New to quail

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

So the coop can pretty much be completely outside? And the section that is inside does it have to be closed off or can it just be like a roof that they can go under

It can be a roof they can go under. Just make sure they also have some protection from the wind.

 

[Nabiki]

When you build it, take into account the weather where you live as well. Coturnix quail are pretty hardy; from what I understand, a light snow doesn't deter them. But you'll have to do more research and hear from the others here. I'm in Hawaii, where drenching rain is normal and snow would be newsworthy. Some quail breeders seem to have a winter setup where the birds are housed indoors part of the year.

As long as they're dry and have shelter, they can handle freezing weather quite well.

 

[Michael8427]

When you build it, take into account the weather where you live as well. Coturnix quail are pretty hardy; from what I understand, a light snow doesn't deter them. But you'll have to do more research and hear from the others here. I'm in Hawaii, where drenching rain is normal and snow would be newsworthy. Some quail breeders seem to have a winter setup where the birds are housed indoors part of the year.does it have to be on the ground so they can free range ?

 

[Michael8427]

It can be a roof they can go under. Just make sure they also have some protection from the wind.

Will they walk on a ramp to go into the shelter

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Will they walk on a ramp to go into the shelter

Yeah but you may want to show them that they can go up and down once. Just like dipping a chicks beak into water to show them its there. Like put them at the top and let the walk down. then try to get them to walk up or hold them and let their feet move up the ramp and stuff.

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

Will they walk on a ramp to go into the shelter

Mine do fine with a not-too-steep ramp. Also, although they don't fly distances, they can pop-up small distances if your coop isn't built too high.

As far as the flooring, my run is on the ground heaped high with poultry bedding (pine shavings) and small leaf and grass cuttings. Check out the threads on deep litter and deep bedding. I find these methods work well with quail and gardening.

 

[shrimpsilkies]

Will they walk on a ramp to go into the shelter

Generally no. If they do, it mustn’t be too steep and even then you will find that many of them will refuse to do that. If it’s Coturnix (Japanese) quail you’re talking about, they don’t like being more than a few inches off the ground, they don’t have the anatomy to perch and seem to have no problems going to sleep exactly where they were running around during the day.

 

[FloorCandy]

Will they walk on a ramp to go into the shelter

Your best bet to get them going up and down the ramp is to put their sand bath in the top level. You don’t want to put food and water, because some just won’t go up no matter what and you don’t want them to go without.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Whoa @FloorCandy , what's do you call the color of the quail in your profile??!! Its beautiful!

 

[FloorCandy]

Whoa @FloorCandy , what's do you call the color of the quail in your profile??!! Its beautiful!

That’s an Italian. I believe people will often call it Italian speckled because it has a lot of spots, it is the result of manchurian crossed to range.