Quail Condo Update

[AGDependentFarm]

I don't think that @le_bwah is attacking you. I have to agree, that while you cages appear to have a lot of work and effort, they are lacking some things that will keep your quail healthier and happier.

Quail need a place to rest their feet from the wire. If they don't have this, they are far more likely to develop foot and leg problems.

Dust baths are also essential for their feather health, which reduces chance of mites and also helps them weather adverse weather better.

Please take this as constructive criticicism, not as an attack.

There is nothing wrong with raising quail for eggs and meat, but keeping them healthy is important no matter why you are raising them.

Good luck with your quail!

Thanks for your response. Don't get me wrong I am here to learn. I came in knowing I don't know everything. And I have stated over and over I agree the birds need a dust bath. However in my cage system I choose to not leave the bowls in 24/7.

What I have learned over my lifetime is that there are many paths to get from start to finish. And not all look the same or are the wrong way of doing things.
I have done a lot of studying on raising Quail for meat and watched hours of videos on the subject. from cage design to feed. Incubating to culling. What I noticed was none of these people did it the same way.
So instead of emailing them and explaining how they did it wrong I took what I felt was best for my situation and applied it. Now out of 219 Eggs I have incubated I hatched around 170 birds. We lost a few in the brooder some mistakes on our part as we learned and some because they are excellent at finding ways to unalive themselves.
But as of yesterday I collected 42 eggs. I have about 40 roosters separated to cull this week. I have around 70 that are barely 6 weeks old and almost ready to separate into breeding areas then cull the remaining roosters.

I have been around different forums long enough to see that people like @le_bwah have decided their way is the only way of doing things.

I'm not here to change this I just wanted to share my experience. And I did feel attacked when I came in here this morning.

 

[QuailQueen3]

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein

I accept that you feel MY Quail need substrate 24/7. I choose to not yield to your advice as I only put it in a few days a week. I do agree they need it just not on the length of time you do. its ok for us to see this differently.
My birds enjoy bathing in a water bath from their water cups. I didn't teach this but if it makes them happy so be it.

So do my birds have a great life. well I think so. They have access to the best Game Bird feed money can buy 24/7, They have a constant supply of fresh water, They are in a climate controlled area out of the wind and rain. Their cages are cleaned daily, there are no bugs or pests to annoy or harm them. I treat their water with herbs and spices as well as Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar.
My breeders are separated 5 hens to a rooster. my egg layers have no roosters to worry about. They have automatic lighting as well as fresh air and sunshine.

They even get to listen to Dave Matthews with me on the weekends while I am doing maintenance.

What am I missing?

You are doing great with your quail and are a great new member to our community! Welcome!

 

[AGDependentFarm]

You are doing great with your quail and are a great new member to our community! Welcome!

Thanks for your support!

 

[QuailQueen3]

Quail Update

Attached is an update video of my Quail Pen if your interested.
View attachment 3347847

Thanks for your support!

You are welcome! Thank you for taking the time to share your set up with your Quail Condo! You are doing great work! I can tell you are putting so much thought, effort, and love into every decision!

While there may be some individual opinions, and some bloggers writing blogposts (who don’t even own or raise quail) suggesting that daily dirt baths need to be offered, I have not seen any research articles to support this. I have not seen any articles or videos from the largest, best-recognized hatcheries in the US to suggest that they are doing this. I have not seen any legitimate source document this as a “Best Practice” (which would necessarily document actual adverse effects of not doing it “daily” or “24/7” as some members assert (which seems to be their opinion with nothing more to back it up).

Members of this community are generally awesome! Members of this community generally see that we are all learning, that there are many ways to raise quail, and that we all share ideas, challenges, and support each other. I am so sorry that your early experience in this community was something less than that. You are doing great work! Stay!

I have my own questions about dirt baths and have been researching various issues on this subject. I look forward to the journey together!

 

[QuailQueen3]

Thanks for your response. Don't get me wrong I am here to learn. I came in knowing I don't know everything. And I have stated over and over I agree the birds need a dust bath. However in my cage system I choose to not leave the bowls in 24/7.

