Quail - Are they easy to care for?

[JJMR794]

Like Shelley-- Buttons? Coturnix? Bob White? Or Other Speces??? There Are Differences In Care And Needs...

 

[gumpsgirl]

Thank you Shelley! That post was very helpful!

I think I am interested in the Coturnix. I've never been around quail, as already stated, but the ones I saw I just fell in love with! I loved the sounds they made!!! The buttons are cute, but they sound to needy which is something I don't need.

Now to start planning a pen for them!

BTW, I feel like an idiot mod! I didn't even notice the sticky at the top of this section!

<<blush>>

 

[eggsrcool]

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Good luck with the quail!!

 

[Southernbelle]

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My "pen" is just an all-wire rabbit cage. That's what Nikki the Quail Queen uses, too. So they're much simpler to house than chickens.

In the winter I cover the cage with tarp to cut down on drafts. I keep a cat litter pan in the cage for dust baths and they like to cuddle up in it to sleep. They are cute little buggers.

 

[gumpsgirl]

We (the kids and I, so I didn't bother DH) are just finishing up a nice large rabbit hutch for two bunnies I just got my daughter. It has turned out well and has been really easy to make! I might do something of this nature for the quail, just taller so they can fly around a little.

 

[shelleyd2008]

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I've been told many times that coturnix don't need height to their cages, since they are ground dwellers. Someone forgot to tell my quail that. I put some young ones in an unused chicken coop and run. The run is about 4' high. They were flying all over in there, stretching their wings I suppose.

They don't really need height, but they sure do like it! Maybe you could put some other type of gamebird in with them that would use the height more.

All the rest of my quail are in wire rabbit cages. I have 3 cages that are 2'x2'x'2. There are 4 birds in one, 5 in one, and 6 in one. Then I have a cage that is 30"x36" and 11" tall, there are 11 jumbo birds in this one. Then I have 2 other cages that are about 15" deep by 24" wide, and 15"-18" tall. One of these has 4 birds, the other has 3 (all males). They do just fine, but I'm thinking of making some tractors for them, since they seem to like the extra head room

 

[m.rogers]

shelleyd2008

I am thinking about getting some quail and it sounds like you have a good bit of pens set up if you would can you post some pics of your pins so I can come up with a plan on how I will go about makeing some up.

Mike

 

[shelleyd2008]

They are just simple wire rabbit cages, like you'd buy at a pet or feed store. I got most of mine at the local livestock auction, though 2 of them I made myself. I'll see if I can get some pics for you though.

 

[redhen]

I used rabbit hutches for my quail with a wire bottom. (easier to clean) , but they had a nest spot with a wood floor and shavings so they can get off the wire.. They are very easy to take care of.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Thank you!

I think I know what I'm going to do for them now. I'm going to build a cage / pen just like the one we just built for the rabbits, but at least twice the size and I do want some height to it. If I put the nesting boxes (which I know I read they won't use them, but the ones I saw sure were) up higher, will they be able to fly up to them? I'm only talking about making the cage 4 to 5 feet high.