Quail Keep on Eating Sweet PDZ

[QuailMomma20]

Hello. I am new to quail and have recently hatched a few coturnix for a school project. I am going to keep them as indoor pets, and my dad says if they stink up the house, they go outside, which is a "violation" of the HOA, meaning I would have to give them up, and I am not going to let that happen. So I am determined keep them smelling fresh. I have mixed pine shavings with sweet PDZ, put baking soda in the shavings, I supplement their water with apple cider vinegar (with mother), and spot clean daily. What I have noticed lately is that they have been scratching up the shavings and eating the PDZ. Will it hurt them? I know that scratching at the shavings is an instinct, but is there anything I can do to keep them from eating it? I love my little babies and would be devastated if one of them would get sick/die because of it. Thanks!

 

[AQuailNamedFrancis]

Im sorry I am unsure on the Sweet PDZ but what I do is I have this little scented apple lick stick that horses use. It smells a ton like apples. Kinda artificial but it works on keeping odor down. Btw, would your dad be okay with letting them stay in the garage? I used to keep my coturnix in the house but when they are fully grown they can live in the garage. (No heating lamp needed). Also maybe you could try using a candle or just something with a strong scent to keep the odor down.

Btw, how many do you have?

I have 2 and they don't smell that bad. My button quail are the ones that stick up my room. lol.

P.S Are you sure they are eating the PDZ?

Anyways good luck with your quail.

 

[QuailMomma20]

They don't smell too bad, I am positive they are

Im sorry I am unsure on the Sweet PDZ but what I do is I have this little scented apple lick stick that horses use. It smells a ton like apples. Kinda artificial but it works on keeping odor down. Btw, would your dad be okay with letting them stay in the garage? I used to keep my coturnix in the house but when they are fully grown they can live in the garage. (No heating lamp needed). Also maybe you could try using a candle or just something with a strong scent to keep the odor down.

Btw, how many do you have?

I have 2 and they don't smell that bad. My button quail are the ones that stick up my room. lol.

P.S Are you sure they are eating the PDZ?

Anyways good luck with your quail.

I'm sure they are eating it, they don't smell too bad yet, I have 5.

 

[Welshies]

Do you give them sand to dust themselves in and use as grit?

 

[JaeG]

Fermenting their food helps immensely with the smell and keeping them as dry as possible. Don't use candles or any kinds of essential oils to disguise the smell as I know they will kill caged birds, so the same is probably true for quail.

 

[JaeG]

I just had a look at Sweet PDZ (not available in my country) and its made of zeolite which is a stable, thought to be non toxic type of rock. The only danger I can see is if they are filling up on it rather than their food as it holds no nutritional value for them and probably passes right on through.

 

[Welshies]

I just had a look at Sweet PDZ (not available in my country) and its made of zeolite which is a stable, thought to be non toxic type of rock. The only danger I can see is if they are filling up on it rather than their food as it holds no nutritional value for them and probably passes right on through.

They are probably eating it as grit, I think.

 

[QuailMomma20]

They are probably eating it as grit, I think.

They get a dish with grit, so I dont know why they would be using it as that.

 

[QuailMomma20]

I just had a look at Sweet PDZ (not available in my country) and its made of zeolite which is a stable, thought to be non toxic type of rock. The only danger I can see is if they are filling up on it rather than their food as it holds no nutritional value for them and probably passes right on through.

Thanks again!