Chickens & Quail on same property

[camorrow]

So I’ve read enough to see that you shouldn’t have quail living with or in close proximity to your chickens, due to the potential for spreading diseases to the quail.

We’re still new to chickens but had been considering adding quail this season. Now that I’m reading more I don’t know if that’s a safe choice. We have about two acres, so it’s not a large property. There would only be able to be so much distance between the two species. Is it possible (wise/safe) to have quail and chickens at the same location, even if separated? Is merely handling one recently before handling another enough to pass coryza? Or should we just nix the idea of quail all together?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My quail are house in part of the barn chickens have 24/7 access to. But they aren't allowed to roam together. My quail are fine

 

[muddy75]

yes there is always a risk of disease from keeping multiple species. But many people keep both on same property without issue.

 

[Xouie]

Mine are in separate pens several meters apart most of the year. Some chickens will eat a quail if they can get it, but that’s the only issue I’ve ever had.

 

[FloorCandy]

My neighbors who live about 100 feet away, keep chickens. I’ve never had a problem. I have never touched or interacted with their chickens and they don’t go near my quail. There’s always the possibility of some Wild bird picking up something by their pen and dropping it near mine, but even if the distance was greater, that stuff happens. I haven’t worried about it.

 

[007Sean]

If they are seperated by enough distance and you perform a strict biosecurity protocol, ie; washing your hands before handling the birds, feeding, watering, etc.

Having seperate shoes to wear for the chicken pens and the quail pens, helps to prevent spreading disease through feces on the shoes.
Not allowing visitors into the pens, to prevent cross contamination.

You should be able to keep them.

 

[Quailobsessed]

I have both quail and chickens on a property much smaller than that. I would be more worried about the wild birds spreading diseases to my birds though.