What I have learned over my lifetime is that there are many paths to get from start to finish. And not all look the same or are the wrong way of doing things.
I have done a lot of studying on raising Quail for meat and watched hours of videos on the subject. from cage design to feed. Incubating to culling. What I noticed was none of these people did it the same way.
So instead of emailing them and explaining how they did it wrong I took what I felt was best for my situation and applied it. Now out of 219 Eggs I have incubated I hatched around 170 birds. We lost a few in the brooder some mistakes on our part as we learned and some because they are excellent at finding ways to unalive themselves.
But as of yesterday I collected 42 eggs. I have about 40 roosters separated to cull this week. I have around 70 that are barely 6 weeks old and almost ready to separate into breeding areas then cull the remaining roosters.

I have been around different forums long enough to see that people like @le_bwah have decided their way is the only way of doing things.

I'm not here to change this I just wanted to share my experience. And I did feel attacked when I came in here this morning.

Great post AG Dependent Farm!

 

[le_bwah]

I am here to learn.

I'm not here to change

Pick one.

You are not being attacked, so you can quit being defensive.

 

[le_bwah]

I have not seen any research articles to support this

It's funny, that for all the work that goes into C. japonica as a model species, there hasn't been nearly as much research (at least in the west) into their care and keeping. The first papers I ever read about the subject were from the 60s and are very likely outdated.

What I have seen within my lifetime are journal articles detailing experiments that compare the health and relative comfort of galliformes in battery cage conditions to those in enriched cages or ground aviaries. Sometimes Coturnix are even the focal animal, though it is very often chickens taking the spotlight.

In every paper I've seen on the subject, galliformes live worse in battery cages—stressed, "bored," unable to live by their biological clocks. That's not an opinion. It's not a judgement either. But it is an invitation to understand how we can all be striving to do right by the creatures we keep, no matter what ultimate purposes we have for them.

 

[AGDependentFarm]

Its funny how my post attempting to show how I raise my supper has turned into such a debate.
These animals aren't pets, they do not get names and longevity of life isn't much a concern. However I do strive to give them a good quality of life while they are here. These birds are born to live through 8-10 weeks. Layers and breeders a bit more. They will be culled each year.

Dust bathes have a purpose and I have stated multiple times I am for them. But one of the main reason a bird uses a dust bath is to smother parasites such as mites (I know they also clean the oil from their feathers). If you never introduce these to a caged animal then there shouldn't be as much of a need for them. I have seen many post of folks using Play Sand and plenty saying the silica can cause cancer. Again many post of folks using yard dirt. If you don't sterilize your dirt you risk brining parasites into your cage system. With that said it wouldn't be hard to do more bad than good with a dust bath. I do like that it gives them something to do besides eat and procreate.

There are birds raised to be pets and others to be food. The way they are raised will be different as the quality of life is different for both styles of keeping birds. The key is to understand there is more than 1 way to raise these birds so folks shouldn't be so short sided that their way is the only way.

I do appreciate all the kind words of some and hope this post in some way helps someone get into raising Quail. I'm not crazy that some of my words were quoted out of context to attempt something.

 

[The Birb King]

Ok I dont wanna get attacked here or anything but uh I agree with le_bwah about this. Quail should not be kept on wire floors because it can really damage their feet and cause issues like sores and bumblefoot which can be deadly if left untreated. And yea they need a pan with dirt or sand to bathe in. It makes them a lot happier and helps them get rid of parasites. That quail cage looked a bit crowded too. And the whole 1 foot per quail thing is complete bs. Quail are active animals that need enough space to get exercise, flap their wings, etc. I would say for button quail, minimum is 2 square feet per quail and for coturnix, 2 1/2 square feet per quail. Seriously though I dont understand why everyone keeps quail on wire floors I feel like there are obvious reasons not to.

 

[AGDependentFarm]

Ok I dont wanna get attacked here or anything but uh I agree with le_bwah about this. Quail should not be kept on wire floors because it can really damage their feet and cause issues like sores and bumblefoot which can be deadly if left untreated. And yea they need a pan with dirt or sand to bathe in. It makes them a lot happier and helps them get rid of parasites. That quail cage looked a bit crowded too. And the whole 1 foot per quail thing is complete bs. Quail are active animals that need enough space to get exercise, flap their wings, etc. I would say for button quail, minimum is 2 square feet per quail and for coturnix, 2 1/2 square feet per quail. Seriously though I dont understand why everyone keeps quail on wire floors I feel like there are obvious reasons not to.

There is a difference in raising pets versus raising meat. These birds are on a wire floor for about 4 weeks before being slaughtered (culled). As for spacing the closer the birds are the less they spook. They naturally huddle down into a cuvy.