Hi guys, we are planning on some Japanese quail only about 4 just hens for eggs and want to be watching them through our glass doors while at our dining table.. For more interesting watching do you think these kind of cages would be suitable?
I'm not sure they'd use the surfaces, coturnix are notoriously bad with ramps. You know what you could do, though? You could tip that cage over onto its back and take out the platforms, so it would be wide and shallow instead of tall and thin. If it'd be outdoors, you'll have to be sure to arrange enough shade and shelter from the elements.
Fishkeeper's got a good idea. Quail are ground birds—instinct tells them to stay low. Make sure your setup can provide adequate enrichment—they need sand baths and appreciate cover, hiding places, things to mess with and explore. They're most interesting to look at when they have things to do.
Yes, they probably won't go up those ramps at all. If that's the cage you already have/really want, I'd remove the ramps altogether and make it 3 cages stacked Just give the upper levels extra shelter so they don't feel like they're flapping in the wind. It looks like ~3-4 birds would be just fine on each level depending on the actual dimensions.
Oh, it's worth a mention many Coturnix hens will slow or cease laying without a male around. They're a tiny bit different than chickens that way. But 1 male and 3 or 4 females is a great group, and the males are usually very quiet and no trouble at all as long as they have girlfriends.