How many Coturnix can fit and setup questions?

[QuailTail]

This run has a wire bottom (to keep rabbits/Guinea Pigs from digging out) that I think is WAY too big holed. That's a concern I have as well...I might need to put a finer mesh underneath but I also didn't want to stifle their ability to scratch around on the sand/litter etc. I was thinking maybe nothing would burrow under there but now that I'm thinking about it digging through some sand underneath and crawling in doesn't sound hard at all for a weasel or rat

I've seen some people put trays inside their runs so that you can fill them with sand/dirt/mulch/whatever you're lining the cage with and that way they can scratch around without the mesh getting in the way. Also seems super easy to clean since you can just lift the trays out!

 

[FloorCandy]

That clinches it, I'll definitely look into wrapping the whole run with hardware cloth then (I have read your thread about your birds, I'm so sorry that must have been devastating ). My son is desirous to have responsibility of the quails and he is very concerned for their comfort and safety, I know he will likely learn some sad lessons as some may not make it but we've talked about animal stewardship and I think he is ready

I've been toying with the idea of building a tight pvc and hardware cloth "aviary" that goes entirely around their raised bed home to:
1. Keep vermin away from them entirely (hopefully)
2. Provide a full rain shelter roof
3. Prevent young children attempting to care for them from accidentally losing some when they open doors

Does that seem nuts? I can tell this project is already growing beyond my initial expectations

I do a lot of building with pvc and hardware cloth. I bought some little clamps at Home Depot, and I cinched the doors in tight, last night I put 2 quail in the pen overnight, and they were both alive and well this morning, so it was definitely the small gap in the door.

 

[Caseyvdb]

If you going to use that rabbet cage I would use mouse and snake proof wire mesh 6x6mm to cover the sides and bottom. A cage 900x600mm 3'x2' hold at least 6 (5 female and 1 male for breading). For eggs and meat you can double that
Out of the 25 eggs you can expect at least half of that and if you lucky 70%. Humidity and temp is extremely important and if you don't have a automatic incubator you have to turn the eggs by hand at least every 2 to 3 hrs

 

[Chicken poppy]

If you going to use that rabbet cage I would use mouse and snake proof wire mesh 6x6mm to cover the sides and bottom. A cage 900x600mm 3'x2' hold at least 6 (5 female and 1 male for breading). For eggs and meat you can double that
Out of the 25 eggs you can expect at least half of that and if you lucky 70%. Humidity and temp is extremely important and if you don't have a automatic incubator you have to turn the eggs by hand at least every 2 to 3 hrs

I would recommend a bit more hens, i find 1 rooster - 5 hens can cause the rooster to be a bit of a bully in some cases, not all. 7 hens seems to work better in my opinion as a minimum if you can. and out of 25 eggs youd get a 50% hatch rate yes, youd also get a 50% rooster rate roughly. so saying that say 8 made it you can expect 4 to be roosters, thats how it worked my last batch.