Quail Aviary 2.0

[le_bwah]

Absolutely more happy and healthy. In the wild quail mill around under brush, they move around, build nests, sleep in protected spots, and by creating a more natural environment, they feel as if they are just as free as their wild cousins.

I used fake Christmas trees to make brush piles, hay for litter which they used to make nests, they were in heaven! Caged quail just don't develop all they can be. I kept quail for about 11 years, all my quail lived to 6-7+ years old during this time and I believe it was because of the freedom of aviaries.

Fake trees are a great idea! I chopped up our Christmas tree and haven't changed the branches out since—very brown right now lol.

6-7 years is SO much longer than the oft-repeated 2-3 (in "bird time", at least).

I think some people underestimate Japanese quail (and quail in general) as stupid or boring because they don't "do" anything—really it's the way they're kept. A bird on wire or a bird in a cramped pen simply isn't able to initiate or follow through with natural behaviors, especially at the density most would try to pack them.

 

[le_bwah]

I hope the extra space helps. I think I have 2 or 3 males right now. I only get 4 eggs from 7 birds.

I think the stress of the males fighting (and the "bad" male chasing some of the girls) is keeping them rest of the hens from starting up. They're past their molt, but I'm only getting 2-3 eggs from 7 hens.

 

[igorsMistress]

I think the stress of the males fighting (and the "bad" male chasing some of the girls) is keeping them rest of the hens from starting up. They're past their molt, but I'm only getting 2-3 eggs from 7 hens.

When I weeded out the extra males I went from 2 to 4 eggs per day so it would probably help to get rid of at least 1. I would pick the problem child first too.

 

[TwoCrows]

Fake trees are a great idea! I chopped up our Christmas tree and haven't changed the branches out since—very brown right now lol.

6-7 years is SO much longer than the oft-repeated 2-3 (in "bird time", at least).

I think some people underestimate Japanese quail (and quail in general) as stupid or boring because they don't "do" anything—really it's the way they're kept. A bird on wire or a bird in a cramped pen simply isn't able to initiate or follow through with natural behaviors, especially at the density most would try to pack them.

Exactly! Quail kept on wire in cages are not given the opportunity to be smart, learn new things, how to build nests, where to lay eggs, etc... every creature is a product of their environment. So if you give them opportunity to learn and become smart birds, they evolve! I had mine clicker trained to get out of the aviary and into their coop. Some don't think quail have the brains to learn this stuff, but they do!

Yes, I actually bought some cheap xmas trees from walmart one year and I used thick dead branches and other branches to build a base and laid the trees on top of these. Let me see if I have a decent picture to show you of the main aviary...

I started using real cut branches, but the everything dried out so fast, it was too much work to clean up. AND it brought in leg scale mites.

There is a hen inside this nest, LOL

Taking a bath. (the male bird in the forefront of this picture lived to be 7 years, 5 months and 11 days. I hatched him myself)

 

[le_bwah]

Exactly! Quail kept on wire in cages are not given the opportunity to be smart, learn new things, how to build nests, where to lay eggs, etc... every creature is a product of their environment. So if you give them opportunity to learn and become smart birds, they evolve! I had mine clicker trained to get out of the aviary and into their coop. Some don't think quail have the brains to learn this stuff, but they do!

Yes, I actually bought some cheap xmas trees from walmart one year and I used thick dead branches and other branches to build a base and laid the trees on top of these. Let me see if I have a decent picture to show you of the main aviary...
View attachment 1722526

I started using real cut branches, but the everything dried out so fast, it was too much work to clean up. AND it brought in leg scale mites.
View attachment 1722528

There is a hen inside this nest, LOL
View attachment 1722531

Taking a bath. (the male bird in the forefront of this picture lived to be 7 years, 5 months and 11 days. I hatched him myself)
View attachment 1722532

Love those pictures!

 

[TwoCrows]

Love those pictures!

Thanks! Your aviary will be just as fabulous!

 

[le_bwah]

The topsoil is here!

In case you didn't know what 8 cubic yards of dirt looks like... the aviary only needs 2 or 3, the rest gets piled in the middle of the yard until we have the beds constructed.

About 6 inches deep. We got it into the structure via bucket brigade—not too difficult, really. Took just under an hour with two people shoveling/filling buckets and one dumping it out.

Pretty barren without plants.

The quail are all super nervous about the wide open space, but some braved the unknown for birdseed.

Will get some plants today (after more shoveling). I'll stop by a real nursery later this week and scope out the grasses/shrubs they've got. I'm hugely grateful this project is (mostly) done.

 

[Fishkeeper]

It looks great, and the quail are so cute!

What plants are you thinking of getting? I might need to take notes on ones that work well for quail. Mostly on what they won't eat to death.

 

[le_bwah]

It looks great, and the quail are so cute!

What plants are you thinking of getting? I might need to take notes on ones that work well for quail. Mostly on what they won't eat to death.

Karl Foerster grass and black-eyed Susan are probably the tallest things I'd like to plant. Lower to the ground, blue fescue, coleus, and safe herbs. I'll probably "re-home" some violets and clover from the park and divide those into any free space.

I think they'll eat all of the herbs if I let them (they demolished two large oregano last year) and they might bother the coleus. I'll be caging their favorites in leftover hardware cloth so they can nibble the ends without killing the whole plant—I'll be sure to share what I learn!

On an unrelated note, my primer just arrived, so I can get a test piece of hardware cloth painted by tonight. If that works out, I'll do all the lower "panels" over the next few days.

 

[igorsMistress]

You're making quick progress, it looks good! They're going to love it when it's done.