Raising on the ground question

[paigespeeps]

So I've read a lot of posts and articles by people who like to keep their quails on the ground. It's more natural and they can scratch and dig, I love the idea. But the hubby won't let me erect a huge aviary so I bought a nice little A-frame portable coop similar to the one pictured.

So here's my question... how do I deal with poop AND predators? These lil buggers (coturnix) POOP SO FREAKIN' MUCH that I cannot imagine how disgusting this tiny little patch will get if I set this thing in a permanent spot... but I'm not sure how to keep them safe if I'm moving it every few days.

I thought about putting in a mesh bottom, but then they can't really scratch and dig, and I wouldn't be able to put it over patches of leafy ground cover like I would like to. I'll install hardware cloth over the existing wire, and if I stake it down really well that should be enough to keep the racoons out, but what about foxes? Anybody have any brilliant ideas to keep diggers out without me having to dig up a new patch of my yard every few days?

 

[ShangoBunny]

That might work. Or maybe an apron of wire mesh all around the coop that lies flat on the ground? I know they have chicken tractors. Maybe look into their design and find what they do to deter predators? Or even a 'parking spot' at night that has that reinforcement?

 

[Binki]

Love both of your ideas about the raised deep litter / planted bed / something to stake into the ground when moving ground coop around for diggers.

I thought of similar stuff like perhaps even switching the ground coop to two or more different spots as it gets dirty and the spots always have dig proof around them whether it be patio stones or dug in hardware cloth - was even thinking of a board with huge nails like an underground cage around the coop hehe!

I decided to go with a raised bed that'll have a plastic barrier so I can fill a few inches with soil and plant some stuff the quail can forage on/feel close to nature, being on the ground in greenery.

Every week or so I will move the top house part to another raised bed beside it and switch them back and forth to clean them - I can mix up the dirt and plant some seeds that'll sprout in a few days.

I think this would be the easiest thing for me to have them safe and stimulated - in the winter they are stuck in a long rabbit hutch, I've started to grow some sprouts for them in the meantime I have to finish weatherproofing the aviary first before I can do this project, sigh lol.

 

[JRNash]

The DW doesn't know they are coming yet. I'm going to be in the coop with them.lol

 

[rita2paul]

That's a nice little set up Dani

like Dani i also have an eglu with an ark attached to mine. i move mine around every 3 days. they love the fresh grass.
i also added another level for them.

 

[dheltzel]

That's great news to hear that an apron works for you, it certainly sounds like the easiest route! I'm not seeing your picture though.

Forgot to copy link from my signature line, I have heard that on a cell phone, the signature lines are missing.
Try this link
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hoop-tractor

 

[ShangoBunny]

What are the measurements and how many birds do you have?

I wanted to keep mine on the ground too, but for safety I'm opting to place them on top of a 2 foot raised garden bed and using the deep litter method. Each spring I will rotate the coop to a new raised bed and plant veggies on the last one.

 

[paigespeeps]

A raised garden bed is smart! This little coop is just a little over 2'x3'. I have 8 young quails at the moment, but plan to cull at least three. Waiting to figure out who the boys are. I've got them in a reinforced rabbit hutch right now, and I'll probably still use it during the winter and move them into the garage, but I'd like to let them enjoy the summer on the ground a bit. Do you think they would enjoy it or be too stressed out if I kept them in the hutch at night and moved them to this during the day? One idea is I was thinking of was trying to find some kind of rake heads like these:

to mount all around the bottom sides, and stick the whole thing down into the ground every time I move it? Not sure if it needs to be a horizontal barrier though, like a fox would just dig a bit deeper with these.

 

[paigespeeps]

Those are both great ideas!

 

[JRNash]

Now THAT is a wonderful idea!!!