I'm hoping not to resort to the cage but it's there, just in case!
Not doing the quails just yet. I still have the CCL 'chicks' in my conservatory at the moment, using the cage I intend to have for the quails. As we have been forecast more snow and temps of minus 5 next week, I have been reluctant to put the 'chicks' outside yet. They are six and a half weeks old now, and fully feathered so I'm probably being over protective but I'd rather that, than lose any of them, especially as they are all so tame, they are like little dogs!
Once they have been outside for a couple of weeks, again, utilising the same cage, I will then integrate them, and once I'm happy with that, I'll set the quail eggs. I will then need to thoroughly scrub, disinfect and sanitise the cage before putting the quail in it, several weeks later. I'm sure I'll be told off for the cross-contamination risk between the chicks and the quail but I have done this before, several times, and had no issues. The stuff I use to disinfect is very effective!
I'm looking forward to having quail again....they are such entertaining little things. I had a flock of 40 before and quite a few of them were 'silly tame'.....running to me to be picked up and fussed when I went in the pen. I'm hoping all of this next lot will be tame as there will be fewer of them and therefore more time to devote to taming each one. All of my animals serve no purpose to me but pets so it's always important to me that they are hands-on friendly. Wish me luck!