New quail set up

[CoundonChick]

Thanks FishKeeper and JurassicBawk. The wire mesh is 1/2inch x 3/4 inch but I will cover it with hardware cloth asap - I have some just need to get them into the house so I can attach it on.

Thanks for the tip on the rats - I will keep a close eye on it for any chewing etc. We don't have any ventilation holes (should I add some in?) but I'll keep an eye out for chewing.

I've added a plastic guinea pig house (although I haven't seen them go in it yet) and removed some branches. I still need to add a sand bath but they have been digging and scratching in the aubiouse.

Thank you both again.

 

[JurassicBawk]

You probably don't need vent holes. Mine was a prefab rabbit hutch that had them already on the back since it was solid on the back/sides and wire in the front, but that just gave extra access.

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

Thanks FishKeeper and JurassicBawk. The wire mesh is 1/2inch x 3/4 inch but I will cover it with hardware cloth asap - I have some just need to get them into the house so I can attach it on.

Thanks for the tip on the rats - I will keep a close eye on it for any chewing etc. We don't have any ventilation holes (should I add some in?) but I'll keep an eye out for chewing.

I've added a plastic guinea pig house (although I haven't seen them go in it yet) and removed some branches. I still need to add a sand bath but they have been digging and scratching in the aubiouse.

Thank you both again.

Ah, my hutch had that sized wire, a young racoon or a cat reached their paws in and killed and ate, through the wire! all but 1.5 of my quail while i was gone for just 2 hours one evening.

They can reach in and break their necks, then the chicken/quail can sometimes get away from the wire so the animal can no longer reach it, so you find a poor dead bird later. (Sorry to be so graphic!)
I have had this happen to a few chickens.
Glad you are putting up hardware clothe!

That looks like a very nice set up with pretty little Q's. You will just love having them

 

[CoundonChick]

Just a bit of an update... thank you so much for all your advice and suggestions.

I’ve replaced the mesh with hardware cloth and I’ve put some false shrubbery in the hutch. (It’s a 3ft Christmas tree cut down a bit that I’ve raised onto a flowerpot so they can scurry underneath and in between the branches). It looks quite dense in the photo but it’s quite spacious under the branches.

I’ve also attached some of the soft Christmas tree branches to the ceiling of the hutch so it might soften any bashes on their heads.

They’ve also got a guinea pig house to hide in too and I’ve removed the pots and branches I had in there.

Thanks again for all your help, hopefully they’ll settle in nicely now. Catherine

 

[Fishkeeper]

That looks perfect!