Thinking about raising quails

[Raccoon lady]

I have chickens and rabbits and now I have been thinking about getting some coturnix quail for eggs as well as pets. I would raise them for meat, but animal slaughter is illegal where I live, and it also sounds hard. I know the basic info on quails like food, housing requirements, etc., but I was looking for some ideas on quail housing. I would prefer something on the ground and something easy to build. Also, I would love to see some pictures of the varieties of coturnix quail!

 

[Nabiki]

If you want something simple to build, you might try a simple A frame covered with 1/2" hardware cloth. You will need to do something to keep burrowing predators out, but the 1/2" hardware cloth and a solid frame should keep other predators out.

The general rule of thumb is at least 1 square foot per bird.

 

[007Sean]

I raise them both ways.....ground pens and above ground pens. Here's some examples:

 

[Raccoon lady]

I raise them both ways.....ground pens and above ground pens. Here's some examples:
View attachment 3458389View attachment 3458390View attachment 3458391

thanks! in the second picture, I see that there are plants planted in the ground pen. Do you need to give them lots of room so they won't eat the plants?

 

[007Sean]

thanks! in the second picture, I see that there are plants planted in the ground pen. Do you need to give them lots of room so they won't eat the plants?

It helps to have a big enclosure but drought and their nibbling will eventually kill the plants. Even with watering, if you overcrowd the enclosure, the plants will slowly be eaten up!
I rotate enclosures so I have vegetation in the enclosures, gives other enclosures a chance to recoup!

 

[Phlighter]

I would raise them for meat, but animal slaughter is illegal where I live, and it also sounds hard.

Some laws should be ignored IMO. What I do in my domain, that effects no one else, is no one else's business. Cleaning quail is a kitchen sink job, and not at all hard.

 

[Squeeing_Onion]

Some laws should be ignored IMO. What I do in my domain, that effects no one else, is no one else's business. Cleaning quail is a kitchen sink job, and not at all hard.

While i feel the sentiment, perhaps not the best advice to give without disclaimer. You have no idea what the possible consequences would be to the OP if they got caught and the law was enforced.

As for enclosures, I've really loved some of the big aviary style runs I've seen! I kind of see those as the ideal, was far as the quails' happiness goes. They look really simple to construct, just takes some investment for the materials and sweat equity. To start with I'm just doing a smaller ground pen, I've been advised to sink hardware cloth below the ground if the pen and around the sides so predators cannot burrow under and up into it.

 

[Phlighter]

Not giving advice. It's plainly labeled as opinion. Your result may vary, etc..

 

[Raccoon lady]

While i feel the sentiment, perhaps not the best advice to give without disclaimer. You have no idea what the possible consequences would be to the OP if they got caught and the law was enforced.

As for enclosures, I've really loved some of the big aviary style runs I've seen! I kind of see those as the ideal, was far as the quails' happiness goes. They look really simple to construct, just takes some investment for the materials and sweat equity. To start with I'm just doing a smaller ground pen, I've been advised to sink hardware cloth below the ground if the pen and around the sides so predators cannot burrow under and up into it.

I think I'm going to go for the aviary style runs! I'm thinking of maybe dividing it into two or three sections so that my two rabbits can go in one and have more room.

 

[Squeeing_Onion]

I think I'm going to go for the aviary style runs! I'm thinking of maybe dividing it into two or three sections so that my two rabbits can go in one and have more room.

I dunno how we'd survive pictures, that's to much cute in one place!

Depending on how big you want to go, you could even make it so you can rotate them between different chambers; give the ground a break between happy nibblers.