Questions about quails (and other birds)

[Nabiki]

If you have raccoons, you will want to secure your doors with carabiners or something. They can and will open doors. They will also reach through any opening more than 1/2" and grab birds and pull them out in pieces. I had a customer who kept his birds in a small pen happily for months, then returned all of his survivors to me after a raccoon found them.

Not all species of quail are cold hardy. Button quail are not, for example. Coturnix quail are.

 

[Papaye]

Hello.

If you have raccoons, you will want to secure your doors with carabiners or something. They can and will open doors. They will also reach through any opening more than 1/2" and grab birds and pull them out in pieces. I had a customer who kept his birds in a small pen happily for months, then returned all of his survivors to me after a raccoon found them.

I don't have raccoons for now, thanksfully... But since I live in a rural area, I think I eventually will have to secure my run...
...Thank you for telling me that!!

Thus : I will probably use metal chains secured with carabiners, since I can't find any carabiner with a big enough opening to use alone...!

(But for now, I put a stop to my quails' project, since the aviary will actually take more time to make than planned... and I really don't want to bring quails home if their enclosure is too small...!)

Not all species of quail are cold hardy. Button quail are not, for example. Coturnix quail are.

What about partridge...?

Because I found one in my garden today :

...Looks to me like a Red-legged partridge, but... I am no expert...
(I don't even know if it is a male or a female...!!)

I don't plan to keep it, but it does not look like it wants to get away from my garden : was pretty at ease to eat my grass, and my chickens' food, and to share the garden with the chickens; and it did NOT fly away (or just fly)...
...Did not even seem to be wild, even though it was scared to get too close to me...?
(Is it normal, or could just this partridge be a runaway, or let go by hunters, or just throw in my garden by somebody who does not want it...? Feels like it is used to humans...)

...I locked it up in my chickens' run for the night, since I have seen a cat being very interested in it...
Am not even sure cats hunt/kill partridges, but just in case...

If ever this partridge survives the cat, and does not want to get out of my garden... I really don't plan to keep it, but nor do I want to let it die neither - SO : would putting a guinea pig plastic shelter in my garden be enough to keep it from being cold?

(We have had so much less birds in my area since they activated a cell tower near my home, last year... would be a shame to not protect the ones still coming here!
Speaking of : would an activated cell tower near my home - at approximatively 600 meters - be dangerous for the quails, if I can eventually bring some home?
Because not only have I seen less birds since last spring, but also : since then, the smaller ones very, very often crash in my windows - sometimes several times a day... and so, I'm more and more worried by the fact taking quails so close to a cell tower could potentially hurt them...? Since they also are small birds, and could not even ran away from home if needed...!!)

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

I'm late, but I have finished a closed run for my (future) quails just two days ago.

Here it is :

These metal panels are from Omlet - most of them being Zippi metal panels (for rabbits and guinea pigs).

I prefer to use these panels since they are sturdy, easy to assemble and to move if needed, and green...

For the time being, the run is at least, more than 7 square meters on the ground.

Regarding the height, it should be just at 153 cm at the highest (for around 4 square meters on the ground).
(...And 96 cm at the lowest...)

...I plan to extend the run, but not now - probably next year (if possible then?)...

(I am not sure how many HAPPY quails I can raise inside of this run?)

The run is directly underneath two apple trees, so at least the quails will have shade to protect themselves from the sun during the warmest days.

...I will think to add other shelters (than guinea pigs shelters) for the quails, but since the run is occupied by two broody hens for the time being, adding things - specifically for the quails - in the run will have to wait...

Also, my ducks' pool is just next to the run... but I don't think it is a cause for concern?

 

[Nabiki]

Let's see, 4 square meters is about 12-13 square feet, so you can probably keep about 10 happy birds in there.

As I mentioned before, you are going to want to cover those with 1/2" hardware cloth, or you are going to have predator problems. Snakes, rats, weasels, etc are going to right through those and help themselves to your quail.

Will the ducks be splashing water into the quail pen? If so, that may cause some problems because wet quail poop stinks. Also if it is consistently wet, it may become a breeding ground for disease.

 

[Papaye]

Let's see, 4 square meters is about 12-13 square feet, so you can probably keep about 10 happy birds in there.

But... 4 square meters is about 43 square feet...?

I have more than 7 square meters on the ground, so at least 75 square feet (and probably more).

