Keeping coturnix inside your house?

[Stellar]

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They will through there feed everywhere though. Try to mount there feed on the outside of the pen so they don't play in it as much & keep the level well below the openings. I also use mash(not to wet) to help keep them from making a mess.

For poop control i have found that keeping them on wire & a tote with wood shavings & a little barn lime help greatly. if you can keep them from making a mess with there water(good luck) that will help greatly with the smell also. I use nipple waters that seems to do a better job after they learned to use them. The first few days with the nipple waters they drained almost all of it into the tote but now it seems to work great for them & I don't have soaked birds.

My parrots chuck fruit on the ceiling...once there was a coffee stain up there...I wonder how that happened

But I keep a pair, Mr. Stella and his wife Cinderella indoors...those are the only two with names. Stella gets a quad for his birthday every year. Other than some dust they do fine in a large bird cage. I have to have the wire bottom removed because Stella has arthritis in his leg (long story). But with or without the wire, they do absolutely fine indoors in small numbers.

 

[Rainwolf]

Keeping them inside is a challenge if not done correctly... mainly the smell

using a wire floor cage with a tray helps a lot! I'd use lime in the tray rather then shavings and then scoop the droppings every day. change every week.
Water nipples work great once they are trained but like said earlier sometimes they drain a bottle or 2 before they get the idea.
a rabbit waterer might also work but I have not tried that yet.
I use a bird feeder to help the young ones eat without food loss...
http://www.acehardware.com/product/...rigkw=window+bird+feeder&searchId=50268783294
then I use a J feeder for the adults
http://www.bassequipment.com/Feeders/Standard+Bass+Feeder/default.aspx
feed loss is very minimal.

 

[PoultryParadise]

Thanks for all the great ideas. I think I will go ahead and get a few coturnix quail in the house. I will put them in the rabbit cage, which has a wire bottom and pull out tray, I will have to put tighter wire on the bottom though based on pictures posted I think the wires are too far apart on mine for comfort. I will start with just shavings in the drop pan, then perhaps add lime after i have experienced the full effects of quail smell. I have no problem doing daily clean out, as we have a few animals who need it and a hobby farm it would just go into the daily morning routine.
I can keep them in the basement and perhaps the Mud-room, though the mud room is not heated, it is insulated though. hmm, maybe basement is better.
Rozzie I love your basement set-up. I am thinking I have an area I could do this, we have a large basement that is only 5'8" high so I am free to make in an animal heaven scince my boyfriend doesn't venture down there too much, he's 6'3".
JJMR794, you have great insight about the smell. Perhaps you know from experience. My family are already prepared for my surprises. I am a part-time baker at home, so my kitchen always smells wonderful, then you walk through my house and everything is pleasant. Just don't open my office door if there is a hurt duck in there like there is now. The button quail don't smell much in the house, they are also in my office. As is the ferret, who I must say is the most work, as she is on a raw and whole prey diet and needs her litter box cleaned 2ce daily. Hmm perhaps the smelly office is what you were refering too. Good point, Quail will go in the basement.

 

[Wifezilla]

My quail were in the office near a bedroom. Things would be a little stinky in the morning after I pulled the cover off their cage, but then I would dump the shavings in a garden bed, wipe it out and add new shavings. Then it would be good until the next morning. I had a quad in one cage.

 

[Petej]

Funny you should ask!

I have my Coturnix inside.

Here is my method for stench control:

Daily changes of litter.

Here is what they are contained in:

It's a Rabbit Hutch that we no longer use for rabbits since the tend to chew.....

The bottom of the larger side has a mesh screen for the poop to drop through. I place paper or some similar easy to clean bedding on it. I may remove this screen so they can walk directly on the removable tray which would be lined with bedding. To change the tray I would have to corral them all in the nest box side, which has a solid wood bottom..... The smaller side door (Nest box) has a plexi-glass pane installed so I can check for eggs without having to open the door. Life is so much easier without having to chase the birds around the house!!

 

[kingmt]

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I'll get back to you.