Need help figuring out how to house quail

[FrahmChicks217]

I need help figuring out weather to build an indoor hutch or build one outside. Pictures of your set up would be great to inspire me. Part of me wants to build an 2 separate level hutch for inside and keep them there as we have had issues with rats moving over to our farmstead from our Amish neighbors, while we have been able to clear them out in the past, and they have never messed with my chickens, i know quail would be easy pickings for them. And I'm worried by keeping them outside, no matter how predator proof I make it, they'll get to them. Plus I live in Minnesota where we can get as low as -40 during January and February. I've got 36 in the incubator right now. And once they are between 6 and 7 weeks old, I'll sex them and plan on just keep 4 hens and 1 rooster to each level if we have them inside. And process the rest. We have supplies for building an indoor huntch right now, and can buy other supplies if we decided to keep them outside. Just don't know which way I should go. The hutch inside wouldn't be a wire bottom. Was planning on having solid bottoms. But I feel like they would be happier outside on grass? Im just so torn as to which way to go.

 

[GoosesGeeses]

@Nabiki

 

[GoosesGeeses]

I have an shed i built a few years ago, it is insulated with sheep's wool. I has a few windows for light. I built an outdoor run for them a few years ago, it has a roof so they can always stay outside or go inside. When it gets really cold or windy or snowy, i put them in the coop and lock them up. Where i live it has gotten to -15f , and i never lost a quail to the cold. I only used sheep's wool because a friend shore her sheep and had a bunch of wool to get rid of, so i took it.

Being able to go outside and inside is great for them, but just know that grass doesn't last long with quail.

 

[FrahmChicks217]

I have an shed i built a few years ago, it is insulated with sheep's wool. I has a few windows for light. I built an outdoor run for them a few years ago, it has a roof so they can always stay outside or go inside. When it gets really cold or windy or snowy, i put them in the coop and lock them up. Where i live it has gotten to -15f , and i never lost a quail to the cold. I only used sheep's wool because a friend shore her sheep and had a bunch of wool to get rid of, so i took it.

Being able to go outside and inside is great for them, but just know that grass doesn't last long with quail.

Oh I'm sure the grass wouldn't last long at all. But I know they can forage and eat things like bugs. I just don't know which I should do. If we do outside, we plan on building a bigger box sort of thing that they can stay inside if they want and still have some room. Adding a shed and using that isn't really an option at the moment cause I want the quail hutch up next to my house and we may have to move it here in a few months cause we are getting new siding, windows and doors. So we need something that won't be too hard to move in case I need to.