hide box?

[chansman]

Quick newbie question...so we have three Coturnix in the cage and a bucket with a hole in it for them to get in...they don't like it...what do you guys use? I was thinking about a rubbermaid container with a hole in it but I'm not sure they will use it either...

Thanks,

 

[paddock36]

I had them for a short time. I kept them in an old rabbit cage that had nest boxes built on the side. I put hay inside the box and built a small wire lid that fit inside the box, sort of like a shelf so I could open the box from the outside but they couldn't fly out if they were in the box. They laid in the box with no problem.

 

[Teach97]

never used one with cotournix...had bunches....

 

[JJMR794]

Most Coturnix Could Care Less About Where They Lay Eggs... In Fact Many Barely Slow Down To Lay Them. I Have Never Had Any That Used Nest Boxes With Any Certainty

 

[kahlertm]

I have used washed out milk jugs/water jugs. I cut a hole big enough for the quail to get in. I put a 1/2 inch of sand in the bottom. (the milk jugs ..plastic kind) have flat sides, so they stay stable while a quail sits in there, dustbathes, or lays an egg.

I have also used Peter Marshalls Grass Cave (made for rabbits) you can find them on Amazon or on the big box pet stores online, like petco etc.

I also wash and cut a hole in the top of my used empty cat litter jugs. Once again, they lay flat, are covered on all sides but the hole you have cut on the top large enough for quail.

My little trio, and now a new batch of 5 4wk olds use the milk jug and cat litter jug sand boxes alot. I also offer the used containers from organic baby spinach. You know how they sell them prepackaged in the clear plastic box with lid? At my house it serves two purposes. We all eat the baby spinach (human and quail) then I rinse and put 1/2 inch to an inch of sand mixed with pine shavings in it, and viola! Small sandbox for teen and preteen quail.

Get creative and look around for things that you would normally throw away and cut a nice big hole for them to climb into.

Many animals do not like to go into things that are one way in, one way out. It is threatening to the animal. I have solved many a cat not using the litter box client, this way. I move the cat box out, so that the cat can see any "attackers" in the house, whether it be the dog, or the other cats. They then feel safe enough to use the restroom real quick and leave.
I digress... but you get the point.


Tonya

 

[shelleyd2008]

I've used cardboard boxes mostly. Most of them used it but only when it was cold.

If you are wanting something for them to lay in just make sure you keep a dust pan in there with 'fresh' dusting material (dirt, sand, ashes, etc.), mine usually always lay in their dusting pans

 

[chansman]

Well, I wasn't as concerned about them having a place to lay eggs as I was a place to get out of the elements. I like the idea of the milk jug though.

 

[JJMR794]

You'll Find Quail Are Real Keen On The Idea Of Shelter

 

[aprophet]

for shelter I have my cages under a lean to, the roll out cages make for some really clean eggs

 

[Rozzie]

My coturnix e don't really have hide boxes, but they are in large pens with much more than 1 square foot per bird (more like 2-4 square foot).

I do give them shallow thrift store baskets. They lay most of their eggs in them. It's interesting, though, that if someone neglects collecting eggs (perhaps I'm away for a couple of days...son will water and feed but always neglects to gather eggs...) then they start laying elsewhere.

They also have some other places in their pens that they can feel sheltered from each other. The pen that has a lower female to male ratio has better hiding places and the girls DO use them, esp. one girl...