If 12 square feet is okay for 10 quails, then it would mean I could put around 60 quails in this run...?

(I'm only planning to buy 15 to 25 quails, but nothing is decided for the time being.)

As I mentioned before, you are going to want to cover those with 1/2" hardware cloth, or you are going to have predator problems. Snakes, rats, weasels, etc are going to right through those and help themselves to your quail.

You are right.

I... actually have had something eating eggs I put underneath my broody hens (when they brood outside of their usual coops, at least)...

I have seen rats and snakes, but I don't know what it is that steals and empties my eggs sometimes...?

Nevertheless, they never attacked the chicks or the ducklings; so, I'm tempted to try my luck and first get the quails, then the hardware cloth (when - or if I have the money).

...That was not planned, so I am still undecided for now.
(Whatever, since I actually probably will buy the quails next year - since all of my coops and runs are occupied for the time being...)

Will the ducks be splashing water into the quail pen? If so, that may cause some problems because wet quail poop stinks. Also if it is consistently wet, it may become a breeding ground for disease.

Yes, they will.
They already are...

I started to put plastic gratings on the ground, just where the water get from the ducks' pool.
(But I still will have to buy more gratings so to cover more of the ground...)

I am planning to add some protection (for the water), such as Zippi platforms or Omlet run covers, but I will have to think about that some more...

Regarding hygiene, that won't be a problem : I'm used to clean all of my coops and my runs everyday. Whatever the weather is.
(There is even no bad smell in spite of the fact I own a lot of chickens and ducks, so I'm confident the quails won't get sick because of bad hygiene.)

 

[Nabiki]

You're right on the space. It was early in the morning and a neighbour's dogs kept me up half the night with their barking. You can keep up to 30-25 quail in that space.

From your description of the emptied eggs, I would suspect rats. Snakes tend to swallow the whole thing.

 

[Papaye]

Hi!

You're right on the space. It was early in the morning and a neighbour's dogs kept me up half the night with their barking.

You don't have to justify yourself.
(But really...? Your neighbour might want to educate their dogs...?!)

I am French, so I am not even familiar with pounds and feet and whatever...
(I had to ask Internet to convert the measures for me!)

You can keep up to 30-25 quail in that space.

That's a relief.

From your description of the emptied eggs, I would suspect rats. Snakes tend to swallow the whole thing.

Rats are digging everywhere in my yard, but since I have also seen big snakes...

Thank you for telling me!
I thought snakes would swallow the eggs, indeed... but nobody could really tell if they also could empty the eggs or not?

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Hello.

I would like to have some advice, opinions, or whatever about small birds specifically - mainly about QUAILS...

...In order to try to get rid of my allergies, I plan to buy quails - probably Japanese Quails : I have severe allergies, and I am kind of really desperate to get rid of them; and quails' eggs are renowed to help people fight allergies... right?
So, I thought... why not?

(For the record : I have gone to an allergist 10 days ago, but the man clearly did not want to work; and so, I got out of his office without any solution, or even knowing what exactly I'm allergic to...)

...But fact is : I never raised quails.
And I am not totally in the dark here, thanksfully; but I am certain I have not all the knowledges I could need...

So, here I am - begging for some answers...!

(Sorry : will be a bit long...)

▬ CONCERNING THE EGGS :

• 1 • Is eating quails' eggs really so efficient to fight allergies?

Some people report good results only a few days after trying the eggs; and some people report none...
...And I actually even once heard about a woman who decided to eat quails' eggs for her allergies, and who next ended up having a severe allergic reaction to these eggs...

• 2 • How much eggs per day would I need to eat to fight allergies...? And for how long to have a definitive effect?

I find so much different informations... I don't know what/who to believe, so if somebody knows something...?
(7 eggs per day, for 3 months straight...?
...12 eggs per day, everyday of the rest of my life?)

• 3 • Is there a way to cook (or not) the eggs that would be more effective for them to act as an antihistamine?

I have found NO information...!!

If eating the eggs not cooked woud be more effective, then I could just eat them in no-bake desserts - for example...?
But if eating them cooked would be better, then I could just make omelettes everyday...?

▬ CONCERNING THE OTHER BIRDS TO KEEP WITH QUAILS :

Spring is here, and I am preparing to house other birds with my quails...
So...

1 • What birds can be housed with quails - OUTDOORS, ALL YEAR ROUND?

