How loud are quail?

[Joshaeus]

A somewhat self-explanatory question, but oh well...how loud are quail? Are they quiet enough to be permitted in many apartments?

 

[elch]

Coturnix aren't very loud. I don't know about other types of quail.

 

[falconertomt]

I have a Senegal Parrot, and a Coturnix is no louder than it. They are not as piercing as a parrot trying to get attention. Gambel's/California can be louder than a Couturnix. I do not know about button, or some of the other species. I would worry more about your appartment management letting you keep a few quail more than noise. They are generally not loud, and certainly not repeated (like a dog barking or poorly behaved parrot).

 

[Chicken-Farmer]

Loud, no. But a bit stinky if you are going to keep them inside. Not really a foul stink, more of ammonia smell. Just be sure to clean often if you are going to keep them inside.

Chicken-Farmer

 

[Joshaeus]

Loud, no. But a bit stinky if you are going to keep them inside. Not really a foul stink, more of ammonia smell. Just be sure to clean often if you are going to keep them inside.

Chicken-Farmer

No prob! I was actually planning on changing some of the bird's bedding daily, and using a vinegar solution on the cage once a week. Speaking of which...do quail need time out of their cage?

 

[Chicken-Farmer]

They don't "need" time out of their cage. They probably wouldn't mind outside of their cage time, beware that they will poop everywhere.

Chicken-Farmer

 

[dc3085]

Sound shouldn't be an issue if they are happy. I have 30 hens and 6-7 roosters and I might hear a couple of crows a day out of them. If your just after eggs you don't even need a rooster and the only sound the hens make is a cricket noise, and they only do it when they want something or get mad.

You'll also want a skirt around the cage they dust bathe a lot and when they do they throw stuff everywhere. I have a couple pairs of buttons inside and I just use the plastic cage skirts from the pet store to keep the sand in

You'll really want to stick with coturnix if eggs are you deal. They lay every day until the molt so you can get as many as 300 eggs a year naturally per hen. No other quail comes close.

If eggs aren't a concern, button quail come in more colors than any other and some of them are absolutely striking. however their eggs are tiny and they never tame down, you will only ever be the food monster to them. Coturnix actually can be made into pets and you can't really do that with other quail.

 

[Joshaeus]

Sound shouldn't be an issue if they are happy. I have 30 hens and 6-7 roosters and I might hear a couple of crows a day out of them. If your just after eggs you don't even need a rooster and the only sound the hens make is a cricket noise, and they only do it when they want something or get mad. 

You'll also want a skirt around the cage they dust bathe a lot and when they do they throw stuff everywhere. I have a couple pairs of buttons inside and I just use the plastic cage skirts from the pet store to keep the sand in

You'll really want to stick with coturnix if eggs are you deal. They lay every day until the molt so you can get as many as 300 eggs a year naturally per hen. No other quail comes close.

If eggs aren't a concern, button quail come in more colors than any other and some of them are absolutely striking. however their eggs are tiny and they never tame down, you will only ever be the food monster to them. Coturnix actually can be made into pets and you can't really do that with other quail.  

Ok. What should I give them so that they can take a dust bath? How many quail could I keep in, say, a 4 foot by 2 foot cage?

 

[dc3085]

You can fit 6-8 in there depending on personalities. I keep most of mine outside in sand bottomed pens, but for my stackable cages I use those danish cookie tins(not sure if you know what i mean) and fill them play sand from home depot. Its like $4.95 for a 50 lb bag. You can usually get the cookie tins at thrift stores. Cat littler boxes work good too.

You will want to find some way to elevate your food and water dishes. If you raise them up 3" off the ground it will keep the quail from wasting all their food (they scratch it out of the bowl) Also it keeps them from pooping in their food and water.

 

[Joshaeus]

Could a large storage bin with cover and one side openings covered with 1/2 inch wire mesh work for such a stackable cage?