Hello again! Thanks for your answers to my previous questions.
Now we're getting the quail coop just about finished up and I need to make some decisions. It's a raised octagon with a run attached.
1. Mesh platform over mesh floor opening?
My plan is to install some nipple waterers over a section of our coop interior under which I'll cut a hole in the floor. That hole would be covered with 1/2 inch mesh, and here's the part I have a question about. **If I also put a little platform (sides are plastic, top is mesh) would the quail climb up on it to drink? Do you see any other problems this might cause? They need water in the coop if we plan to close it at night, right?**
My reasons for doing this are:
I don't want weasels or some predator ripping any legs off my quail, which might happen if there is a mesh section of the coop floor and something breaches the outer fencing.
I want to try to keep a deep litter kind of set up and if it gets wet it will reek etc. In my limited experience so far I've seen that if even a little of the litter gets wet it wicks all over the rest. A mesh section would allow dripping water to fall through and a raised platform would keep the litter from falling out or clogging up the mesh.
2. Nest boxes?
Okay, I just like how they look sticking off the sides of a coop plus the added square footage is nice. Will the quail at least hang out in them? I know they may not bother laying in there, and I don't care about that. Adding a couple boxes wouldn't cause any quail problems, would it?
3. How do deep litter advocates do a sand bath? Could I make one of the attached "nest boxes" into a sand box?
THANKS!
Now we're getting the quail coop just about finished up and I need to make some decisions. It's a raised octagon with a run attached.
1. Mesh platform over mesh floor opening?
My plan is to install some nipple waterers over a section of our coop interior under which I'll cut a hole in the floor. That hole would be covered with 1/2 inch mesh, and here's the part I have a question about. **If I also put a little platform (sides are plastic, top is mesh) would the quail climb up on it to drink? Do you see any other problems this might cause? They need water in the coop if we plan to close it at night, right?**
My reasons for doing this are:
I don't want weasels or some predator ripping any legs off my quail, which might happen if there is a mesh section of the coop floor and something breaches the outer fencing.
I want to try to keep a deep litter kind of set up and if it gets wet it will reek etc. In my limited experience so far I've seen that if even a little of the litter gets wet it wicks all over the rest. A mesh section would allow dripping water to fall through and a raised platform would keep the litter from falling out or clogging up the mesh.
2. Nest boxes?
Okay, I just like how they look sticking off the sides of a coop plus the added square footage is nice. Will the quail at least hang out in them? I know they may not bother laying in there, and I don't care about that. Adding a couple boxes wouldn't cause any quail problems, would it?
3. How do deep litter advocates do a sand bath? Could I make one of the attached "nest boxes" into a sand box?
THANKS!