Smell-Free Quail Coop

[WayneSparks]

I think maybe mdees?( forgive if I’m wrong or mispelled) recently had posted about using pvc coated wire for the grate underneath because the poop slides off better, and also some informative info about grate placement in regard to supports, because poop accumulating there seems to be common.

Besides that, as my chicks grew into maturity their poop has changed, they started having these huge sticky brown tar poops, and if someone stepped on one and then walked over his buddies, he left poop stamps on them. I was also having issues with poop gathering on their feet, I thought it had been because I spilled food and they stepped in it, but even 3 days after cleanup, they were still getting caked.

I looked it up, and it seems gross sticky poop that smells is fairly common in quail and many videos and sites suggested new food or fermenting. Since I had about 40 lbs of food I decided to ferment, and within 24 hours their poops were totally different. They are smaller, white and medium brown like when they were chicks, if they step in it, it just falls off into the sand on the floor when they walk, the other poops made cement poop sand shoes lol.

I don’t find they eat less, I have no waste, but I go thru food faster than before, is that because they’re still growing, or did they hate it and only ate enough to stay alive before? I’m not certain, mine have ground access and eat bugs and worms and whatever they catch so I can’t even be sure if it’s just a couple big ones gobbling it up, I see them all gather to eat it when I refill. I keep dry food in the coop too, they only eat it if they run out of mush at night. I’ve found that fermenting really cut down how often I add bedding to cover high traffic areas, there’s very little visible poop in the outdoor area of the pen, and before there were areas I put fresh chips over every day to cover the poop.

Right now, I have 13 Quail at 4 weeks old. I am in the middle also of trying to hatch out another 30 eggs in my incubator. I did a lot of research regarding raising Quail. There are so many different ways to raise Quail. For me as I am not a carpenter so to speak and I am on a cautioned budget, I decided to invest into the Hatching Time cages. Hatchingtime.com. All cages are decently priced for whatever your Quail needs are. Their cages are made out of ABS plastic. The same as many boats etc. are made of. They will last for many many years. Super easy to clean. Simply hose them off once a month. My main concern like yours is the stench and smell. After more research, I discovered Pine chips. Tractor Supply and many other places has Pine chips to purchase and use as a bedding for the birds. The poop easily drops through the flooring onto the pine chips underneath. I dump the pine chips from their cages once a week. Again. A no brainer. Super easy to clean and put fresh pine chips again underneath their cages. The pine chip smell is awesome and it basically hides the stench from the Quail poop. Is it worth it? Yup. you bet it is. Right now the young 4 week olds are in the back bedroom in our house. The smell of the 13 Quail is a concern especially with my wife. But, no problem. As long as the trays are dumped each week and new pine shavings put back on the trays. That back bedroom, is fresh and does not smell but of pine shavings. I hope this is something you might at least try in your situation. Wishing you the best. I also have a utube channel that I am trying to grow. called: Quailen at FruitsandBerries Tennessean Homestead. Blessings, Wayne

 

[WayneSparks]

I think maybe mdees?( forgive if I’m wrong or mispelled) recently had posted about using pvc coated wire for the grate underneath because the poop slides off better, and also some informative info about grate placement in regard to supports, because poop accumulating there seems to be common.

Besides that, as my chicks grew into maturity their poop has changed, they started having these huge sticky brown tar poops, and if someone stepped on one and then walked over his buddies, he left poop stamps on them. I was also having issues with poop gathering on their feet, I thought it had been because I spilled food and they stepped in it, but even 3 days after cleanup, they were still getting caked.

I looked it up, and it seems gross sticky poop that smells is fairly common in quail and many videos and sites suggested new food or fermenting. Since I had about 40 lbs of food I decided to ferment, and within 24 hours their poops were totally different. They are smaller, white and medium brown like when they were chicks, if they step in it, it just falls off into the sand on the floor when they walk, the other poops made cement poop sand shoes lol.

