Quail bedding or wire?

[Creede]

My crazy opinion? Massage table or other non-slick waterproof paper sheets, with exercise foam mat beneath. No, it is not easy, yes, it needs to be changed daily, yes, they can mess it all up and you’ll need sandbags or beanbags to weigh it down, but, it is the absolute healthiest option available. Wood shavings are toxic to all birds because of the scent oils in it, told to me by my vet. Will it kill them right away? Maybe not, but the scent’s overwhelming, and can definitely add to health and behavioral issues, not to mention the dust that will also add to health issues, which is why I don’t recommend sand, either, and ground birds were meant to walk on the ground, not fluffy stuff, it’s frustrating for them and hard on their legs and feet. As far as anything like soil goes? No way. That stuff can harbor god knows what in it, it’s impossible to fully clean, and it gets wet easy, and the problem with wet? Bumblefoot. Bumble is caused by two things, either sharp injury and infection, or slow pressure sores and then infection, the biggest component is wetness where that bacteria will grow in the first place, and it will grow all over soil and natural bedding at the first spill of a waterbowl, and over time from their droppings if you don’t spot clean daily. If you really have to do a soil-like, no wire, and outdoor set-up, I’d do construction sand, play sand can cause crop impactions because of its clumping action, you need small, but multi-grained sand, and make sure to mix in plenty of crushed granite grit so they have a selection, it will keep things dry, and you can get a sifter and sift through daily, change it all out monthly. But what I’d recommend, is a “pop-up” bed mosquito net, indoors, and with the paper + exercise mat setup, and an air purifier, or two, or three. The pop up net enclosure will ensure they can never hurt themselves in a flush, and give them plenty of space for very cheap. The paper is sanitary, and the foam pads will keep their feet healthy. Give them pop-up ferret tunnels and cardboard boxes to play and hide in, a few piles of hay, and some occasional treats stuffed and hidden in things, and they’ll live long, healthy, happy lives. One last thing, if you choose indoors, light has to be managed very carefully, but I won’t go into that. Hope this helps!

That is a great take. I’ve never heard of using the pad with paper. All of your points make sense. Unfortunately, I can’t figure out anyway to create a setup inside at our current home. I do have quite a bit of construction sand left over from a concrete company. Maybe I could use that.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Cedar and black walnut shavings are toxic, not pine or aspen, please be sure of your facts before posting! Is deep litter management an option? Also called compost bedding, basically you give the birds a deep litter (3-6 inches), stir it every couple days, add water or litter as needed and change quarterly or so. The birds are just much happier on bedding. The litter breaks down and you can use it immediately for compost, smell is compost. I add dry leaves, dry grass clippings, whatever and love it. For a base those compressed pine horse bedding pellets are great (mine also like adding some feed to the mix, urg!). Throw some scratch grains or seeds in and the birds might turn it, but you’ll probably have to turn a couple times a week anyway while finding eggs (or collect twice daily before they get buried with hgh temps).

 

[aimee750]

I have quail tractors I use about 7-8 months of the year and moved daily for fresh grass. Before it starts to snow I harvest down to 12 breeders and they are kept in bird cages in my garage. They have the nicely coated wire floor plus I have a dust bath pan in each cage. No bedding is used everything falls through to the collection pan.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Just saw your post on sand, I have tried it with an outdoor hutch, birds love it but it is heavy and nonabsorbent. This year I’m using a thin layer of sand with dry grass clippings on top, adding more as needed, so far birds are happy and it keeps the sand clean and dry.

 

[WildNectarine]

Cedar and black walnut shavings are toxic, not pine or aspen, please be sure of your facts before posting! Is deep litter management an option? Also called compost bedding, basically you give the birds a deep litter (3-6 inches), stir it every couple days, add water or litter as needed and change quarterly or so. The birds are just much happier on bedding. The litter breaks down and you can use it immediately for compost, smell is compost. I add dry leaves, dry grass clippings, whatever and love it. For a base those compressed pine horse bedding pellets are great (mine also like adding some feed to the mix, urg!). Throw some scratch grains or seeds in and the birds might turn it, but you’ll probably have to turn a couple times a week anyway while finding eggs (or collect twice daily before they get buried with hgh temps).

Pine and aspen still do have some scent oils according to my vet, and I think the dust and risk of bumble and general uncomfortable-ness for the bird outweighs the… well, there is no reward to bedding, paper is cheaper and easier. And sorry, but I’ll have to heavily agree to disagree on turning an animal’s enclosure into a bacteria amusement park. No zoological or scientific facility does that.

 

[Creede]

Cedar and black walnut shavings are toxic, not pine or aspen, please be sure of your facts before posting! Is deep litter management an option? Also called compost bedding, basically you give the birds a deep litter (3-6 inches), stir it every couple days, add water or litter as needed and change quarterly or so. The birds are just much happier on bedding. The litter breaks down and you can use it immediately for compost, smell is compost. I add dry leaves, dry grass clippings, whatever and love it. For a base those compressed pine horse bedding pellets are great (mine also like adding some feed to the mix, urg!). Throw some scratch grains or seeds in and the birds might turn it, but you’ll probably have to turn a couple times a week anyway while finding eggs (or collect twice daily before they get buried with hgh temps).

I like the sound of this. Definitely an option. I'm mostly trying to conclude on a humane way of keeping birds, so they thrive. In addition, trying to figure out a way to keep them without having to do a lot of daily work and keeping bad smells down. Compost smell is intriguing. I've heard of deep litter method, but didn't realize it was composting. That or I haven't heard of the compost bedding method. Feed waste is inevitable it appears. Realizing this with chickens currently...

Are there any other options you would recommend besides the compressed pine horse bedding pellets? If not, could you sell me on why just this option?

 

[Creede]

I have quail tractors I use about 7-8 months of the year and moved daily for fresh grass. Before it starts to snow I harvest down to 12 breeders and they are kept in bird cages in my garage. They have the nicely coated wire floor plus I have a dust bath pan in each cage. No bedding is used everything falls through to the collection pan.

Really interested in these quail tractors! Unfortunately, I just don't have enough backyard to do this. Between Shed, carport, chicken coop/run and garden. I've also got two young girls who love to do all things outside, so trying to keep an area for them to run around, swing, jump on trampoline, etc.

 

[Creede]

Just saw your post on sand, I have tried it with an outdoor hutch, birds love it but it is heavy and nonabsorbent. This year I’m using a thin layer of sand with dry grass clippings on top, adding more as needed, so far birds are happy and it keeps the sand clean and dry.

Ooo, that's interesting. I like that idea