Male Coturnix Quail won't stop mounting our Female Coturnix Quail

[Rozzie]

Quote:
I have 4 in a 4x4 pen. They love it. I'd easily put six (absolute MAX of 8) in there. I know that many people say 1 square foot per bird, but I would NEVER put 16 into my pen. 1 square foot per bird might be okay with a wire bottom pen but it is NOT large enough with a solid bottom pen with bedding. You'd have to change the bedding every single day to keep it from being vile.

 

[joe125]

Well...my only question would be...How do you get your hands on the egg or bird in the far corners of a 4x4 pen?

 

[Rozzie]

Quote:
It really hasn't been an issue. My birds (quail) lay their eggs almost exclusively in the basket I gave them as a nest. They only lay an egg outside that basket about once every 3-4 weeks. I make sure it's where I can reach it. The birds are so tame that I can just reach in and pick any of them up.

If I did need to catch a bird or get an egg in the back corner, I'd just climb on in. My coturnix cages are 4 foot tall. I have to crouch but made it strong enough to support my weight (though I wouldn't put a heavier person in there without more supports under the floor.)

I guess my coturnix must think they are royalty. They do live in the lap of luxury, as far as gamebirds go. Indoors, no severe temps to deal with, no predator problems, a.c. in the hot summer, a dab of heat in the coldest of winter weather, pine bedding bottom (instead of wire), etc.

I hate wire bottom cages.