I don’t find they eat less, I have no waste, but I go thru food faster than before, is that because they’re still growing, or did they hate it and only ate enough to stay alive before? I’m not certain, mine have ground access and eat bugs and worms and whatever they catch so I can’t even be sure if it’s just a couple big ones gobbling it up, I see them all gather to eat it when I refill. I keep dry food in the coop too, they only eat it if they run out of mush at night. I’ve found that fermenting really cut down how often I add bedding to cover high traffic areas, there’s very little visible poop in the outdoor area of the pen, and before there were areas I put fresh chips over every day to cover the poop.

Right now, I have 13 Quail at 4 weeks old. I am in the middle also of trying to hatch out another 30 eggs in my incubator. I did a lot of research regarding raising Quail. There are so many different ways to raise Quail. For me as I am not a carpenter so to speak and I am on a cautioned budget, I decided to invest into the Hatching Time cages. Hatchingtime.com. All cages are decently priced for whatever your Quail needs are. Their cages are made out of ABS plastic. The same as many boats etc. are made of. They will last for many many years. Super easy to clean. Simply hose them off once a month. My main concern like yours is the stench and smell. After more research, I discovered Pine chips. Tractor Supply and many other places has Pine chips to purchase and use as a bedding for the birds. The poop easily drops through the flooring onto the pine chips underneath. I dump the pine chips from their cages once a week. Again. A no brainer. Super easy to clean and put fresh pine chips again underneath their cages. The pine chip smell is awesome and it basically hides the stench from the Quail poop. Is it worth it? Yup. you bet it is. Right now the young 4 week olds are in the back bedroom in our house. The smell of the 13 Quail is a concern especially with my wife. But, no problem. As long as the trays are dumped each week and new pine shavings put back on the trays. That back bedroom, is fresh and does not smell but of pine shavings. I hope this is something you might at least try in your situation. Wishing you the best. I also have a utube channel that I am trying to grow. called: Quailen at FruitsandBerries Tennessean Homestead. Blessings, Wayne

 

[WayneSparks]

Glad to have found this thread - have indoor quail and am struggling with the stink. Have thought about doing something bioactive, but my birds are on wire - with a big pot of sand, and another of earth that I am struggling to keep plants in (they are like Godzilla with plants!)

I have cat litter where all the poop drops - but my problem is that not all of it drops! They are magicians at making poos up against the sides of the cage where the frame for the wire is, or making poos that are too big to drop through! Anybody have ideas for this?

I'm going to get some BSFL to eat the compost, and I might just drop some in with the cat litter - and I may go on the hunt today for some isopods...but does anyone else have a problem with stinky poos that avoid your collection areas? I already strain their sandbath once a day...found that's a source of some stink...

Right now, I have 13 Quail at 4 weeks old. I am in the middle also of trying to hatch out another 30 eggs in my incubator. I did a lot of research regarding raising Quail. There are so many different ways to raise Quail. For me as I am not a carpenter so to speak and I am on a cautioned budget, I decided to invest into the Hatching Time cages. Hatchingtime.com. All cages are decently priced for whatever your Quail needs are. Their cages are made out of ABS plastic. The same as many boats etc. are made of. They will last for many many years. Super easy to clean. Simply hose them off once a month. My main concern like yours is the stench and smell. After more research, I discovered Pine chips. Tractor Supply and many other places has Pine chips to purchase and use as a bedding for the birds. The poop easily drops through the flooring onto the pine chips underneath. I dump the pine chips from their cages once a week. Again. A no brainer. Super easy to clean and put fresh pine chips again underneath their cages. The pine chip smell is awesome and it basically hides the stench from the Quail poop. Is it worth it? Yup. you bet it is. Right now the young 4 week olds are in the back bedroom in our house. The smell of the 13 Quail is a concern especially with my wife. But, no problem. As long as the trays are dumped each week and new pine shavings put back on the trays. That back bedroom, is fresh and does not smell but of pine shavings. I hope this is something you might at least try in your situation. Wishing you the best. I also have a utube channel that I am trying to grow. called: Quailen at FruitsandBerries Tennessean Homestead. Blessings, Wayne