Quail Dust Bath

[PatientType]

Quail seem to love a sand box. They sit in it, they toss sand over themselves, they peck at it as a grit to better digest their food.

If you're putting in an outdoor aviary-type pen, my suggestion would be to get the biggest cat litter box you can find - one that has fairly high sides. Keep the box somewhere in the pen that it will not get rained on. Then, invest $6 and buy a 50# bag of construction, all purpose sand. Then keep about 1-1 1/2 inches of sand in the litter box.

 

[le_bwah]

Quail don't just like a dust bath, they NEED one. It's a natural and necessary part of their grooming behavior. Removes oil, debris, pests—probably feels good too, to be real.

I have a dirt floor aviary with bark sprinkled overtop. The birds just dig little pits wherever they like and bath whenever—no problems so far. If your floor isn't a bath-able substrate, shallow cardboard boxes or disposable trays works just as well—anything to hold a couple inches of dirt that you won't mind getting pooped all over.

 

[isegal]

Quail seem to love a sand box. They sit in it, they toss sand over themselves, they peck at it as a grit to better digest their food.

If you're putting in an outdoor aviary-type pen, my suggestion would be to get the biggest cat litter box you can find - one that has fairly high sides. Keep the box somewhere in the pen that it will not get rained on. Then, invest $6 and buy a 50# bag of construction, all purpose sand. Then keep about 1-1 1/2 inches of sand in the litter box.

View attachment 4240994

Alright, thank you. For some reason, I have a fear they'll drown in it, even though I know they won't.

 

[isegal]

Yes, sorry. I agree with you. My parents are pressuring me to take them out earlier because of the smell, but I'm not going to take them out before six weeks. My father grew up on a meatbird farm that fits 120,000 chickens, and he keeps trying to transfer his knowledge to Quail, and I keep trying to tell him that no, they won't be okay, Dad! Yes, dad, they need a dust bath! No, dad, they won't be fine!
Sorry for the rambling.

I really don't recommend putting them outside before six weeks (or fully feathered, whichever is later), as I've told you before.

As long as they can find their way back to the heat lamp, they will be okay. They are more likely to do that as adults than they are as chicks.

 

[Nabiki]

Yes, sorry. I agree with you. My parents are pressuring me to take them out earlier because of the smell, but I'm not going to take them out before six weeks. My father grew up on a meatbird farm that fits 120,000 chickens, and he keeps trying to transfer his knowledge to Quail, and I keep trying to tell him that no, they won't be okay, Dad! Yes, dad, they need a dust bath! No, dad, they won't be fine!
Sorry for the rambling.

So many people get quail and try to treat them like mini chickens and then wonder why they're having problems and/or dying. That's the reason for my signature line that quail. are. not. chickens.

 

[isegal]

So many people get quail and try to treat them like mini chickens and then wonder why they're having problems and/or dying. That's the reason for my signature line that quail. are. not.

So many people get quail and try to treat them like mini chickens and then wonder why they're having problems and/or dying. That's the reason for my signature line that quail. are. not. chickens.

Yes, I know! My father is yelling at me that they have to leave this week. I'm trying to tell him about what your saying. But he won't hear it. The coop is made of chicken wire with a clear nylon around it. Will the nylon change the outcome, blocking out some wind and keeping the temperature inside? Also, I think the chicken wire might be a problem. I fear they could squeeze through it!

 

[isegal]

Yes, I know! My father is yelling at me that they have to leave this week. I'm trying to tell him about what your saying. But he won't hear it. The coop is made of chicken wire with a clear nylon around it. Will the nylon change the outcome, blocking out some wind and keeping the temperature inside? Also, I think the chicken wire might be a problem. I fear they could squeeze through it!

The chicken wire is around, for the shower side, a bit over 1 inch, and thr longer side, a bit under 2 inches. The longer side is horizontal.

 

[Nabiki]

Chicken wire is not going to keep your quail safe. EVERYTHING likes to eat quail. It needs to be covered in 1/2" hardware cloth.

I don't think the nylon is wind proof. Can you get a tarp? Put some small cardboard boxes in there with two holes cut into them so they can't get trapped inside if something is chasing them. That will help them keep warm and survive.

 

[isegal]

Chicken wire is not going to keep your quail safe. EVERYTHING likes to eat quail. It needs to be covered in 1/2" hardware cloth.

I don't think the nylon is wind proof. Can you get a tarp? Put some small cardboard boxes in there with two holes cut into them so they can't get trapped inside if something is chasing them. That will help them keep warm and survive.

There is a tarp above. The nylon is basically a durable plastic sheet around the entire enclosure.

 

[Nabiki]

Since they're not fully feathered, you may lose some, but as long as the nylon keeps the wind and wet out, they have a chance.