I just found a dead hen

[Nabiki]

Is that how she broke her neck?

Quite possibly it was what you saw. Another bird standing on it or jumping on it. Quail also tend to get more aggressive if they're over crowded. Since you have jumbos, I would definitely give them more than just 1 square foot/bird.

 

[le_bwah]

Quail can absolutely break their necks on the ceilings of low cages—all a low ceiling does is discourage them from jumping/flying. Always aim to give your birds more than 1 square foot per. You are in complete control of how well they live. So give them good lives, even if their final destination is the dinner table.

 

[RUNuts]

MyShire does recommend 3 birds per square foot for the Jumbos. Really dense for high production. He does cull any aggression. Your choice, but they seem happier with more space. YMMV

I have found quail dead for no apparent reason. Everything looked fine. Their head are floppy no matter how they die.

 

[Kiki]

MyShire does recommend 3 birds per square foot for the Jumbos. Really dense for high production. He does cull any aggression. Your choice, but they seem happier with more space. YMMV

3 birds per square foot is NUTS.

 

[RUNuts]

3 birds per square foot is NUTS.

I didn't say I did it. I'm doing 1.6 birds per square foot and doing well.

 

[FloorCandy]

3 birds per square foot is NUTS.

Remember that the ratio has more flexibility with larger areas, so in 30 square feet you can keep more than the ratio because most will huddle in one area, with a few wandering at a time. But 1 square foot for 1 bird seems cruel. Like living in a shoe box.

I imagine MyShire probably has them in larger breeding groups in large areas, more so than someone keeping a few in a yard or balcony. I’ve seen in their videos that their barn looks like it’s the size of a football field if I’m remembering correctly. Plus there’s a big difference between a hobby and a business. It’s the same with any kind of breeder, once you’re a big operation with employees and costs, things are different. For a hobbyist better conditions are generally expected.

 

[Elie And Her Flock]

if they don't have enough space they often start hurting each other.

 

[Kiki]

Remember that the ratio has more flexibility with larger areas, so in 30 square feet you can keep more than the ratio because most will huddle in one area, with a few wandering at a time. But 1 square foot for 1 bird seems cruel. Like living in a shoe box.

I imagine MyShire probably has them in larger breeding groups in large areas, more so than someone keeping a few in a yard or balcony. I’ve seen in their videos that their barn looks like it’s the size of a football field if I’m remembering correctly. Plus there’s a big difference between a hobby and a business. It’s the same with any kind of breeder, once you’re a big operation with employees and costs, things are different. For a hobbyist better conditions are generally expected.

No, he doesn't keep them in large groups in large cages but business is business, right?

If you want quail as pets you should not keep them crammed into a small space, period.

 

[mdees88]

Don't get bummed out, the same people who guilt trip you for keeping 2 birds per square foot would likely still guilt trip you for keeping 1.75 birds for square foot, 1.5 birds per square foot, 1.25 birds per square foot, and would quickly let you know that 1 Sq ft is a recommended MINIMUM and you really shouldn't even go that low. That said, it IS good advice, the more room you can give them the better it works out for both you and the birds.

I really don't care how many you keep in your cage. As long as they're fed, watered, are living in sanitary conditions and aren't fighting each other I'm happy. It's your business, not anyone else's.

I've kept plenty of quail at 2 birds per square foot and haven't really had any issues. But as @FloorCandy alluded to, the bigger the cage the more you can get away with. 2 birds per square foot is the same as keeping 1 bird in less than a shoe box, obviously I wouldn't do that. But I've kept over 30 birds in 15 Sq ft before and when they all chill in the same corner 80% of their floor space isn't even being used, so they do have room to roam a little and try and get away from another bird who's bothering them. I keep my breeders at 1-1.2 birds per Sq ft which is 5-6 birds in a 24"x30" cage. I built my cages these dimensions on purpose. The problem with prebuilt cages is each compartment is not necessarily sized with the proper male/female ratio in mind. Sure you could comfortably fit 3 quail in a 3 Sq ft cage but two females and a male really shouldn't be kept together, so you run into a dilemma.

Now to get back on track. You'll have quail randomly die for reasons unkown. If you think the neck is broken, I wouldn't think it happened from boinking it's head since the ceiling is so low. I would probably lean more towards the aggressive bird you saw standing on another ones neck.

As others have recommended said I would sit out there and watch them for a couple hours and pay close attention to the aggressive hen. Or you could set up a camera to monitor them.

I've had an aggessive quail before that couldn't live with 4 Sq ft per bird without attacking other quail. So you may have to cull her if you determine she is the problem....

 

[Kiki]

I didn't say I did it. I'm doing 1.6 birds per square foot and doing well.

I know Nutty.