Quail Dust Bath Ideas

[GodLovesU]

So I’m currently just using some shallow dishes and they splash all the sand out within hours. Does anyone have any alternatives that hold the sand in better?

 

[catesquire]

Small plastic storage containers work for me. Higher sides and just as easy to clean.

 

[le_bwah]

Deeper dishes help! I've used aluminum pans (the ones advertised for baking turkeys), plastic troughs, and, briefly, the lower half of a plastic dog house. Whatever you use, they could need a boost if it's tall enough, something to help them step in and out.

You might also be able to reduce how far they fling their sand by making sure it's course enough, and/or mixing it with plain dirt. Here's an old video showing how they'll still manage to fling some out regardless.

 

[farmer90]

I use with huge success those shallow and wide plastic dishes that's meant to be put under multiple small plant pots. Not sure how you name it in English. At first I tried with Tupperware style dishes, but the problem occurred quickly. When they threw out most of the sand, the dish became light and when someone stepped on the edge, they ended up underneath and the dish was upside down on their head like a dome. Luckily I had more free time back then to check them regularly. A few months later I came across to a post in this forum that one of their quail did the same in the heat of the summer and died because of it. After that I never used my tupperware again.

 

[007Sean]

You could use a higher sided tote or box and leave 3 sides tall and cut one end down so they can get in and out of it with ease. That way only one end is low, should help keep the sand/ soil in better.

 

[gummylick]

I've been thinking about this alot as mine kick out all their sand in minutes. My latest idea is to get something like those giant Easter eggs, take the top part off and cut a door, add sand in bottom and snap it back together to make a little dome sand box. so hopefully if they kick, it'll just hit the walls and slide down. I've seen eggs as large as 8", but not sure it'll work.

 

[Nabiki]

I've been thinking about this alot as mine kick out all their sand in minutes. My latest idea is to get something like those giant Easter eggs, take the top part off and cut a door, add sand in bottom and snap it back together to make a little dome sand box. so hopefully if they kick, it'll just hit the walls and slide down. I've seen eggs as large as 8", but not sure it'll work.

View attachment 4258266

If you do that, do you have space to bury most of the bottom half? Then you can cut the entrance into the top half, and they're even less likely to kick it out. It will also make it more stable.

 

[gummylick]

If you do that, do you have space to bury most of the bottom half? Then you can cut the entrance into the top half, and they're even less likely to kick it out. It will also make it more stable.

Yes so I was thinking let bottom half sit buried in the wood pellet dust floor to also decrease their jump height to get in. Biggest hurdle would be if the plastic will hold up to a cut or is it that hard kind that cracks.

 

[CliftonQuail]

Yes so I was thinking let bottom half sit buried in the wood pellet dust floor to also decrease their jump height to get in. Biggest hurdle would be if the plastic will hold up to a cut or is it that hard kind that cracks.

If the plastic is too brittle to cut, you might be able to melt it with a cheap soldering iron. I wouldn't use a good iron on it, but there are plenty available for under $20.