Keeping quail in an aviary with birds?

[Pinkmum]

HI, We have never kept any quail or aviary birds before so I need some advice please. we are buying an aviary that is 2.2meters (L) x 1.5 meters (W). I'm wondering if I should only put 2 quails in or how many is a cage this size good to house? Also should I buy a breeding pair, I don't mind helping to care for babies but will they look after them alone or do i need an incubator? Also what is the best birds to keep in the aviary with the quails? I have heard finches? Any advice would be great. Thanks everyone : )

 

[TwoCrows]

HI, We have never kept any quail or aviary birds before so I need some advice please. we are buying an aviary that is 2.2meters (L) x 1.5 meters (W). I'm wondering if I should only put 2 quails in or how many is a cage this size good to house? Also should I buy a breeding pair, I don't mind helping to care for babies but will they look after them alone or do i need an incubator? Also what is the best birds to keep in the aviary with the quails? I have heard finches? Any advice would be great. Thanks everyone : )

Depends on what type of quail you wish to keep. But keep in mind that quail generally do not go broody, and rarely, if ever, hatch their own babies. So if you want to raise more quail, you will need to get an incubator.

Since you are new to quail, you might want to start with Coturnix quail. A very easy bird to keep and are not as skittish around humans as other quail can be. They are kept in a harem type group, one male to 4 to 7 females. Any less than 4 females and the male can mate them to death. So keep more than 4 girls.

If you only wish to keep them for eating eggs, you can keep females only, all together.

In this space, you could comfortably keep about 8 quail.

I have never kept other species of birds with quail, but some people have kept doves or finches with the quail.

Quail need a very high protein diet, where as these other types of birds don't. So you would want to keep feed separated, especially from the quail.

Oh, and welcome to BYC and the quail forums!

 

[Pinkmum]

Thanks for your wonderful advice TwoCrows. I think I might start with just females first. I can buy Jap quail locally so might stick with them, not sure how different they are to Coturnix quail?

 

[TwoCrows]

Same thing.

 

[dc3085]

The quail won't bother or be bothered by the other birds as long as they are not large parrots. If any birds build nests close to or on the ground the coturnix may destroy the nest, but that is about the worst you will see. Also give each species its desired sort of hiding place ie enclosed nesting boxes or such that can retreat to for comfort.

 

[QuailRaiser]

I was wondering about that too, I am getting doves in the spring and it would be a lot easier to keep them in the same place