Quail hardly use the sand box area...?

[nigma]

When i built the hutch for the Quail, it is almost 50/50 wire bottom and a sand box for them to play in it.
But most of the time 10 out of the 12 birds hang out in the wired area... and i would only find 2 or maybe 3 tops in the sand area..... I do hear them play/dust bath in there.

do they not like it in there? is it because it is a big box with door/one hole for them to get in and out? can it be it is too dark in there? can the overly shaded area stress them out?

dimensions are 6feet width x 2feet depth x 1.3feet tall

12 birds, 2 males 10 females.

This is an image of the hutch before i installed the door, and water system.

 

[SpotTheCat]

Coturnix quail?
coturnix quail don’t like very dark and inclosed places, the door also looks quite small. I would enlarge the door quite a bit

 

[nigma]

Yeah, they are a Italian/jumbo mix... i thought i screwed up and made the door too big at first... but after nailing everything up.... yeah it looks so small!

 

[Nabiki]

They would prefer it if it weren't completely enclosed. Even hiding places should have two exits.