New to Quail My ideas and input needed

[bbqsfarm]

Hi all,
I just joined. I have bobwhite quail. 3 in a pigeon coop but looking to change it. I am taking a little tykes play house and going to use for quail instead of chickens. It is 4 x 5 and we are going to add a 6-8 foot run. I am going to raise it off the ground to make cleaning etc easier. I want to have the run 5-6' tall. I will be using 2 x 8 along the bottom and hardware cloth and 2 x4 for the main framing. I am looking to keep about 12- 18 quail so they will have plenty of room. My questions are geared more for the run area. I can either just let them right on the ground or I am thinking of laying down road fabric and covering with shavings and add plants in containers only. I am looking for other input also. I have been reading the boards for about a week but have not stumbled over a landscaped run area. Am I crazy or can this be done? In the long run would shavings over ground make cleaning and sanitation better? OH, I am in Oregon where it rains alot if that matters.

Thanks

 

[Fat Daddy]

Wet shavings suk! I think I would consider sand in the run. But I have always kept mine on wire, not a cleaning issue as much as shovel it up a couple times a year.... The birds would surely feel more "natural" on the ground, Alot of close friends keep quail on the ground and have had really good luck.... I wish you well with your birds.... Bill

 

[speedy2020]

I would refer raising quail on wire myself. It much easy to clean because the poop fall down and can scoop away. Just keep in mind the ground can attract many disease to make them sick easy.

 

[itsy]

Hey BBQ - welcome.

I agree with these peeps. I keep mine on wire and let the poo fall to the ground and then I shovel away from there.

I think it depends on how much time you can realistically invest in them. If you are keeping chickens and other animals and working/school and living life - it can be a real pain to keep up with a landscaped area for them over a period of time.

If they are going to be your new life hobby or something you're going to manicure like your favorite orchid or bonsaii, I'd say go for it and it would be pretty neat to have them on the ground - but the upkeep is much more intense than if you would have them on wire. Once their poop starts to accumulate, it's going to be a chore to maintain.

If you do go with something on the ground, I agree with Bill. I'd stay away from the shavings and go with sand. Even with the sand - if you get a lot of rain, you're going to end up with a damp, stinky mess, so you'd have to be prepared to clean often.

Let us know what you end up going with and how it works out for ya! It'll be a great learning experience for all of us either way.