Why are quail (well, all Galiformes apparently) illegal in Toronto and similar places? Macaws and canaries make way more noise, and they take up so little space.
The only thing I can think of is most quail are housed outside for all to hear where macaws and other similar birds are indoor birds. I live in a very rural setting so don't have much input on this subject.
We are allowed to have up to ten chicken hens here in Niagara Falls, Ontario but apparently not allowed coturnix quail. It's ridiculous when you know both birds and how messy, smelly, destructive and loud the chickens can be whereas dozens of quail can be kept and the hens sound like crickets and the occasional male crow blends in with the wild birds. They don't smell nearly as much - when the coop is cleaned and the yard bag of the waste is waiting in the garage to go to the curb - it smells sour and I've had 50 quail in that garage and it didn't smell bad. My neighbours get quail eggs and chicken eggs and even without them they wouldn't mind we are lucky they're interested in them and think the quail are adorable and especially love their little eggs You can also keep coturnix in the garage or in the house, I have a pet group of four inside for the winter in a big rabbit cage and it's been a pleasure and I've discovered so much more about them and their noises and behaviour but the dust is definitely a factor