...Knowing I can not add any artificial heat to my aviary...

I feel like canaries and finches would be okay, so I plan to get several pairs of each...

Budgies, sadly, are a big NO : I read about several people reporting them to be mean to quails... and am I right to assume budgies could kill other birds...?

...What about mynas and cockatiels...?

I'm lost about mynas...
I met one once, when I was a teenager... and I just felt in love. So, if possible, I would like to add at least a pair to my aviary...

And I really love cockatiels, but I don't know... their bill just look dangerous...
I would be afraid they would hurt my others birds, but I was told cockatiels were "much too coward to pick a fight", and so, could be housed with quails and canaries without any problem...?

(Other hookbills than cockatiels also are pretty nice, I believe...? What about conures...?)

2 • What birds can I house together, exactly?

If I can not house quails with all of these birds... could I then just make a straight-billed aviary (with the quails), and a hooked-billed aviary (with cockatiels, and conures, and budgies, and what I can actually find...)...?

I would really prefer to make just ONE big aviary, housing then : quails, finches, canaries, cockatiels, conures, and maybe mynas...
(At least two pairs of which so they won't feel alone, and with around 18-20 quails specifically - at least 15 females and 3 males...)

(...Any kind of advice, or even opinions, would be really, really appreciated!!)

▬ CONCERNING THE AVIARY :

I actually already started building an aviary in my garden. (Just next to my ducks' pool...! I hope it was not stupid from me?)

In order to be sure my aviary would be the most secure possible, I'm using panels from Zippi Rabbit Runs (from Omlet) : the panels are made of relatively thick metal, and I really don't think I could find better in my country; so...

...In addition, by using Zippi Runs from Omlet, I can at least make a relatively big aviary by connecting several parts : some parts would be at 105 cm high (Zippi Rabbit Run - Double Height), and some others at 153 cm high (Zippi Rabbit Run - Double Height + Single Height)...

My questions here are :

• 1 • Is a 153 cm (around 60 inches) tall aviary sufficiently high for the other birds I want to keep with the quails?

Talking here about canaries, finches, mynas, cokatiels, etc...

...Knowing I can stand to my full height in the aviary; and so, if ever a bird is hurt or sick, I could move easily enough in the enclosure to catch it in order to heal it...!

But would the birds be happy with the aviary at such a height?

Honestly, since I'm small, making the aviary taller would be a real pain for me... So, I really would not want to built it higher if I don't need to...!
Nevertheless, I'm begging here for advice, so I will eventually do what is best...!!

• 2 • Would the Zippi panels keep ALL my birds in the aviary...?

Mesh is 38 x 38 mm... (SO : 1,5 x 1,5 inches!)

It looks small enough to me, but for the time being, I don't have any canary, or finche, or cockatiel... so I can not (physically) verify if the panels really are small enough for these birds...!
I'm really worried about the size of the mesh, so if somebody could help me here...?

...I'm also worried about hookbills specifically, since they are told to be so destructive...
So : would these birds destroy the plastic Run Clips or the Bungee Hooks for the run Covers?
Because if they do, they could then eventually fly away from their aviary... right?

Also, since they are renowed to be so smart : could they open a Door by removing the Door Pins by themselves...?
(...I needed to be able to open one of the door from the inside of the aviary, so the pins are also inside; and I don't know if small birds could be strong enough to remove them...?)

• 3 • Are my quails at risk of wounds of any kind in the aviary?

Because I'm also using the Underfloor Panels of the Zippi Runs to built this aviary, so... I really hope the quails would not be at risks of bumblefoot...? Or to hurt their claws by foraging...?
I don't think so, but just in case I'm mistaken...?

• 4 • What size would you actually recommend for an aviary?

For now, the aviary I built is around 2.76 m2. (Or : twice the size of a Zippi Rabbit Run.)
Not big enough, I know; but I need to get some more panels to make a bigger enclosure...
(Next month, the aviary will probably be around 5,5 m2... Then, little by little, I will keep expanding it.)

Given I plan to bring home the small birds before the quails... how many of these birds could I buy now - in 2,76 m2 -, since I don't have to house the quails for the time being?
I know what size is advised, but I would prefer to know what people who actually own these kind of birds have to say...? (I want HAPPY birds, and not just pretty birds...)

• 5 • Can I build my aviary directly on the grass?

