Quail cage ideas

[South Bay Beach Bum]

Hi everyone,
I am in the process of designing my first quail cage to raise quail for harvest, save the poop for composting, and collecting the eggs easily. What specifics do I need to keep in mind? The cage will be outside with a little roof over it. The winters here are very mild with frost on the ground or the roofs of houses for less than a week each year. Our summers are also mild with temperatures in the 90's for about a month. I am hoping to keep around 30 quail.
1. what is the best height for a cage?
2. what slope should the floor be?
3. what is the best watering system for the quail?
4. what is the best feeder system for the quail?
Thank you for any ideas,
Shelly
Torrance, CA

 

[nchls school]

I can not answer all your questions. The height of the cage is relatively unimportant as cortunix (most quail species) are ground dwellers. One thing I learned fast is that to cage top needs to be flexible. When frightened quail will fly straight up with force. Should the top be rigid the quail will injure or kill themselves doing this; and it does not take much to scare a quail.

 

[South Bay Beach Bum]

Thank you Nchls

 

[Fenrisulfr]

Hi everyone,
I am in the process of designing my first quail cage to raise quail for harvest, save the poop for composting, and collecting the eggs easily. What specifics do I need to keep in mind? The cage will be outside with a little roof over it. The winters here are very mild with frost on the ground or the roofs of houses for less than a week each year. Our summers are also mild with temperatures in the 90's for about a month. I am hoping to keep around 30 quail.
1. what is the best height for a cage?

35-40 cm, ... with this height they do not gain too much speed to get bad injuries when flushing up. Otherwise more than 2m.
My hutch has 50cm and I needed to damp the ceiling with plasic foam mats, after I had some head injuries.

2. what slope should the floor be?

I am using PVC floor. It is easy to clean and protects the basic wood construction. Also mites, etc. have no chance. Wire or grattings are forbitten here in Germany.

3. what is the best watering system for the quail?
4. what is the best feeder system for the quail?

Automatic watering system are comfortable and using nearly no space, when mounted e.g. on the wire-door, but they are complicated to clean, as all components, like hoses, nipples, containers etc. needed to be cleaned regulary.

I am using classic waterer like this. They need to be filled daily but are easy to clean but using up quite much space in a cage.
For the feeder I amalso using classic poultry feeders. In my experience these are the best in not wasting food and keeping clean. But they are using much space, especially for small huchtes/cages.
But this is just my opinion:

Thank you for any ideas,
Shelly
Torrance, CA

You are welcome. And ...

 

[South Bay Beach Bum]

Thank you so much Fenrisulfr!

 

[RUNuts]

Our summers are also mild with temperatures in the 90's for about a month. I am hoping to keep around 30 quail.
1. what is the best height for a cage?
2. what slope should the floor be?
3. what is the best watering system for the quail?
4. what is the best feeder system for the quail?
Thank you for any ideas,
Shelly
Torrance, CA

30 adult quail would need around 15 square feet, but this varies.
1. height - sounds like this was answered above.
2. slope for egg collection? 1" in 10" is what I've found.
3. whichever one you don't mind taking care of. Personal choice. I use the same above and the drinking cups.
4. I use 1 quart cottage cheese bowls and make no mess quail feeders. Cut a head hole near the top and they can't scoop the food all over the place. External troughs are also options. Again, best is a personal choice.

I keep my quail on wire and boxes of wood chips, flats from the canned good section of the grocery store. They are free. I change the wood chips/mulch/dirt a couple times a month depending on poop load and time available. The eggs are usually laid in the wood chips.

My cages are 2' deep. Anything deeper and you have to stick your head in or get a net to reach the far side. You will find the depth that works in your system. I suggest 2 foot deep.

Cheers!

 

[South Bay Beach Bum]

Thank you Maynard! I am learning so much.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My Courtinx cages are 10 inches high. 12 inches and I'm getting quail that kill themselves jumping into the ceiling

 

[sunraize homesteader]

I have Quail too. I have a bunch ready to hatch in 6 days . waiting on the chickens to get another day on them to start yet another batch. Quail are so much fun.