Housing Question/Advice

[firechicken76]

Hi all,

New to quail. I currently have 2 groups in my garage in wire cages, but I want to get them outside in an aviary. Looking at starting with a 4'x8' aviary (6' tall).

One of my groups is 5 females and 1 male jumbo whites. They're about 9-10 weeks old.

The other group is 4 females and 4 males jumbo browns. They're about 4 weeks old. Will be eating some of the males.

So the question I have is can I mix these 2 groups together in the aviary, or will mixing colors cause problems? Definitely won't combine them until they're of similar size.

 

[Nabiki]

Mixing colours can be hit or miss. It sounds like you'll have close to an even number of each colour, so it may work. In my experience if you have mostly one colour and just one or two of another, the minority will get seriously picked on.

It won't hurt to try, but keep a close eye on them for a while.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I had way more aggression issues in small pens (5 birds in 6 square feet) than I do with a large group pen. When adding birds, at night or in groups of 4 or more has worked best, otherwise everybody has to come attack the new guy who’s freaking out at the change already. I love the group pen on deep litter, getting eggs is annoying but the birds are happier and cleanup and maintenance is way less work, overall a good move, though I’d still keep a few cages around for chicks, sick or injured birds, special breeding projects, etc. I’m glad you can get them outside too, they love it but it is only feasible here in the summer!

 

[pac]

This is sort of along the lines of what I was going to ask just now. I hope you don't mind me piggybacking.

Along with, what do you do about food with the age disparity? Starter vs adult?

ETA: Maybe this is why a youtuber said that he keeps everyone on starter. He puts younger birds in with the older ones.

 

[firechicken76]

Mixing colours can be hit or miss. It sounds like you'll have close to an even number of each colour, so it may work. In my experience if you have mostly one colour and just one or two of another, the minority will get seriously picked on.

It won't hurt to try, but keep a close eye on them for a while.

Got it. Thank you!

Turns out my vent sexing on the jumbo whites may have been wrong. I kept what I thought was the least aggressive male...and found 7 eggs today

 

[firechicken76]

I had way more aggression issues in small pens (5 birds in 6 square feet) than I do with a large group pen. When adding birds, at night or in groups of 4 or more has worked best, otherwise everybody has to come attack the new guy who’s freaking out at the change already. I love the group pen on deep litter, getting eggs is annoying but the birds are happier and cleanup and maintenance is way less work, overall a good move, though I’d still keep a few cages around for chicks, sick or injured birds, special breeding projects, etc. I’m glad you can get them outside too, they love it but it is only feasible here in the summer!

Got it! Add new ones at night just like chickens.

Do you have any pro tips for the aviary? I am concerned about the egg collection situation.

Ah that's a bummer! I'm going to keep a few cages for younger, smaller birds until I have multiple aviaries. That's the plan at least. Luckily I'm in a climate that rarely sees a freeze, so I'm going to leave them outside all year.

 

[firechicken76]

This is sort of along the lines of what I was going to ask just now. I hope you don't mind me piggybacking.

Along with, what do you do about food with the age disparity? Starter vs adult?

ETA: Maybe this is why a youtuber said that he keeps everyone on starter. He puts younger birds in with the older ones.

Not at all!

Mine just started laying maybe 2ish weeks ago, and I've kept them on the starter (28%). I occasionally mix in a 20% chick starter. And I have free choice calcium available. They all seem to be laying an egg a day. But I'm sure all of these wonderful folks with more quail experience can be much more helpful!

 

[Nabiki]

This is sort of along the lines of what I was going to ask just now. I hope you don't mind me piggybacking.

Along with, what do you do about food with the age disparity? Starter vs adult?

ETA: Maybe this is why a youtuber said that he keeps everyone on starter. He puts younger birds in with the older ones.

If you keep them on starter for their entire lives, they may develop health issues. If you plan to butcher them by the time they're no more than 12-18 months (at the latest, more likely less than 6 months), then you may not see too many.

 

[pac]

12-18 months?!
That gives me a lot more time than I was thinking. I thought these decisions had to be made with 12 weeks being an outside time frame.

Thanks.
I'm going to put my two older hens back on starter and start moving my five week old hens in with them.
Eventually everyone will be on adult feed. Well before 12 months.

 

[Nabiki]

12-18 months?!
That gives me a lot more time than I was thinking. I thought these decisions had to be made with 12 weeks being an outside time frame.

Thanks.
I'm going to put my two older hens back on starter and start moving my five week old hens in with them.
Eventually everyone will be on adult feed. Well before 12 months.

Normal butchering happens in 12 weeks, but commercial breeders will replace their adults fairly quickly and will butcher them when they are full adults. Quail, unlike chicken don't get inedibly tough as they age.