New Quail Owner

[featherhead007]

You may need to install a Quail-ovator for that coop of yours!

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hi and welcome to BYC! Good luck with your quail!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Ted_Harrell]

Welcome home to BYC, I am new to quail this year, but I have had two successful hatches this year. Ask these folks anything...

 

[J-quail]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Nice little coop for your quail! Quail will use ramps after they get used to them. When I downsized from large aviaries to a small coop having only a handful of quail left, they quickly adapted to using the ramp. Do not insulate your coop, as long as they can get out of the wind, they will be fine. I drove stakes into the ground to keep it attached to the earth. Definitely predator proof it making updates to areas of the coop that you feel may not be sturdy enough. And be sure to stop by our Quail forums for more help. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/quail.48/

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Thx for the photos. Very helpful to see what others have done

 

[FloorCandy]

I was gifted 4 quail for my birthday. My husband ran out and bought me a chicken coop to raise them. I need to know anything and everything anyone would like to impart to me. Here's a pic. The wood is thin. Shall i insulate? I read chicken coops are NOT good for quail. I read they won't/ can't use the ramp to go outside and back in. All this after it was bought. Help?

I’ve been thinking about how to motivate them to climb the ramp. In my main pen, they have a nest box that’s coming out of the side of the coop area. To get them into the nest box, so they’re using all of the space, I put a plastic bin in it that was close to its interior size. I cut a hole in the side for a door.

When I first put them into the pen, the only available sand was in that bin inside the nest box. I put them into the pen for the first time by putting them in that bin thru the nest box. Some ran out right away, and some stayed in the bin and gradually explored the outside areas. One thing to note, I worried the nest box couldn’t support the sand because it’s flimsy, so I have a cinder block wedged under it to support the weight and make sure it doesn’t fall, I also have patio blocks under the center and corners of the floor of the coop, because I was worried it would give out. The great news is, quail LOVE cinder blocks. So if you need to add a column under the coop for added support, you won’t lose floor area if they can walk thru the square holes. Just make sure the cinder blocks are oriented so you can easily see or reach inside because they love to lay eggs in them.

With that cage, one of those old lady grabbers will be your best friend. Pinchers on a stick I guess. I have one that has 2 suction cups that pinch closed when you squeeze the handle, so I can get the hard to reach eggs without leaning on my pen. I have a butterfly net I use to get the birds when they hide in human inaccessible places, once you take one male out, it’s like the others sense it’s coming and they run to where I can’t get them. If it’s possible, I would even consider removing the floor of the coop part, and replacing it with hardware cloth, I feel like a build up of moisture in there might compromise the floor, plus it would be easier to clean.

I think if you motivate them you can get some of them up there enjoying that coop, and if not, let them just stay on the ground and store their stuff in the coop, you’ll find it piles up, feed, bedding, oyster shell, treats, sand, small rake, grabber, trowel, sifter, etc I’m filling shed space like crazy with quail stuff.

I eventually filled the whole coop with sand, and I put bedding in the bin in the nest box. All summer the main pen was sand, but I shoveled it out and put pine chips for more warmth in winter. But the coop is still a sand floor.

 

[J-quail]

Thx for all your info.

 

[FloorCandy]

Thx for all your info.

Here’s my prefab pen, the grass lasted like 2 weeks haha. Originally I had patio blocks around it so nothing can dig in, and so the quail can’t dig out, they are super slow Shawshank style tunnellers, I think they just slowly dig at bugs and it progresses to good sized pits around the edges. I switched to cinderblocks so they couldn’t see as much and wouldn’t be so scared. I also put plants in the holes, strawberries were this year, the rabbits ate them despite my makeshift protection. I keep a patio block in front of the door because the latch is cheap, I’d love to see a raccoon move the patio block haha.

 

[RebelEgger]

Welcome to BYC! You’ve joined a great and helpful community!

 

[J-quail]

Here’s my prefab pen, the grass lasted like 2 weeks haha. Originally I had patio blocks around it so nothing can dig in, and so the quail can’t dig out, they are super slow Shawshank style tunnellers, I think they just slowly dig at bugs and it progresses to good sized pits around the edges. I switched to cinderblocks so they couldn’t see as much and wouldn’t be so scared. I also put plants in the holes, strawberries were this year, the rabbits ate them despite my makeshift protection. I keep a patio block in front of the door because the latch is cheap, I’d love to see a raccoon move the patio block haha.
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I love what you've done. My coop is much higher than yours. Is yours technically called a quail coop or rabbit coop?
The plastic is all you use to cover? Do you use something more for winter?
I have cinder blocks that I will set up as you have. Thx very much for the photos.