Coturnix Quail

[Amandakims]

Oh, you should look into fermenting their feed. Less food waste, they eat (and poop) less overall, and makes their poop less smelly.

Do you have a preferred way to ferment your quail feed?

 

[Deleted member 551573]

Every

Everything I read said how little space they need. I knew that was the reason I guess I just needed to hear it. I bought a rabbit hutch and added an extension. Should I keep the same concept except bigger or make something like the chicken coup and run? Something on the ground is a pain because I need to make it much more predator proof but if that is what you think. Thanks!

I use concrete pavers around the outside of my enclosure and then bolt it to the pavers, stops anything digging under and in my opinion quail are much happier on the ground being able to dig and forage in the dirt.

 

[Claire A]

I hatched some Coturnix quail. I put them outside in a coup with a screen bottom. I am finding them extremely dirty both inside the cage and cleaning under the cage. They dirty everything. I feel cruel because I keep removing things like the pan with sand. They love taking a sand bath but within hours its disgusting. I put greens in the cage and even that gets covered. Much harder to keep clean than my chickens. Am I expecting too much? I know I clean my chicken coop way more than necessary. Any tips? They are five weeks and I think they may be gone before my first egg. I have seven birds in a cage that is 4 feet long and 20 inches wide. Thanks

Density is a factor - but low protein levels can also cause lots of poop. I would suggest you check your feed. Quail grow fast and need high protein - I try to aim for 28% when growing. If they do not get this requirement they will eat lots and poop out what they do not need.

Until today, I had 15 4 week olds in a 4 x 2 ft enclosure and they were quite happy. The poop situation was very manageable. This makes me think you may be feeding a diet too low in protein.

As for veg - try to put it in a container with a hole cut out so they can just get there head in there.

Hope this helps