Might be getting Coturnix! Tips?

[Classroom Quail]

Hello BYC! I'm a quail fan that might be getting some Coturnix quail.

I've done about 4 pages of thorough research on them, but was wondering what sort of tips you BYC people might have for me. My situation for raising them is... unusual. See, the idea is to raise them at a school for a more interesting approach to learn color genetics (looking into whether I need a permit). My plan for an aviary and some holding cages are pretty simple, and I'll get pics up later. I'm planning on a 10 x 10 foot aviary with a 7 foot high ceiling. 3 of the four walls would have holding cages on them. There would be 34 2 x 2 cages and 30 1 x 1 cages. The maximum capacity is theoretically 157 birds. The main aviary (used for a breeding pen) would have lots of ground cover, nest supplies and areas for dust bathing. Thoughts, ideas, critiques and tips appreciated.

 

[marksouth]

I don't know but I think a quail in a 1x1 cage is going to be an unhappy bird. Any way to rethink that and give them a little more room? I think three quail in a 1x3 would be happier birds if space is an issue. If breeding and genetics are the goal that might not be feasible if you need to know which egg came from which hen. I guess my birds are more on the pet than project side so I'm biased.

 

[Classroom Quail]

I don't know but I think a quail in a 1x1 cage is going to be an unhappy bird. Any way to rethink that and give them a little more room? I think three quail in a 1x3 would be happier birds if space is an issue. If breeding and genetics are the goal that might not be feasible if you need to know which egg came from which hen. I guess my birds are more on the pet than project side so I'm biased.

The minimum space requirement for a coturnix is apparently 1 square foot. The 1 x 1 cages are single bird cages for roosters or for any hens that didn't get along with each other and needed to be away from each other. The majority of the birds will be in 2 x 2 cages together. And knowing which egg came from which hen wouldn't be needed because they wouldn't be in with a rooster the whole time. The idea of the smaller cages is to be able to control breeding and inbreeding. I might be able to get them more room, but I'll have to look into that.

 

[marksouth]

The way I've read the 1x1 space requirements were always referencing how many birds to a larger cage. Quail are very social birds and my birds covy together in a small knot often but have room to spread out when needed. PM twocrows and ask her about it, she's been around quail a long time and can give the best answer on this site in my opinion, along with jamesthebald.

 

[Classroom Quail]

The way I've read the 1x1 space requirements were always referencing how many birds to a larger cage. Quail are very social birds and my birds covy together in a small knot often but have room to spread out when needed. PM twocrows and ask her about it, she's been around quail a long time and can give the best answer on this site in my opinion, along with jamesthebald.

Ok, thanks.

 

[James the Bald]

Quote: Before I start, welcome to the Quail forum on BYC. I rarely read posts from members who ask for "tips" let alone respond to them, but I stumbled in just to satisfy my curiosity. So just letting you know up front that you will have to forgive me on any response I give. First, some people start small and add on as they get addicted to raising quail.... but, wow! After reading what you are planning, I'm wondering, "why such a big aviary with such small holding cages?" I continued reading and agree with what Mark has said, quail are social birds and are going to want interactivity with others (thanks for the shout out Mark!

). You can comfortably keep 6 quail in a 24 x 36 x12 inch cage, and leg band them for documentation. If you need 157 quail.... man, I'm still trying to picture this in my head.... a 10 x 10 x 7 aviary that will be a "breeding pen". You must have one huge classroom to set this up in.

Now, since you asked for opinions, and this is mine, again please forgive me, and here are my thoughts:

• I would start much (much) smaller, and expand as you progress.
• The first thing I would be looking at is an incubator, since you discussed color genetics and will be hatching some eggs; Coturnix will not lay on their eggs.
• Then you will need to raise your chicks (my brooder looks something like the one pictured in the link).
• You will get a different answer from others, but I would keep my cages at 24 x 36 x12 inches (this link has a small paragraph on housing).
• When you do place a male with your hens, you may need to keep that male in the cage for at minimum of 2 weeks to ensure fertility.
• And just an fyi, keeping more than 1 male in a cage can be a disaster as they will fight each other.

I do have to give you some "props", as at least you have a "plan".
I hope this helps. If you do build that aviary, please post pictures as I for one would love to see it.
James

 

[Classroom Quail]

Before I start, welcome to the Quail forum on BYC. I rarely read posts from members who ask for "tips" let alone respond to them, but I stumbled in just to satisfy my curiosity. So just letting you know up front that you will have to forgive me on any response I give. First, some people start small and add on as they get addicted to raising quail.... but, wow! After reading what you are planning, I'm wondering, "why such a big aviary with such small holding cages?" I continued reading and agree with what Mark has said, quail are social birds and are going to want interactivity with others (thanks for the shout out Mark!

). You can comfortably keep 6 quail in a 24 x 36 x12 inch cage, and leg band them for documentation. If you need 157 quail.... man, I'm still trying to picture this in my head.... a 10 x 10 x 7 aviary that will be a "breeding pen". You must have one huge classroom to set this up in.

Now, since you asked for opinions, and this is mine, again please forgive me, and here are my thoughts:

• I would start much (much) smaller, and expand as you progress.
• The first thing I would be looking at is an incubator, since you discussed color genetics and will be hatching some eggs; Coturnix will not lay on their eggs.
• Then you will need to raise your chicks (my brooder looks something like the one pictured in the link).
• You will get a different answer from others, but I would keep my cages at 24 x 36 x12 inches (this link has a small paragraph on housing).
• When you do place a male with your hens, you may need to keep that male in the cage for at minimum of 2 weeks to ensure fertility.
• And just an fyi, keeping more than 1 male in a cage can be a disaster as they will fight each other.

I do have to give you some "props", as at least you have a "plan".
I hope this helps. If you do build that aviary, please post pictures as I for one would love to see it.
James

Thanks for the welcome!

Anyway, I think you might be right about the holding cages. There is enough room to make them bigger (measured the space today), so that shouldn't be a problem. Expanding as we progress is also definitely an option, but it depends on how many people can come to volunteer to help build at what days and times. Do you have any ideas on how much space to start with? I do have an incubator lying around somewhere, but it's pretty small. A brooder shouldn't be too hard at all, but I'm still working on designing that. Those pictures will help a lot! The two week thing is something I wasn't aware of, I'll make a note of that. How much cage space would you recommend for a single rooster? (apologies for all these questions, I want to be sure everything is done correctly)

Thank you for the tips!

 

[marksouth]

A conversation with James brought to mind 'The Coturnix Revolution' which can be found on Amazon, a great resource for you in this project. Bet it will answer most of your questions and then some.

 

[Classroom Quail]

A conversation with James brought to mind 'The Coturnix Revolution' which can be found on Amazon, a great resource for you in this project. Bet it will answer most of your questions and then some.

Yes, I found that book today! I'm thinking of ordering it.

 

[Classroom Quail]

By the way, what do I use for banding them? Zip Ties?