Need Aviary/Bird Cage suggestions

[marie_martin]

I have 10 button quail who need to come out of the fish tank, not working out very well. So I have read that some use cages and some have small aviaries. I really need suggestions for something inexpensive but that I can have in the house and won't take up the entire room. It needs to be easy to clean out of course but they are tiny so can't use a typical bird cage without modifying it I guess. Any suggestions would be great.

Marie

 

[chickflick]

How are your building skills? can't you make a mini coop with scrap lumber and hardware cloth? A simple frame using 2x2's and wraping it in hardware cloth. can make it the size you need.

 

[marie_martin]

I thought of that, but want something nice so I can have it inside. Guess I could paint it? Thanks I will give that some thought.

Marie

 

[marie_martin]

Well, here is what I started out with. It will do for now. Was for bunnies, but I shortened it a bit and made it more manageable. It has two sides so I can separate them as they get older.

I added peel and stick tiles to the floor and a sand box and shavings.

The seem to like it but kept getting behind the sand box so I pulled it more into the middle and put the tissue box at the back so they can go inside if they want. They checked it out but are more interested in laying on the shavings right now. The light is a bit higher so they are adjusting to that but appear fine so far. They have checked everything out and have been playing and dust bathing. Any suggestions would be great.

Marie

 

[marie_martin]

No suggestions? Will this work for buttons for a while? They were doing the cutest thing last night. Now that the sand box is more in the middle, they area around it is open and they were running around the cage as fast as they could in a line. It was so funny. I have never had birds. Well when I was a kid my mom had cockatiels, but they were her birds and I did not really fool with them much. They are trying out their wings too and it is neat. Do they need anything else? I have the sand box, the shavings on the floor, a tissue box/nest for them to hide in and one little fake plant. I am going to get more fake plants to put in there. Anything else. Do they need a roost. I put a little limb in there but no one has gotten on it yet. I know they are basically bottom dwellers, so do they roost at all? Thanks for any suggestions. I do plan to order one of the waterer things you put on a pop bottle too, that will give them more room. I appreciate any help.

Marie

 

[Settin'_Pretty]

I haven't raised any yet, but from all my reading the height might be a problem.
They might fly up and break their necks.
The reading I've done indicates that small cages like yours should be about 12 inches high, and larger cages should have a soft top like netting so they bounce off when they hit it.
That quail place has a lot of good info

 

[marie_martin]

I am planning to put something on the top, just trying to wait until they don't need the light? The cage measurements are (for each section) 16" tall x 16" wide by 30" long. I plan to serarate them into two sides when they get a bit older and I can sex them. Thanks for the link and the suggestion.

Marie