HELP! Quail Newbies, quail have been attacked by squirrel?

[EmeryQuail]

We have 3 week old coturnix quail. they are our first quail and we are new to raising birds. We are keeping them for eggs as we eat them and feed them to our dogs (yes we love our dogs)! We have a problem though.... today we let them out into a fenced in outdoor yard during the day (second day they have been out) and something bit two of the quail and killed one.... There have been squirrels and a chipmunk hanging out around the house waiting for feed droppings.... today when the door was open they would have been able to get in with the quail to go in to eat right from the feeder. We have 1" chicken wire as the fencing (top and sides), the bottom boards along the bottom are dug into the ground... i have been told squirrels wouldn't be an issue but that dosent seem like the case. We have a live trap out now, two squirrels and a chipmunk have been relocated far away.

Has anyone else had any issues with squirrels or chipmunks being aggressive with your quail??
How do you "predator proof" your coops?
We would love for the quails to be able to be outside in a fenced in area during the day and we will shut them in the coop at night... is this possible, does anyone else do this with their quails?

thank you for your help in advanced.

 

[2chick]

Your quail might have been bitten by a eagle or hawk. Is the top closed or open? And I think you can teach them tho go back to their coop if you herd them back fora week and then they will probaly learn to go back. Mine go back to their coop at eight. Hope this helps .

 

[EmeryQuail]

The top of the fenced in area is covered in the 1inch chicken wire as well so no other birds could get down into the pen. Will try and post a pic of our pen and coop.