Do you keep a sand bath in your quail cage all the time?

[HillGuy]

Mine are on the ground, but the pen has a wire bottom covered with sand. I put straw on top of that. Tried a separate container but they didn't use it. They go crazy after cleanings, but seem to bath in whatever is there.

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

The quail pens have both deep litter flooring and a sandbath. I usually sift out the sand 2x a week and do a full or partial sand replacement 1x a week. I rinse the sand and drain the dirty water into the lawn, which LOVES the fertilizer. The solids go into the compost bin or are buried deep in the ground before planting.

 

[RoosterML]

I don't give them a dustbath. Honestly, they never used it when I did have one, and it gives them some more space in their pens

Sorry I don’t quite understand this. How does adding a dust bath take space away? You’re not removing floor space.

 

[RoosterML]

Mine have a dust bath at all times. It allows them a place to get off the wire also. BUT having the dust bath in all the time defeats the purpose of having a roll out cage. They lay in the sand box.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Sorry I don’t quite understand this. How does adding a dust bath take space away? You’re not removing floor space.

I basically am. It's sand, which they just avoid. Once I took the bin out, they would use that corner like the rest of their pen instead of avoiding it

 

[RoosterML]

I basically am. It's sand, which they just avoid. Once I took the bin out, they would use that corner like the rest of their pen instead of avoiding it

Interesting mine were skittish at first but once they figured out what it was they love it

 

[LadyLaurelin]

Mine have a dust bath at all times. It allows them a place to get off the wire also. BUT having the dust bath in all the time defeats the purpose of having a roll out cage. They lay in the sand box.

Mine always lay in their sandbox too.