Head bouncing quail

[TelfTheElf]

Hi there

I once had quail and one of them we named Head-Banger because she kept jumping up to the roof and smacking its head on the roof. We had to put it down as it broke its neck doing this. I would like some more quail and I want to know how to stop this happening. they had plenty of space and they had plenty of fresh air as well. or was it just something wrong with the quails brain?!

I cant remember what make quail they were but they were the same kind of colors as a female pheasant and were about 6" 'square' if you know what i mean.

Any replies are welcome.

Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[Melky]

Here is an article for quail, check out section on boinking head prevention. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-issues-and-keeping-your-quail-healthy.67379/

 

[TelfTheElf]

Thanks Melky!!

 

[Melky]

Thanks Melky!!

No problem.

 

[TelfTheElf]

Very helpful artiicle...thanks again!

 

[Quincy Buttons]

Hello, I'm not sure if you raise your quails indoors or outdoors, but I can recommend using a veil fabric as a ceiling for a cage if it's indoors! It's soft and very flexible so if a quail jumps the veil will just stretch slowly before letting them down instead slamming on a hard, coated net. It still lets in air while breaking up some drafts (it wont hold very well outside though). My button cage is actually an upside-down pool table with cardboard walls and a gate, but I use a lot of clips and staples to attach the veil ceiling to the walls. For an outdoor one I think sticking a thick layer of large-bubble bubble wrap on a wooden ceiling, with maybe a thin layer of felt added is alright, but I'm not totally positive on this. Good luck with everything!

 

[TelfTheElf]

Thanks very much.
There were outside in a tiered cage.

 

[Roomi the quail]

Maybe putting some cloth/vinyl/plastic bag/etc in the cage might help. Just anchor them to the corners, hammock style, about a feet below the roof. The idea is to prevent quails from hitting their heads directly on the hard surface. Anything reasonably flexible would work. This way they could still boink but there wont be much damage to their brain. Personally I had no success with low ceiling, extra lights or other stuff, decreasing the impact was the only thing that proved to be successful.

 

[TelfTheElf]

Thanks Roomi very helpful!!