Quail environment questions

[Nabiki]

I was planning on keeping my Coturnix quail in a combination coop with solid top and sides and 1/2" hardware cloth bottom and 6'x8' 1/2" hardware cloth enclosure. The coop portion will have wheels so it is movable and the enclosure can be picked up and moved easily as well. This allows me to rotate the birds through my garden beds and other areas of my yard. I have four large pine trees in my yard, and there are a lot of weeds growing under the pine trees as well.

Are the weeds and pine needles going to be a problem for the quail, or will they actually like it?

 

[Fishkeeper]

That won't hurt them any, no. You should be sure to give them a sandbox, since they won't be able to dustbathe through the cloth. And be very careful of predators- a rat or such could still tunnel underneath and grab at their feet through the cloth.