foot house.  It is built in such a way as to produce strong flyers that will not get caught and the quail are plenty skiddish.

[BIGINNER]

nice!!  that would be awesome machias.  and i never thought about getting permission to build one on some crp land,  i might just do that.     thanks for the onfo man.

[BIGINNER]

also... do you have any problems with varmits getting in?  skunks/racoons/cats?

[BIGINNER]

OH,..  AND HOW DO THE BIRDS KNOW WHERE TO GET IN?  OR DO THEY JUST FIGURE IT OUT ON THEIR OWN?

[Happy Gilmore]

I've heard making two recall doors speeds the process of training. Basically, you have your permanent recall door on the shed. You make another that is the same type of door but, put the food behind it on the inside. Forcing the birds to go through the door to eat and water. This trains them for what to look for on the outside when actually released. And- only release a few at a time. Slowly increase the flock release as you have them come home.

[Machias]

nice!!  that would be awesome machias.  and i never thought about getting permission to build one on some crp land,  i might just do that.     thanks for the onfo man.

PM me your mailing address and I'll get it in the mail tomorrow.  I will also post a link to a good place to order healthy quail.  Yes varmits have been known to get in and kill quail, but usually if you don't build a proper Johnny House or leave an opening.  If you have mink in the area you might want to add a door over you funnel and close it after they have all gone in.  Mink are nortorius for going in and out of the funnel. 

[Machias]

P.S.  There are some cool vidoes on youtube of quail using a Johnny House.

[BIGINNER]

PM SENT..  THANKS ALOT MACHIAS.