New to Quail

[le_bwah]

I think I'm raising Coturnix quail. If they sleep on the ground, wouldn't it make it easy pickings for some animal. I'm worried a possum would get through the wire and have a late dinner but at the same time I trust the hardware fabric. Is there anything that might be better or stronger to protect it from animals.

Welded hardware cloth is tougher than chicken wire—plenty strong enough to keep out most predators. 1/2-inch is too small for the quail to stick their heads out or for predators' paws to get in—perfect.

I keep Coturnix, too. Raccoons are the biggest wild predator in my area—even with the quail sleeping right near the edge of the aviary I haven't had a bird snatched.

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there, Welcome to BYC!

You can use hardware cloth as a skirt underground or on top of it to discourage digging critters from getting into your quail pen. If it's 1/2" or less then it's unlikely they'll be snatched, but things can and do happen if you pen them outside.

Some people have aviaries...the quail run around on the ground and hide under bushes, logs etc that you provide for them.

On wire, you would be keeping them in a smaller cage, many people use rabbit hutch type setups. With temps into the teens you'll need something over the wire to prevent frostbite in winter.

While your neighbors brought in their chickens, it's unlikely that was necessary. Provided they have a dry, draft free place with good ventilation they should be fine.

Here's a link to an excellent article that might help

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/housing-and-feeding-your-quail.67371/

Also, here's a link to pics of my quail aviary for ground dwelling coturnix. It's not done yet but they seem to like it .

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...l-on-the-ground.1270507/page-10#post-20937214

 

[CoturnixComplex]

@CuteQuail

1/2" hardware cloth will keep most everything out - except bears If you don't have those you're golden. Just make sure all your edges are all very well secured, little rodents like to try and find places to bend and slip in.

Losing poultry to predators occasionally is probably a reality you will have to get used to (almost all of us have), but a well-built aviary or cage will go a long way towards preventing heartache.

On the other hand, if you would prefer to keep them on wire and raised, you MUST MUST MUST protect their little toes, either with another layer of material a few inches below the wire, or by keeping the floors of the cages so high off the ground rats can't get to them.

 

[Danny C.]

No problem!

You can raise your quail in contact with the ground on deep bedding, deep litter, straight dirt, sand—any substrate, really. This is how I do quail, in an aviary setting.

People also raise their quail off the ground, standing on wire. I can't recommend wire, but it works for many people.

You can sometimes train them to use a ramp and coop in a pre-fab structure. I've heard of people having success tempting them inside with treats or locking them in until they figure it out. Coturnix don't roost at night, and prefer to sleep on the ground. AFAIK, wilder quail species will roost.

What kind of quail are you raising?

I raise mine in a chicken coop that is elevated and nailed down to slabs. Had to lock mine in the coop every night for almost 2 weeks. Within another week they were going up the ramp into coop constantly. Bobwhites are ground birds but I’ll call that training.

 

[CuteQuail]

Thanks for all the help. It was really useful

 

[CuteQuail]

I raise mine in a chicken coop that is elevated and nailed down to slabs. Had to lock mine in the coop every night for almost 2 weeks. Within another week they were going up the ramp into coop constantly. Bobwhites are ground birds but I’ll call that training.

Do you think that would work for Coturnix quail, or should I am for more of an aviary type

 

[CuteQuail]

I really like this quail coop and I think I'll try to replicate it.

I am going to raise cortinux quail and going to try to train them into going inside.

 

[CuteQuail]

My neighbors have a dog that goes outside a lot. Will that harm the quail if the coop is near the other yard with the dog?

 

[CoturnixComplex]

My neighbors have a dog that goes outside a lot. Will that harm the quail if the coop is near the other yard with the dog?

With proper protection and some cover to hide in they get used to just about everything.

 

[Hassanflocker]

I think I'm raising Coturnix quail. If they sleep on the ground, wouldn't it make it easy pickings for some animal. I'm worried a possum would get through the wire and have a late dinner but at the same time I trust the hardware fabric. Is there anything that might be better or stronger to protect it from animals.

Yes you can do a concreatfloor