A better water set-up for my quail

[JurassicBawk]

Right now I'm just putting porcelain ramekins of water in the hutches beside the water bottles. It's the kind I normally use for crème brulee, something like these: https://www.amazon.com/Bellemain-oz...=1513628444&sr=8-3&keywords=ramekin+porcelain

They are heavy enough they won't tip them over and don't freeze as fast. It has only been below freezing a couple of nights and the winters don't get too cold here. When it's cold I put those out in the mornings before work and refill them in the evenings if needed. Otherwise the bottles are fine during the warmer hours in the day, and/or once the temps are above freezing and I remove them and just leave the bottles.

I've got clear shower curtains over the fronts of the hutches that keep direct wind off them, and that helps to keep the water/bottles from freezing as well but still gives them plenty of ventilation on the sides. I've got 3 cages going right now, (7 bachelors, 4 females only, breeder cage of 1 male and 3 females) but if I somehow had them all in one place I'd probably invest in a heated bottle or two so I didn't have to do as much work.

 

[Irajoe]

I've had the quail on water nipples and switched to soda pop bottle waterers instead. The quail dripped so much of the water with the nipples that the ground below them was always wet - which greatly increased the smell. With the soda pop bottle waterers (cheap on ebay), it's a nearly dry environment. I keep two 2-liter bottles of water for every 4 quail and it's enought water for at least a week. When the temps go below freezing at night, I keep replacement bottles (with waterers) handy to replace the frozen ones...which thaw out during the day and become the next day's replacement bottles.

 

[JM25]

I use water feeders like these because they are more open than the ones with the metal tips and I find that the younger birds can more easily figure them out! They also get so much less dirty than the open water feeders I’ve used.

 

[PingoBags]

I use water feeders like these because they are more open than the ones with the metal tips and I find that the younger birds can more easily figure them out! They also get so much less dirty than the open water feeders I’ve used.

They would work great in the summer months. What are they called?
If you get cold temps where you live, you might need to use something else.
Ice expanding might crack them.

 

[JM25]

They would work great in the summer months. What are they called?
If you get cold temps where you live, you might need to use something else.
Ice expanding might crack them.

We have our buttons in an indoor aviary, so fortunately no worries about the ice! I’m not sure what those are called, but Petco has them in the hamster and other small pet section. I also think they have some in the bird section!

 

[Heather Christensen]

I use water feeders like these because they are more open than the ones with the metal tips and I find that the younger birds can more easily figure them out! They also get so much less dirty than the open water feeders I’ve used.

I saw some of those in the pet store recenty and wondered if they'd be a good option. I've got two water bottles with the metal tips in there now, at slightly different heights. The two Tibetans have figured out how to use them. Now if my other two quail could work it out I could get rid of the water dispenser; I am getting so sick of having to clean it out twice a day!

 

[JM25]

I saw some of those in the pet store recenty and wondered if they'd be a good option. I've got two water bottles with the metal tips in there now, at slightly different heights. The two Tibetans have figured out how to use them. Now if my other two quail could work it out I could get rid of the water dispenser; I am getting so sick of having to clean it out twice a day!

I hear you! I would definitely recommend the ones I posted! It’s the only water setup my buttons and coturnix haven’t been able to make filthy!

 

[PingoBags]

They do look like great little waterers, maybe I can find some bigger ones for the summer, less filling. They look to be external waterers, my old ones were internal.

My current waterer is a heated 5 gallon external bucket but because I have to pump the water to the quails, even when the heater is off, it starts to warm the water if the ambient temperature is at or above breezing, because the pump is slightly warm. I insulated everything so it doesn't take much to raise the water temp.


It seems to be consistent when heating water using only a 100w bulb.
Took 53 min to heat the water when the ambient temp was -13.
52 min when the ambient temp was only -3.
Two logs from yesterday

2018-01-03 05:32 / Water Temp 8.0C / Coop Temp -13.13C / Is heat on True
2018-01-03 06:25 / Water Temp 10.0C / Coop Temp -12.69C / Is heat on False

2018-01-03 14:01 / Water Temp 8.0C / Coop Temp -3.0C / Is heat on True
2018-01-03 14:53 / Water Temp 10.0C / Coop Temp -2.56C / Is heat on False

 

[Danny C.]

Thank you, I'll try that. It's a bit awkward at the moment, as I have a mix of breeds and their size differences are getting more pronounced. The pharoah and the Texas A&M are a lot taller than the two Tibetans.[/QUOTE
This is what I use for my bobwhites. $2 plastic container with lid and cut holes big enough to put heads in. Also did with water to. True freezes up but just break it out and fill back. So much cleaner and no poop!