Quail Housing Part I

Over the past few years we have experimented with a variety of quail housing options.  We have used an aviary, tractors, cages in an aviary, cages in an enclosed shed, and outdoor hutches.  Currently we have quail in tractors, hutches, and cages in a shed.  Each has its own benefits.  Each has its own problems.

Aviary.  This is a stationary building at least 6 feet high which allows the quail to roam; a more natural setting for them.  Yet without proper protection predators DO find a way in.  Rodents are especially troublesome as they only need a hole an inch in diameter and eat both quail and eggs.  Quail poop a LOT requiring frequent turning of the dirt and adding some type of bedding (like wood chips).  Egg gathering becomes an Easter Egg hunt.

It's amazing what Cletus can build using salvaged material!

Inside with quail "hiding" in the corner

Tractors.  This is a movable building at least 6 feet high, often built from PVC and hardware cloth with a tarp over the top and down the sides to protect them from the elements.  This combines the benefits of an aviary with the ability to move the entire structure and keep the grass fresh.  However it must be moved when the grass is eaten or it will quickly become a mud/poop pool.  The grass goes quickly and if this is all you have on a small plot of land you will soon run out of fresh spaces.  Protecting the quail from disease carried by wild birds may become a challenge.  

 

Cages.  These are structures under 2 feet high, often stacked one on top of the other.  We initially thought this was unnatural and unkind to the birds; however, we have found our quail to be much more calm in a cage than they were in the aviaries.  We keep our cages in a quail shed for increased protection from both predators and the weather.  One set was built with slanted floors so the eggs can roll to the front of the cage for easy collection (the technical term for this is "roll-out cage" which I find amusing).  We put plastic shoe boxes full of sand in ours and they love getting in these and taking sand baths.  Since they are stacked, each cage has a place underneath it to slide a "poop tray".  These are lined with wood chips or  pads to keep the poop from landing on the downstairs neighbors.  Feed bins and a watering system are attached to the sides.

Hutches.  Living at the beach, we refer to these as Condos.  This is a larger cage no more than 2 feet high, elevated off the ground on stilts.  It has one end fully enclosed by plywood, rather than just hardware cloth, to give them protection from wind, rain, and cold.  This end also has a large sand bath incorporated into the build.  Cletus modified the design from Slightly Rednecked and the wire floor has a plywood door under it which swings down allowing us to empty the dirty sand and place fresh when we need to.  

 

The legs are surrounded with wire to keep barn cats from bothering them

The sand area.  In colder weather we fill with wood chips for warmth

 

You may have noticed I keep referring to the height of each option.  You may even have noticed it is at least 6 feet, or no more than 2 feet.  This is because Coturnix quail do not fly, they flush.  Straight up.  If the height of their enclosure is between 2 and 6 feet, there is a high risk they will flush so hard they break their necks.  Because quail are known for finding creative ways to die, bless their little hearts  necks.

Through the past fall and early winter we experimented with having quail in tractors, hutches, and cages.  Next time I will share our conclusions with you.