Can we talk about keeping quail on the ground?

[deerman]

Two thing i found out the hard way about rabbit hutch type of cages for birds.

1. Make sure you have wire around the bottom all the way to the ground, group of my quail got their legs eaten off by a coon. Thru 1/2 in. hardware .

2. If to tall, they will blow over in high wind(top heavy)
Mine are two feet off the ground now, with 2x4 weld wire around the legs.

 

[kingmt]

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I never thought about that but maybe.

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If you keep moving them to a new place in the yard then you are just increasing there chance of finding worm eggs. I'm not saying it is the wrong way of caring for your birds but you may have a false sense of security.

 

[deerman]

beetle,earwig,and grasshopper, are host for cecal worm.

ants,beetle,earthworm,slug,snails,and termite , are host for tapeworms.

Birds can live with worms, but will do much better if wormed 3 times a year.

 

[Emilys3guppies]

So how can anyone eat any eggs without worrying about worms that might be trapped within the shell? Either you can't eat the eggs cause the birds have just been wormed, or they are at risk, is that right?

Now, tell me, is this a real risk or a minute risk...I know we all calculate it differently...are there any articles or stats?

I'm leaning towards hutches now though. Wire bottoms with a tray underneath...1/2" hardware cloth.

 

[laputa]

I use a rabbit hutch, the floor where the quail stays is about 2 feet off ground. Then between that and the ground, I have a second layer of 1/2 inch hardware cloth to protect them from predator. However, what I found out is, not all poop would fall right through, some will stick to the lower mesh, and they can grow quickly into a thick layer of poo within a few days.

So I had to rework the lower mesh, to cut every inch in both ways, and make them into 1x1 inch holes. Even that, there is still enough poo to pile up that's worth a good cleaning every week.

I had another cage (actually two layers, one stack on top of another), that use pulling tray beneath the cage. What I learned is the tray can not be too close to the cage, otherwise there is not enough space, and you have to empty them very often.

 

[deerman]

You can keep quail on the ground, but alot harder to keep clean, and they will need alot more room.

With just a few have seen bobwhite set their own eggs. Now I mean alot of room for 6 birds.

The dropping on my pens fall thru to the ground, but the 2x4 weld wire does keep the coons out.

 

[pringle]

Lol sorry for being noobish but how do you deworm birds?

 

[JJMR794]

Internal Parasitic Worms - Piparazine From The Feed Store--- Use As Directed On The Label.

There Are Also Many Products For External Parasites-- Mites. Or You Can "shake And Bake" Them. Just Place The Bird In An Old Feed Bag Sprinkle A Small Amount Of Seven Dust On Them And Close The Bag--- Gently Shke For A Few Moments And Release The Bird --- Who Will Now Look Like A Ghost Version Of What You Started With And Act Rather Drunk For A Few Moments

A Little Side Bar Here--- I Have Never Seen Gamebirds Get External Parasites. Not Sure If They Are Susceptible Or Not...

 

[kingmt]

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If a egg has worms in it you will know it. You may never eat eggs again but you will know. There is alternatives to the medications, I have heard on here that you can feed them red pepper to keep them from getting worms but I don't remember if it is a cure or not. Red pepper is already in exotic bird feed. It also keeps the rats out.

 

[eames]

If you wish to raise quail on the ground, can the soil be treated for worms and parasites.