The cute and the dirty *Wanting info*

[PhantomSlayer]

What type of quail are you planning on keeping indoors?

I start my quail on 30% protein gamebird chick starter (it has about 1% calcium). After about 6 or 7 weeks I'll switch them over to gamebird layer feed. It has 20% protein and 3% calcium.

I know people who leave them on chick starter (I don't because I keep them mostly for eggs, not meat, and I feel like excess weight contributes to bumble foot and might harm them longevity-wise).

You could keep them on an all-flock type of feed. It has less calcium than layer feed. I would stick with one around 20% protein, with oyster shell on the side.

It depends. I'm still looking into them but theres soooo many! Like a feather sexing species I feel would make it easier on me but theres some that lay BLUE EGGS! Their so pretty!! Ughhh its hard to decide! Plus I gotta decide which cage idea I should go for lol. My main goal is for the eggs to hatch and sell. We bought chickens and geese with the goal of meat and eggs. My mom has gone from "We'll harvest some at the end of the year" to "We cant kill them their our pets".

 

[Jener8or]

I just built my cages out of 1x1s (ripped 2x4s) designed around the big oil drip pans for garages. They have dipped vinyl 1/2" hardware cloth on the bottom and regular 1/2" hardware cloth on the sides. They stack on top of each other and you just clean the trays (easier if you line them with newspaper). Very easy to build.

I've kept them indoors, but like in a storage shed area. I had a tarp on the floor (they can fling food and poo far.) I have only kept Coturnix. They do great outdoors, so if you could do that setup right outside your walk-in basement, that might work well, if you're considering Coturnix.

I think the type you want just depends on what you are looking for. Like Nabiki said, Button Quail might be the best if you are wanting to keep them indoors. Coturnix would be the best for meat and eggs. I'm not sure if there are Celadon Button Quail.

 

[Nabiki]

What if you build ontop of the aquarium making platforms so they can be up with better circulation but still go beneath to dust bath etc?

Quail are ground birds, so they may not use platforms. You might try using a 50 gallon plastic bin where you cut out the top and a couple windows in the sides. Cover the top and windows with hardware cloth.

 

[Nabiki]

I'm not sure if there are Celadon Button Quail.

I have never seen celadon button quail. Their eggs are all variations on olive green.

 

[Jener8or]

I have never seen celadon button quail. Their eggs are all variations on olive green.

Thanks, I almost tagged you to ask!

 

[PhantomSlayer]

Quail are ground birds, so they may not use platforms. You might try using a 50 gallon plastic bin where you cut out the top and a couple windows in the sides. Cover the top and windows with hardware cloth.

Hmm okay. I'll have to rethink using the aquarium.

 

[MROO]

Rather than an aquarium, try a rabbit hutch just outside your walk-out. They look nice (bonus points for Mom,) are sturdy, covered and most easily accommodate a pan. You can keep your aquarium set-up indoors as a short term terrarium-style pen. It can serve as a brooder, a short-term observation box or an isolation pen for breeding pair.

 

[PhantomSlayer]

I just built my cages out of 1x1s (ripped 2x4s) designed around the big oil drip pans for garages. They have dipped vinyl 1/2" hardware cloth on the bottom and regular 1/2" hardware cloth on the sides. They stack on top of each other and you just clean the trays (easier if you line them with newspaper). Very easy to build.

I've kept them indoors, but like in a storage shed area. I had a tarp on the floor (they can fling food and poo far.) I have only kept Coturnix. They do great outdoors, so if you could do that setup right outside your walk-in basement, that might work well, if you're considering Coturnix.

I think the type you want just depends on what you are looking for. Like Nabiki said, Button Quail might be the best if you are wanting to keep them indoors. Coturnix would be the best for meat and eggs. I'm not sure if there are Celadon Button Quail.

Button quail are still cute! lol No matter the egg color. I just found the blue eggs pretty is all. I'm willing to sacrifice egg colorations if it means they'll work better as indoor birds. Maybe if I ever can afford to build a outdoor housing I could go for the Celdon or whatever the ones are that lay blue lol. Outdoor building requires alot more money because wood rotting and things start flying if you live on a hill like I do lol. Our wind comes from for the most part the west and unfortunately building something on the east side of the house means it needs to be away from electric and water because our driveway doesn't allow for it to be that close to the house. On the west side would require completely blocking off the west side of any structure or they'd become part of a snowdrift lol. Outside our basement door 2 years ago. Happens almost every year lol.

 

[PhantomSlayer]

Rather than an aquarium, try a rabbit hutch just outside your walk-out. They look nice (bonus points for Mom,) are sturdy, covered and most easily accommodate a pan. You can keep your aquarium set-up indoors as a short term terrarium-style pen. It can serve as a brooder, a short-term observation box or an isolation pen for breeding pair.

Affordable rabbit hutches aren't built for the kind of exposure to elements we get here lol I've already considered that. It'd have to be custom build, anchor into the ground with enough height to not become one with the snow lol.

 

[Nabiki]

Coturnix quail can handle the kinds of temperatures you're talking about as long as they're dry, have shelters and out of the wind. Button quail can't handle freezing or below temperatures.