Quail hutch/roost question

[Jklipman]

I have 11 snowie coturnix quail about 2 1/2 weeks old. I'm about to move them to there hutch outside. The hutch is less than 6" off the ground, with a ramp into a enclosed run. So to get inside the hutch they have to go up this small ramp. Inside the hutch is there food and water. My plan is to lock them up in the hutch for a week and then open the door to ramp leading to the run. That way they get used to the hutch and where there food and water is. My question is once I open the door a week later so they can use the run, are they smart enough to go back to the hutch for food and water? I know they don't roost and prefer to sleep in the open. Is my plan okay?

 

[Nabiki]

They're not likely to use the hutch. Quail are ground birds and don't like ramps. It's not impossible to train them, and the ramp sounds low enough that they might use it, but they might not. I would start them in the hutch so they know where the food and water are and keep an eye on them. They should figure it out.

Quail also like to rest wherever they happen to be. They don't have the homing instinct like chickens do.

 

[Qualien]

I have 11 snowie coturnix quail about 2 1/2 weeks old. I'm about to move them to there hutch outside. The hutch is less than 6" off the ground, with a ramp into a enclosed run. So to get inside the hutch they have to go up this small ramp. Inside the hutch is there food and water. My plan is to lock them up in the hutch for a week and then open the door to ramp leading to the run. That way they get used to the hutch and where there food and water is. My question is once I open the door a week later so they can use the run, are they smart enough to go back to the hutch for food and water? I know they don't roost and prefer to sleep in the open. Is my plan okay?

I had my quail in a dual level cage with a ramp for a while. They figured it out pretty quickly. It was a smaller cage for only a few birds, but they had it figured out in a day or two, and had a blast chasing each other up and down the ramp.

 

[Qualien]

I have 11 snowie coturnix quail about 2 1/2 weeks old. I'm about to move them to there hutch outside. The hutch is less than 6" off the ground, with a ramp into a enclosed run. So to get inside the hutch they have to go up this small ramp. Inside the hutch is there food and water. My plan is to lock them up in the hutch for a week and then open the door to ramp leading to the run. That way they get used to the hutch and where there food and water is. My question is once I open the door a week later so they can use the run, are they smart enough to go back to the hutch for food and water? I know they don't roost and prefer to sleep in the open. Is my plan okay?

I had my quail in a dual level cage with a ramp for a while. They figured it out pretty quickly. It was a smaller cage for only a few birds, but they had it figured out in a day or two, and had a blast chasing each other up and down the ramp.

 

[Fenrisulfr]

Yes I totally agree Nabiki.
I have a little chicken coop (2 sqmeter) with laying appartment on top. I offer food and water upstairs and on the ground.

Some quails use the ramp, some don't.

 

[Quailobsessed]

Yes I totally agree Nabiki.
I have a little chicken coop (2 sqmeter) with laying appartment on top. I offer food and water upstairs and on the ground.

Some quails use the ramp, some don't.
View attachment 2136064

Same for me. I kept some in a similar coop. Some used the ramp, some didn't.