I've been doing the quail math and it looks like I'm gonna need a bigger cage. Two of my young hens showed broody behavior last summer (which I may have interrupted with frequent handling ) and I would LOVE if they could give me some chicks next year (and if they don't hatch out their own, I sure as heck will). The problem is that I'd like to keep their habitat at around 3-4 sqr ft per bird, and doubling or tripling the population in their current enclosure won't let that happen.
I've started on some designs that I could tack on to the existing structure, that the quail would be able to move freely between. I really want to get it put up before the snow starts so I can plant in the spring, but I'm running into the question of whether or not to put a solid roof on the thing. This is what I'm thinking of right now (new on the left, old on the right):
The hope would be to plant a grassy garden in the expansion and keep it open to the elements. Anyone done anything like this or seen it done successfully? Am I underestimating the mud factor or overestimating how much the quail will care for the exposure? I could put on clear plastic roofing panels if I had to (just don't want to put it on as an afterthought).
Any experience/ideas would be very welcome!
I've started on some designs that I could tack on to the existing structure, that the quail would be able to move freely between. I really want to get it put up before the snow starts so I can plant in the spring, but I'm running into the question of whether or not to put a solid roof on the thing. This is what I'm thinking of right now (new on the left, old on the right):
The hope would be to plant a grassy garden in the expansion and keep it open to the elements. Anyone done anything like this or seen it done successfully? Am I underestimating the mud factor or overestimating how much the quail will care for the exposure? I could put on clear plastic roofing panels if I had to (just don't want to put it on as an afterthought).
Any experience/ideas would be very welcome!