Does anyone raise quail on the ground?

[Fishkeeper]

That looks amazing, kinda like a zoo exhibit. Except, what are those plants that are caged in? Tomato plants are toxic, I wouldn't put them anywhere that your quail could reach.

 

[igorsMistress]

That looks amazing, kinda like a zoo exhibit. Except, what are those plants that are caged in? Tomato plants are toxic, I wouldn't put them anywhere that your quail could reach.

They don't bother the tomatoes. The cages are wrapped with chicken wire to keep them away. I provide more desirable greens regularly too.

 

[RUNuts]

My chickens mostly left the tomato leaves alone. After the first cold snap, they went to town on every leaf they could reach & a few that they jumped for.
Good stuff Maynard!

All lived through the winter.

 

[igorsMistress]

Moved the babies outside today. This is temporary housing, twice the space they had before. The heat plate is in the bin. The hwc in the rabbit hutch is too big, I'm not going to replace it as this is the last quail hatch and we're done. This was a fun project but due to time constraints and other things that are more important we'll have all the quail processed by fall. In the mean time I'm going to mulch the garden heavily with hay and use them to my advantage while I have them.

 

[le_bwah]

View attachment 1718165

Moved the babies outside today. This is temporary housing, twice the space they had before. The heat plate is in the bin. The hwc in the rabbit hutch is too big, I'm not going to replace it as this is the last quail hatch and we're done. This was a fun project but due to time constraints and other things that are more important we'll have all the quail processed by fall. In the mean time I'm going to mulch the garden heavily with hay and use them to my advantage while I have them.

Bummer you won't get to keep the quail around longer. At least they'll live well while they're here!

I'm grateful you've been sharing your quail adventure—seeing your birds enjoy plants and extra room helped me decide to expand my own enclosure. I really do think they live better on the ground.

 

[igorsMistress]

Bummer you won't get to keep the quail around longer. At least they'll live well while they're here!

I'm grateful you've been sharing your quail adventure—seeing your birds enjoy plants and extra room helped me decide to expand my own enclosure. I really do think they live better on the ground.

Thank you. I am kind of bummed and I'll continue to update here while I have them.

I agree that they seem very happy to be in a natural environment rather than caged. I can tell you care a lot about your birds and I'll continue to watch your aviary thread even when I don't have mine any more

 

[le_bwah]

Thank you. I am kind of bummed and I'll continue to update here while I have them.

I agree that they seem very happy to be in a natural environment rather than caged. I can tell you care a lot about your birds and I'll continue to watch your aviary thread even when I don't have mine any more

I love my birds (might be just a bit obsessed ). I also love seeing how everyone else raises theirs—so many things to learn and try!

 

[igorsMistress]

The pic with chickens and aloe is outside the west wall of the aviary. The aloe will help reduce wind and doesn't require a lot of water. The shade cloth goes all the way up to the top of the wall.

One of the girls got herself stuck in a tomato cage, not sure how she did that. Despite the birds best efforts the artichoke is doing well. The mexican heather is blooming and doesn't seem to interest them much although the dill I planted is toast of course.

The babies seem to enjoy their space and are feathering out. I'm grinding some of their food still but leaving some of the larger crumble in it now.

 

[igorsMistress]

Well, the chicks have begun to escape from their little run by flying over it. I removed the run and let them out with the bigs. The bigs seem to care less but I'm keeping an eye on them just to be sure. They're feathering out pretty quickly.

 

[AnotherKim]

In Texas I can get mold on the ground and half to dig it up. The humidity.

i'm in dry as a bone Arizona. It's rare to get mold on the ground here.