I know the recommended space is 1 sq ft.....

[shelleyd2008]

But how many quail could I actually keep in a 2' x 6' cage?

I am having 2-2' x 6' cages built for my coturnix.

I have a total of 12 jumbo browns (2 m, 10 f), 4 tuxedos ( 2m, 2f), 10 A&M (sex unknown), and 20 'babies', mostly goldens and tuxedos, with a few red looking tibetans in there.

The plan is to set up the two cages side by side, with a peaked roof over them to block the sun. Then in the winter, I can hang tarps on the outsides of the 'building' to keep what little bit of cold out.

I could also have a 2' x 4' cage built, or two of them for that matter, to keep colors seperated, and hang these on the ends of the 2- 2' x 6' cages.

I decided to go with a bigger colony cage, rather than smaller 2' x 2' cages. I have 3 jumbo hens and 1 male in a 2x2 cage now, and the other 7 females and 1 male are in a 2x3 cage. The bigger cage, even with twice as many birds, looks much more roomy!

So how many birds could comfortably be kept in a 2x6 cage? In a 2x4 cage?

Also, which colors should I keep together? Can I put the A&M with the tuxedos, or would the regular tibetans be better? The jumbo browns I know should be to themselves, but what about the goldens? They should have a space of their own as well, correct? HELP ME NIKI!!!

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
Im here im here! LOL!

If you want tuxedos throw the A & Ms with the tibes it will give you more of what you're looking for THO putting A & Ms in with tuxedos may also perfect the markings on your tuxedos but I can't say for sure. ALl i know is tibe to A& M is the starting point for tuxedos.

You can put the goldens in with the browns, you will get MORE goldens from this but you'll still get browns as well. Up to you

 

[shelleyd2008]

See, that's what my problem is, I have 4 in a 2x2 cage, and 8 in a 2x3 cage. The 8 look much less cramped, so much so that I have been pondering putting the other 4 in the cage with them!

So I should keep the tuxedos in a cage together? That will still have more tuxedos, correct?

And I am pretty sure that the 'red' ones are the milk chocolate looking ones. I'll get a pic in a sec and you can tell me

I will probably keep the jumbo browns together, since I have 'enough' of them for what I was thinking. The plan is to have 10 f and 2 m of each color, so I get lots and lots of eggs

So it looks like I'll probably have to keep 4 cages then? One for jumbo browns, one for goldens, one for tibetans and A&M, and one for tuxedos? Sound right?

And I know it's a preference, but you are the expert here!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Oh yeah, and I'll need a cage for the fawn gingers I'm getting from peepsnbunnies

You forgot to remind me to get a pic of my male!! I think that's what he is, he is much more red looking than my jumbo brown is.

How does the fawn ginger coloring work?

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
Only by default

I'm the only one looney enough to be fully obsessed to the point of "crazy cat lady syndrome"

 

[Appaloosa Hill Farm]

Quote:
Only by default

I'm the only one looney enough to be fully obsessed to the point of "crazy cat lady syndrome"

I'm not far behind you there.

You should see the way my family and friends look at me now! Since I last talked with you, I've added 5 browns to total.

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
Only by default

I'm the only one looney enough to be fully obsessed to the point of "crazy cat lady syndrome"

I'm not far behind you there.

You should see the way my family and friends look at me now! Since I last talked with you, I've added 5 browns to total.

haha keep on keepin on!!!

 

[cawooduck]

Eh Shelly,

My cages are 2' x 6' and i have been experimenting with the crowded issue, so far i have one pen with 26 in it and there is still plenty of space for them all to sprawl out and move around, the other pen has all known females in it which is 17, and it looks almost empty! I really think we could get away with 20 quail in it, 16 hens and 4 roos. But then the inside of my pens are unobstructed, unless i stick the cat litter box with sand in it in to the cage, but they dont mind that!!........Jason

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
So mine might just be too big then? I was thinking of having some big bird houses in there, and a cake pan for dust baths, so that would take up some of the room as well. But that's what I was thinking with a bigger cage, with it not being divided it would seem to have more room in it. Maybe I can save a few bucks and just get some 2x4 cages instead? But mine have free access to their dust pans, whether I have anything in it is a different story! They like to use it as a nest, and they always leave me presents in it after I have filled it

I think they get so excited about having sand that they just squeeze those eggies out!

 

[cawooduck]

Quote:
Cages can never be to big, can they!!!LOL

I have cat litter pans in my cages, they are about 3 1/2" tall which helps keep the sand in the box.........somewhat!!! I keep checking everyday waiting for the first surpise of my Coturnix breeding project!! After i get some eggs for taste testing it will be time to throw the roosters in and incubate some more eggs!! Hopefully everything will time right so i can buy some Scaled quail eggs as well to throw in the incubator at the same time!! C-YA.....Jason