Quail instinctively scratch ,right at birth chicks will stand in a pile of feed and rev up the legs as if digging for some missed morsel , me thinks all bird types with toes do the same. They dust themselves to fluff the feathers and get rid of mites even if there aren't any. If you can find a tub or something that will hold the sand go for it is great for their hygiene and the feet tell a lot about a bird and its keep.I have a plan for the sand box in my other post if any one wants it . I have about a dozen of them so it was worth making them to purpose , the angled sides allow easy entry and deflect and hold some of the sand in place when the are fluffing furiously .For anyone with woodworking equip its pretty easy .
