For a while now, I have been thinking about and planning getting some quail. We have had some building work done in our smallish, suburban garden (in the UK) and I now have a shed that is approx 3ft by 7ft. I've also found a breeder fairly nearby who will have some Japanese quail ready in a few weeks. I was going to get 6 females. Before I take the plunge, I wanted to run my plans and questions past someone who knows what they're talking about - particularly as our builder has been saying things like "they'll fly away", "quails are very noisy", "quail eggs are horrible" etc etc. I don't think he's ever actually kept quails but neither have I.
Here is a picture of the shed:
The base has been repaved and we're going to put a shed base like this https://www.thegardenrange.co.uk/p/garden-base/shed-base/shed-base-kit-6ft-x-3ft/ underneath the shed to keep it out of any water. Then I was going to put some rubber matting down and tarp on top of that, tacked to the sides of the shed and then try the deep litter method (as far as this is possible without it being directly on earth)- mainly hardwood chips, Aubiose bedding and top soil, with some added wood ash and leaves. We're going to cut a hole in the side of the shed and fit a 'chicken door' which will lead out into a run (like a guinea pig run type thing with a roof).
So question no 1 - there is just a door going into the shed. I was going to put a board across the bottom that I can step over to get in which will stop them running out but is there a risk of them flying out when I open the door? I obviously won't leave it open but need to open it to get in to feed them etc.
2. It is not a massive garden and we have neighbours on 3 sides. It will be fairly disastrous if the neighbours complain about noise / smell so do you think that is a risk with 6 female quail (no males)? If the deep litter method proves too smelly, I will need to rethink but what I've read seems to suggest it will be a good way to reduce smell.
3. My main concerns regarding predators are foxes and cats. I think they will be ok in the above set-up as long as they are ushered back into the shed bit at night and the chicken door is locked. Have foxes or cats been a bit problem for others?
4. I have read that quail need regular worming. Do the droppings with the medication / dead worms in have an impact on the deep litter?
5. Can you see any obvious flaws in the plan above?
6. This possibly wins the award for my dumbest question - having never actually seen a quail in real life, I have only been able to estimate their size from pictures. Do you think 6 quail would fit in a cat carrier to transport them home?
Thanks very much in advance for your help!
Here is a picture of the shed:
The base has been repaved and we're going to put a shed base like this https://www.thegardenrange.co.uk/p/garden-base/shed-base/shed-base-kit-6ft-x-3ft/ underneath the shed to keep it out of any water. Then I was going to put some rubber matting down and tarp on top of that, tacked to the sides of the shed and then try the deep litter method (as far as this is possible without it being directly on earth)- mainly hardwood chips, Aubiose bedding and top soil, with some added wood ash and leaves. We're going to cut a hole in the side of the shed and fit a 'chicken door' which will lead out into a run (like a guinea pig run type thing with a roof).
So question no 1 - there is just a door going into the shed. I was going to put a board across the bottom that I can step over to get in which will stop them running out but is there a risk of them flying out when I open the door? I obviously won't leave it open but need to open it to get in to feed them etc.
2. It is not a massive garden and we have neighbours on 3 sides. It will be fairly disastrous if the neighbours complain about noise / smell so do you think that is a risk with 6 female quail (no males)? If the deep litter method proves too smelly, I will need to rethink but what I've read seems to suggest it will be a good way to reduce smell.
3. My main concerns regarding predators are foxes and cats. I think they will be ok in the above set-up as long as they are ushered back into the shed bit at night and the chicken door is locked. Have foxes or cats been a bit problem for others?
4. I have read that quail need regular worming. Do the droppings with the medication / dead worms in have an impact on the deep litter?
5. Can you see any obvious flaws in the plan above?
6. This possibly wins the award for my dumbest question - having never actually seen a quail in real life, I have only been able to estimate their size from pictures. Do you think 6 quail would fit in a cat carrier to transport them home?
Thanks very much in advance for your help!
Luckily, my neighbors like the sound and love the eggs they get.
those babies are cute!
