Ideal quail cage setup?

[dpenning]

I just started setting up my first quail pen last night. So, not an expert on quail, but this is what I'm doing. Maybe someone can get ideas or offer insight if I've done something wrong.

I had extra dog kennel panels - not chain link - the heavy gauge, welded wire type. I was going to make it 10'x10' but realized the posts holding up the deck above would be in the way, so I made it 5'x10'. The area under the deck is protected on three sides by the concrete basement foundation (the house was built on a slope, so it could've been a daylight basement, but wasn't built with an exit). Next I wrapped the whole thing in 6' tall chicken wire. Then, even though it's mostly protected by the house, I put a tarp above for more extra protection from the rain and for shade in the summer. I'm going to add some branches for cover and perches. Probably some potted plants. I usually use those plastic dog houses that split in two for shelters for my waterfowl. I take them apart and each half makes a little shelter. Would quail like those, too?

I use the dog carrier split in half too, they love it. I also cut a 30 gallon planter in half for two more. Easy to flip them up to collect eggs and pick up for cleaning.

 

[Sky5678]

I use the dog carrier split in half too, they love it. I also cut a 30 gallon planter in half for two more. Easy to flip them up to collect eggs and pick up for cleaning.

Wait, I thought quails lay eggs everywhere?

 

[Sky5678]

I've seen it done in the style of a raised plantar, which takes up space and is a more permanent structure but gives the advantage of bringing the quail (and their eggs) closer to you. The point is to get them off of wire flooring and onto something more natural/comfortable.

The dirt just needs to be there, not necessarily in large amounts. You'll want enough that you can turn it through into the bedding, not so much that there's more dirt than litter. It's the depth of the organic material that really matters—you can start with a few inches and bring it up to around 8 (minimum depth it seems to work) over time.

I know it seems like a bigger initial time/effort investment—it is!—but I find it worth it to raise quail in a more humane way. I hope you have the means/desire to.

Thanks for the deep litter recommendation! After a bit more research, it seems a lot more beneficial compared to wire bottoms. I'm definitely going this route because I want the best for my quails.

 

[le_bwah]

Wait, I thought quails lay eggs everywhere?

Quail will make nests and lay in specific spots, but they need cover and dirt/soft bedding to do it. On wire, they only seem to plop them out anywhere because they aren't given adequate bedding or cover to rest in one spot. It's a bodily function—they can't hold it in forever, so it happens whether or not they feel safe.

Thanks for the deep litter recommendation! After a bit more research, it seems a lot more beneficial compared to wire bottoms. I'm definitely going this route because I want the best for my quails.

I really hope it works for you as well as it has for me. Adding fresh material, turning the old stuff, making sure it's all breaking down—that's as hard as it gets. No smell, clean-enough feet, happy birds. And you get free bugs, once the worms/larva move in.

Keep us updated on your quail adventure—fun times ahead!