Housing

[Estelleannette]

Hi everyone! First time raising Bobwhite quail. We have 12 chicks going on 3 weeks old. What can you recommend for housing them? We have a decent hen house but were looking at rabbit hutches? How many would we need? Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

@Kiki or @Nabiki may be able to help.

 

[Nabiki]

While you can keep them in rabbit hutches, they will be happier on the ground. You want to give them at least one square foot/bird, more is better. Remember to subtract space used by feeders, waterers, sand baths, and hiding places.

 

[Estelleannette]

While you can keep them in rabbit hutches, they will be happier on the ground. You want to give them at least one square foot/bird, more is better. Remember to subtract space used by feeders, waterers, sand baths, and hiding places.

You think they all can be in the same enclosure? I’d rather have an Aviary style but we were thinking rabbit hutches so we could move them to the garage in the winter.

 

[Nabiki]

You think they all can be in the same enclosure? I’d rather have an Aviary style but we were thinking rabbit hutches so we could move them to the garage in the winter.

It depends on how large the enclosure is. From what I understand, bobwhites do best in pairs, so you should keep that in mind while deciding on housing.

I'm not sure if they're as cold hardy as coturnix (@007Sean will know), I imagine that they can handle pretty low temperatures as long as they are dry and out of the wind, preferably with small shelters that they can huddle in.

I wouldn't keep 12 bobwhite in your average rabbit hutch, though. Unless it's much larger than normal, it's probably too small for that many birds.