Coop advice

[stevenmwilliams]

Hello,

I've been researching quail for almost a year now and finally nearing completion of my first coop. I got a basic frame from eBay that had been used for roofing training for a bargain £10 and have been converting it over the last week. It has half inch galvanised wire for the floor with thick enough beams in between for the quail to get off the wire.

I have one door left to make and then I need to add some legs to get it off the ground. I was wondering if people have advice for now high to have the coop off the ground? I'm in the UK with a fully enclosed garden so biggest predators are likely to be rats or the local cats.

Also any advice on feeders and waterers and good UK quail breeders would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[buttonquailtx]

Height is not an issue with cats, rats, or snakes. So, the only consideration in that area for you is ease of access. I like my wire bottom pens to be about 3 to 4 feet from ground to the bottom of the pen. This height allows me to easily rake and shovel the droppings to add to the compost bin. It also makes it easier for me to feed and water, since I don't have to bend down. I suggest a height that allows you access to all parts of the pen, but not to high as to make it unstable.

Good Luck! And Kudos for taking time to research before jumping into the hobby!

 

[Julbrod]

Looks great. As for waterers I'm switching to the nipple type because the common tray waterers with the inverted jar on top seem to get dirty water daily. As for feeders I'm sticking with the common tray feeder and I like the idea of the pvc pipe with a cap on top to feed continuously for several days.

 

[pbrmuddin]

I have a big chicken coop is it ok to set up a pen inside with chickens they wont be running with one another just under same roof

 

[Mommysongbird]

I have a big chicken coop is it ok to set up a pen inside with chickens they wont be running with one another just under same roof

I was told to not have quails near our chickens and ducks. They are suppose to be a least a few feet away from them. So I wouldn't put them in there.

 

[pbrmuddin]

Ok i heard not together i didnt know if anyone else has thanks

 

[Weirdness555]

In the UK quail and chickens together isn't an issue as long as they can't get to each other. If they were loose with the chickens they would get bullied and probably killed. The issues with chickens carrying disease that spread to quail is an issue in the US, and it is not an issue over here.

Our quail live on the ground quite happily, with no trouble from rats or cats, so it all comes down to personal preference, as said above

Hope this helps, let us know when you get your new quail

Also, where abouts are you? Nice to meet a fellow Englishman on here tehe

 

[Weirdness555]

Also, you didn't mention wanting advice on this, but the trays you can get for under pot plants make great dust baths, and allow the quail somewhere else to get off of the wire.

 

[pbrmuddin]

Thanks for the info it would be great if they could be in same coop but not wanting take any chances

 

[Weirdness555]

If you've been keeping them close together and walking between the two with the same boots and such on, then I'd imagine they'll be fine.