Quail! I want to give them the best life possible.

[RoostersAreAwesome]

They seem to be getting along very well now. No missing feathers, I've never seen them fight, and they are always 'cuddling' with each other (maybe just because it's cold, but its sweet). Though in the summer they crow NON STOP. Is that because they are calling for hens? I haven't heard them crow once all fall/winter. I am thinking of a nice natural aviary setup for them or an enclosed garden.

I don't see why they need hens if they're getting along. It's not like they need to mate.

 

[Lemon88]

I don't see why they need hens if they're getting along. It's not like they need to mate.

Is there any chance that it would stop their constant crowing?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Is there any chance that it would stop their constant crowing?

I'm not sure. I only have a male and a female. They're separated, however, since they hate each other's guts.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Is there any chance that it would stop their constant crowing?

Yes it would

 

[Lemon88]

I haven't had the time to get started on building yet, but I will start soon! For those who house quail in aviaries, do you give the quail plants? If so what types?

 

[maadroj]

I haven't had the time to get started on building yet, but I will start soon! For those who house quail in aviaries, do you give the quail plants? If so what types?

I have valley quail, so I don't know if your coturnix would have the same preferences. I've found that mine mostly leave alone lemongrass, Cleveland sage, butterfly bush, peppermint, Rosemary, lavender, and lemon verbena. They eat pretty much everything else, including mints. They love to eat small kale and cauliflower plants and all sorts of sprouts. I am trying to grow some basil, marigold, and kale outside of the aviary tall enough to survive them if I move it in, while allowing them to eat from it.

The ground in my aviary is covered in mulch, which appears to help them stay relatively clean even in rain, but they love to dig holes to bathe or cool off in the heat. They are impressive diggers and can make a hole large enough for them to lie in. I ended up lining the aviary with stones to discourage their digging against the walls. The outside of the aviary has a hardware cloth apron to hopefully prevent predators from digging in.

They love hiding places like boxes and plastic lids against the aviary wall, and brush piles when I've pruned my bushes. They roost at night (again, these are valley quail), so I covered the end where they sleep with a tarp to try to give them some protection from the elements. During the day, after feeding them, I sometimes also scatter birdseed to give them something to do during the day. They love to scratch for food.

 

[Lemon88]

I have valley quail, so I don't know if your coturnix would have the same preferences. I've found that mine mostly leave alone lemongrass, Cleveland sage, butterfly bush, peppermint, Rosemary, lavender, and lemon verbena. They eat pretty much everything else, including mints. They love to eat small kale and cauliflower plants and all sorts of sprouts. I am trying to grow some basil, marigold, and kale outside of the aviary tall enough to survive them if I move it in, while allowing them to eat from it.

The ground in my aviary is covered in mulch, which appears to help them stay relatively clean even in rain, but they love to dig holes to bathe or cool off in the heat. They are impressive diggers and can make a hole large enough for them to lie in. I ended up lining the aviary with stones to discourage their digging against the walls. The outside of the aviary has a hardware cloth apron to hopefully prevent predators from digging in.

They love hiding places like boxes and plastic lids against the aviary wall, and brush piles when I've pruned my bushes. They roost at night (again, these are valley quail), so I covered the end where they sleep with a tarp to try to give them some protection from the elements. During the day, after feeding them, I sometimes also scatter birdseed to give them something to do during the day. They love to scratch for food.

I definitely want some plants they can eat, but also ones that they won't so they have many plants to hide in! I am definitely going to mulch it because I feel awful when they get all muddy. What I am building isn't going to be very tall because they arent the greatest flyers and I am worried about them flying and hitting the top and hurting themselves, as some of my babies died doing that. They definitely love hiding in things, so I give them cardboard boxes that I can just replace when it gets dirty. I will try giving them birdseed, as I bet they will enjoy that! I want to make sure they are getting plenty of enrichment.