I have minimal experience with poultry but especially with quail but its something I would like to get in to. All advice is welcome. Since I need to start with a coop could somebody suggest some designs. I'm looking to keep it relatively small.just enough to supply a house of four with eggs.
Here are some designs https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/685159/quail-coop-competition-show-off-your-hard-work/10 https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/280575/show-me-you-quail-pens
You can keep quail in cages, or pens as they are called. Those rabbit hutches work really well for a handful of birds. Even aviary style settings work for quail too. You can keep them on wire or solid floors with bedding. They will need a shallow pan of dirt or sand for dust bathing. Quail need a diet high in protein so a gamebird food with 24% to 28% protein is what they need. For laying hens, provide crushed oyster shell on the side. Quail are seasonal layers, laying spring thru fall. A few branches propped up in the corner of the pen gives them some privacy and security. They also love the treats like greens, veggies, quartered apples or peaches, all manner of seeds and mealworms. Quail need to be wormed once or twice a year.
Most people have cortunix for eggs and meat. The more what people call new world quail like gambels, california valley, texas blue scale or more for looks.
Most people have cortunix for eggs and meat. The more what people call new world quail like gambels, california valley, texas blue scale or more for looks.
They can also be kept in guinea pig cages that you can buy at a pet shop. I love Coturnix quail and highly recommend them.
I've seen some aviary pens that looked like the nesting area was elevated. I thought all quail was ground dwellers does some seek higher ground.
I found some goat houses on our farm that are unoccupied. I thought I could just wield a few stands so I would raise the height to about 7' but should I build the coops at ground level. I think this could work out well it would be about 16'x12'x7'
