Smell-Free Quail Coop

[Mhays]

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.

I did find the post thank you so much! I had looked at it earlier but had forgotten the directive to use half-inch by 1 inch wire which is part of the problem. so that is super helpful as part of it. we have to figure out how to minimize the edges of the grate ourselves because we need to be able to lift it out for deep cleaning. But it's no wonder that we're having trouble.

 

[Mhays]

Using sweet PDZ works wonders to quell the smell in chicken coop and dry the poop. It's a mineral often used as horse stall freshener. Looks like sand.
Buy it in the horse aisle, the PDZ packaged for chickens costs at least 2X as much for the same exact product.
View attachment 2200832

Lol, we did buy this in the chicken aisle, next time I will follow your wise advice - it was really expensive in comparison and we're probably halfway through it- thank you!

 

[Mhays]

the trick was to actually have the bottom be actual soil. I then added the red wriggler worms to the soil.

So, since the kitty litter tray just wasn't doing it, we decided to fill our cache tray with dirt and get a couple tins of worms.

So far, so good...but of course there hasn't really been time for things to get stinky yet. I love the idea of directly composting the poop via voracious critter (am thinking about finding isopods as well) We'll see if it works in a catch tray!

 

[CaloosaBirds]

I am fascinated by this original post! I've used deep litter for years, but not like this. If the OP sees this, I would love to know how big your cage is and how it's held up all these years. So much food for thought here. <3

 

[Mhays]

Day 2...no smell, even though there is poop that didn't fall through! I am amazed (usually with kitty litter this is where we start to notice.) and very excited!

I wanted to do a bioactive habitat from the very beginning but saw someone who did one for button quail whose quails got sick; they worried it was from the humid environment...so we scrapped the idea.

This hybrid version is working fine! If it can hold out for a week or so, I'm going to go get some isopods!

 

[CaloosaBirds]

Day 2...no smell, even though there is poop that didn't fall through! I am amazed (usually with kitty litter this is where we start to notice.) and very excited!

I wanted to do a bioactive habitat from the very beginning but saw someone who did one for button quail whose quails got sick; they worried it was from the humid environment...so we scrapped the idea.

This hybrid version is working fine! If it can hold out for a week or so, I'm going to go get some isopods!

My daughter was talking about doing something like this for her ball python. It was a new idea to me then! Could you post pictures?

 

[maadroj]

Day 2...no smell, even though there is poop that didn't fall through! I am amazed (usually with kitty litter this is where we start to notice.) and very excited!

I wanted to do a bioactive habitat from the very beginning but saw someone who did one for button quail whose quails got sick; they worried it was from the humid environment...so we scrapped the idea.

This hybrid version is working fine! If it can hold out for a week or so, I'm going to go get some isopods!

What is the difference in the set-up between the first one that you read about in which the quail got sick, and this one? Please continue to share your results.

 

[Mhays]

My daughter was talking about doing something like this for her ball python. It was a new idea to me then! Could you post pictures?

We are still in process so it's half-made...I'll see what I can get photo-wise. However, if you google "bioactive habitat" you should be able to find something species-specific that will be even easier than what we're doing, which is basically wire over a vermicomposter.

 

[CaloosaBirds]

We are still in process so it's half-made...I'll see what I can get photo-wise. However, if you google "bioactive habitat" you should be able to find something species-specific that will be even easier than what we're doing, which is basically wire over a vermicomposter.

Cool! I'll do that. Thank you!

 

[Mhays]

What is the difference in the set-up between the first one that you read about in which the quail got sick, and this one? Please continue to share your results.

This is the one I saw that I wanted to imitate larger, with Coturnix quail:

and this one about why she got rid of it.

It's actually a great resource for bioactive habitats for all kinds of animals, so check out the rest of the channel just that keeping it wet enough for the composting creatures may not have been healthy for the birds.

Mine differs in that my birds are on wire mostly (I have what's basically a potted plant and a big sand bath for them) and they are a good 6 inches or so from the layer of soil and composting critters. I just added in some BSF grubs as insurance, am trying to figure out how to get them to move into the cage when they molt.

I just had this crazy idea of a quail flock in something like a victorian Wardian case, so that's what we are trying to build (we are 3/4 of the way done, but are at a place where it's functioning, we just have screen instead of the acrylic peaked roof we are planning for.)