ordered the "new" jumbo celadon eggs from thieving otter farm-

[CliftonQuail]

I'm currently on a break from raising quail, but would generally only use paper towels for the first few days in the brooder. After that, I used pine shavings in the brooder (plastic tote with a window screen cover). I'd start with about 2 or 3" of shavings and run a hand garden rake through them once a day, maybe add a layer of shavings if necessary. Then I'd move the birds into an identical tote with fresh shavings and use that one for a few days before moving them back to the other tote with new shavings in it. When they were three weeks old, I'd move the birds to their grow out/breeder cages which are wire bottomed (Wynola Ranch). I put a paver stone in each cage so they could get off the wire at times and to give them something to rub their beaks and toes on to help keep them trimmed. Adding the paver helped reduce bumblefoot issues, but I'll probably go with a different cage setup when I get back into the game. I'm considering an aviary setup or even quail "tractors", but will see how it goes.

 

[lindy]

I'm currently on a break from raising quail, but would generally only use paper towels for the first few days in the brooder. After that, I used pine shavings in the brooder (plastic tote with a window screen cover). I'd start with about 2 or 3" of shavings and run a hand garden rake through them once a day, maybe add a layer of shavings if necessary. Then I'd move the birds into an identical tote with fresh shavings and use that one for a few days before moving them back to the other tote with new shavings in it. When they were three weeks old, I'd move the birds to their grow out/breeder cages which are wire bottomed (Wynola Ranch). I put a paver stone in each cage so they could get off the wire at times and to give them something to rub their beaks and toes on to help keep them trimmed. Adding the paver helped reduce bumblefoot issues, but I'll probably go with a different cage setup when I get back into the game. I'm considering an aviary setup or even quail "tractors", but will see how it goes.

did you like the wynola, i cant afford those but found something similar with pvc wire flooring, 2x3 layout.

 

[CliftonQuail]

did you like the wynola, i cant afford those but found something similar with pvc wire flooring, 2x3 layout.

I did like them and had the PVC flooring. They're probably adequate for grow out cages for meat birds, but I don't plan to keep breeding colonies in them in the future. I'd rather make my breeders more comfortable even if it makes for more work having to hunt for eggs and change bedding more frequently.

An additional note about the Wynola is that they aren't predator proof and need to be in an area that is. Due to the egg roll out, there's plenty of space for rodents, etc. to get in at the birds. I didn't have that problem since my cages are in my garage, but I wouldn't set them up outside without additional predator proofing.