Thinking about adding Quail - Questions about Housing

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello Friends!
Currently, we have chickens and turkeys. I have a chicken coop and run that I am not currently using and I was wanting to add some new feathered friends to our farm family. I've always thought quail were adorable and I'd like to have quail eggs for cooking.
I know I can raise quail on the ground. Are there certain breeds that this works best for?
Can I use my chicken coop/run for the quail? The 4x6 shed coop is inside a 10x10 enclosed covered run. I have hardware cloth running up the sides of the run 3 feet high. Should I add more? I know predators are the number one concern with raising quail on the ground. The coop/run has been predator proof for years.
Let me know your thoughts when you have a chance. Thank you!

 

[Nabiki]

Quail don't have breeds, they have species and colour mutations. For a beginner, I would recommend coturnix.

I would start here, then feel free to ask questions that aren't answered in the articles.

 

[GodLovesU]

Can you post pictures of the coop?As for quail species,coturnix might be a good idea.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

My coop/run is in my profile under My Coop. You can see pictures. I've updated my set-up to include bended hog panel roof with tarps and chicken wire, hardware cloth as extra protection, and roosts/perches. All of that is in the article about my coop.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

I'm also thinking I could keep a few rabbits in that space. I'd have to add some wire along the floor/bottom of the run though to prevent burrowing and digging out.

 

[Nabiki]

I would not put rabbits and quail together. If you're keeping them in separate cages in the same area, that might work, but keeping them together is not a good idea.

Good biosecurity will be very important if you're going to be keeping multiple species in close proximity. The rabbits are less likely to pass something along to the quail, but chickens often carry diseases that they are immune to but quail are not.

I have my quail inside my large greenhouse, and my chickens have their own yard next to the greenhouse. While they are closer to each other than is ideal, the two do not have actual contact with each other.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

I would not put rabbits and quail together. If you're keeping them in separate cages in the same area, that might work, but keeping them together is not a good idea.

Good biosecurity will be very important if you're going to be keeping multiple species in close proximity. The rabbits are less likely to pass something along to the quail, but chickens often carry diseases that they are immune to but quail are not.

I have my quail inside my large greenhouse, and my chickens have their own yard next to the greenhouse. While they are closer to each other than is ideal, the two do not have actual contact with each other.

Oh no! I didn't mean with the quail. I'm sorry. I meant instead of the quail. I wouldn't put them in there together. I've learned from much experience that all species seem to do better amongst themselves.

 

[Nabiki]

Oh no! I didn't mean with the quail. I'm sorry. I meant instead of the quail. I wouldn't put them in there together. I've learned from much experience that all species seem to do better amongst themselves.

So, chickens, turkeys and rabbits? The same advice for biosecurity will apply, but you have a decent chance as long as you keep things clean and they're not housed together.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Also consider height, quail flush and over 18” or less that 5’ they may break their neck when startled. A low ceiling means they don’t get up enough speed/force to hurt themselves and a higher ceiling means they can safely finish the maneuver, the gray area between can be deadly.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

My run is 10x10x6. The hog panel, wire, and tarp roof make it a bit taller than 6 feet, so probably closer to 7 feet. Would that work for quail? In the photo below, you can see the coop behind our turkey Eugene. There is added wire along the bottom 4 feet of the run and it's also skirted around the run under the pavers, as well as covered with wire on top of the bent hog panel roof and under the tarp. It's fully enclosed. I've been raising chickens and turkeys in these coops for years. I'm just wondering if it would work for quail. I'd lock them up in the shed coop at night, just like I do with my chickens and turkeys. They would not be living with the chickens or turkeys. I'm getting a new coop for the chickens and the turkeys live by themselves because they were being bullies to everyone.

Also consider height, quail flush and over 18” or less that 5’ they may break their neck when startled. A low ceiling means they don’t get up enough speed/force to hurt themselves and a higher ceiling means they can safely finish the maneuver, the gray area between can be deadly.