Free roaming quail in safe area?

[featheredplanets]

I’m enjoying owning my quail (only had them a day and they’re laying already!) but I’d like to let them in the garden to eat the weeds. It is a safe garden. We had rabbits up till last year so every nook is covered in mesh. I’ll be outside gardening or painting so they’ll be supervised. Is it okay to let them out? No predators. Neighbours cat sometimes walks on the fence but my dog will be in the garden as she’s good with birds - but not with cats.

 

[Nabiki]

If there's no way for them to get out and you're keeping an eye on them, I'd try it. They might get stressed at the change of scenery and stop laying, or they might enjoy it.

If you have plants that you want to keep in there, though, be aware that they won't care about the difference, and they'll eat them all.

 

[featheredplanets]

If there's no way for them to get out and you're keeping an eye on them, I'd try it. They might get stressed at the change of scenery and stop laying, or they might enjoy it.

If you have plants that you want to keep in there, though, be aware that they won't care about the difference, and they'll eat them all.

Yes they’ve all ready been at the lavender next to their cage lol. Put them on the shed floor today whilst cleaning them out and they seemed to want to go out, the door is mesh so they can see straight through. Will give it a go when I paint the bench Wednesday.

 

[featheredplanets]

@Nabiki Also, today I got a 7g egg compared to three 14g eggs, is that normal for new layers, like with chickens? Yesterday they laid five 13-14g eggs.

 

[Nabiki]

@Nabiki Also, today I got a 7g egg compared to three 14g eggs, is that normal for new layers, like with chickens? Yesterday they laid five 13-14g eggs.

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New layers are more likely to lay odd eggs. Make sure they have enough protein and a side dish of calcium. If you use oyster shell, make sure it's crushed small enough for the quail to eat comfortably. Mine prefer crushed egg shell to oyster shell.

 

[aart]

Huh, I didn't know you could 'free range' quail.
Interested to see how this works out...do let us know @featheredplanets .

 

[Nabiki]

Huh, I didn't know you could 'free range' quail.
Interested to see how this works out...do let us know @featheredplanets .

@featheredplanets isn't talking about actually free ranging them. They'll be in an enclosed garden bed. If you try to do real free range, the quail will fly/run away and you'll likely not see them again.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

They will fly away.

 

[NatJ]

I’m enjoying owning my quail (only had them a day and they’re laying already!) but I’d like to let them in the garden to eat the weeds. It is a safe garden. We had rabbits up till last year so every nook is covered in mesh. I’ll be outside gardening or painting so they’ll be supervised. Is it okay to let them out? No predators. Neighbours cat sometimes walks on the fence but my dog will be in the garden as she’s good with birds - but not with cats.

Does the garden have a roof? Quail have wings, rabbits don't.

If they get scared by anything--including the dog--they might fly.

Since you only got them a day ago, I would recommend keeping them in a cage/pen for AT LEAST a week so they can learn where "home" is--preferably a cage they can see through, so they can learn about the new surroundings without being able to go somewhere and get lost. (If the garden is securely covered, then the whole garden is a "cage" for this purpose, and you can let them in it anytime it seems good to you.)

Do quail come home to roost at night like chickens do? It's very handy when the birds just go in, and the person only has to shut the door! Otherwise you may have to lure them back with feed, or herd them in (both easier when you've already spent some days or weeks taking care of them, so they see you as familiar and a source of good things, instead of thinking you want to eat them.)

 

[Nabiki]

Do quail come home to roost at night like chickens do? It's very handy when the birds just go in, and the person only has to shut the door! Otherwise you may have to lure them back with feed, or herd them in (both easier when you've already spent some days or weeks taking care of them, so they see you as familiar and a source of good things, instead of thinking you want to eat them.)

Quail don't come home like chickens do. If a quail flies away, if you don't find it pretty much immediately, it's gone. Everything likes to eat quail.

In this case, where the garden bed is described as completely enclosed, though, it should be okay, especially since they're not being left unsupervised. I keep my quail in open bottom pens in my garden beds during the winter so they can eat weeds and fertilize. I move them to other areas of my yard when I have plants in the beds.