I know quails will devour the grass... but they don't need grass to be healthy, right?
I could always sow seeds if needed... but if I don't? ...Would my quails, and maybe even the other birds of the aviary, be at risk of some illness?

(I don't have nowhere else to put the aviary than on the grass!)

• 6 • What can I put in my aviary?

Feeders and drinkers, of course...!

Sand, so the quails can take dust baths...

Water, so the small birds can also bath...

Several perchs, and toys for the hookbills if I decide to adopt some...

Shelters on the ground for the quails, and shelters (nest boxes) hung on the metal panels for the other birds...

Maybe concrete statues, so it would offer more stimulation and shadows to the birds...

...Also, OF COURSE : a big, acrylic miror so the birds could admire themselves!

But could I also put gravel, stones, pebbles... on the ground?

And if ever I decide to put flower pots inside of the aviary... would the quails, or even the other birds, destroy what I planted in the pot...?

• 7 • What distance between the nest boxes...?

I actually am not sure if I can put the nest boxes for the birds next to each other, or if I have to respect a distance between them...?

▬ CONCERNING THE COOP :

I think I will just use an Eglu Go for the quails... but if some people think the Go is not big enough to house 15 to 20 quails, I will then connect an Eglu Cube instead of a Go...?

I know quails prefer to sleep outside than inside of a coop, so that's why I don't feel like using a big coop would be necessary : I would actually just put some rabbit/hedgehog shelters in the aviary, so quails could hide and sleep in these if they want to...
But again : I never raised any quail, so I would take any advice people have!

...Voilà!

I hope I have not forgotten anything...?

Thank you in advance to who will answer to me!
The quails are for when I have a much bigger aviary (IF their eggs really act like a strong antihistamine; otherwise, I am not sure I will raise quails)... but the other birds are, probably, for the next two weeks...!!

I would recommend not housing quail with other birds.

I would also recommend having all female, or only keeping a single male. (From experience, before I gave away all my quails, there was a male named Apollo who always fought with his 2 brothers, until they teamed up and taught him a lesson. That “lesson” was ripping most the flesh off the back of Apollo’s head.)

 

[Papaye]

I would also recommend having all female, or only keeping a single male.

Would you really not recommend several males if they have a pretty big run for quails (more than 7 square meters on the ground - for the time being at least)...?
It would be a shame to not have males for the girls...

(From experience, before I gave away all my quails, there was a male named Apollo who always fought with his 2 brothers, until they teamed up and taught him a lesson. That “lesson” was ripping most the flesh off the back of Apollo’s head.)

Wow... what mean birds!
And to say they don't look to be a tiny bit aggressive...

I would have thought being brothers AND raised together (...guessing so?) would have mean they would be bonded...

...Did Apollo survive?

Could I ask you to share some more details?
Like... how many hens did you have per male, and how big was the space they shared?
Did they have shelters to hide themselves...?

I have never raised quails, so all you can tell me is much appreciated!
(Thank you!)

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Would you really not recommend several males if they have a pretty big run for quails (more than 7 square meters on the ground - for the time being at least)...?
It would be a shame to not have males for the girls...



Wow... what mean birds!
And to say they don't look to be a tiny bit aggressive...

I would have thought being brothers AND raised together (...guessing so?) would have mean they would be bonded...

...Did Apollo survive?

Could I ask you to share some more details?
Like... how many hens did you have per male, and how big was the space they shared?
Did they have shelters to hide themselves...?

I have never raised quails, so all you can tell me is much appreciated!
(Thank you!)

I didn’t have enough hens, I only had two. I meant to get eight or ten more, but then I realized I didn’t have a big enough coop. I had them in a temporary coop (just an old dog house, not ideal) because my pigs (who I also ended up rehoming) broke down the door and half the run on my old coop. I re homed all 5 quail, so they would have a better life.

They had a cinder block to hide in. When the hens were feeling particularly stressed, they would hide in the holes, or on top of the block.

The last time I saw Apollo, he was getting better. Hopefully in his new home, he has more room, and a place where he can hide from his brothers.

I have learned a lesson, and that lesson is that quail are not just cute little chickens. With a proper setup, and the knowledge of how I failed, hopefully your quail keeping goes better than mine.

As for me, I wanted little chickens, so next spring I will get Sebrights and Silkies. I hear that they would behave similarly to standard breed chickens, and would be able to free range with my existing chickens, so I look forward to my flock’s future.