Valley Quail Aviary design

[GDG]

Planning to build outdoor aviary for up to 10 California Valley quail. What dimensions are ideal in sq feet and height? Also, any recommendations to minimize risk of neck breaking due to startled flight?

 

[The Phantom]

@007Sean
I keep my quail in a pen that’s 12x12 8feet high. I have 4 blue scale and 4 bobwhite. Also there is an impeyan pheasant pair in the pen too. They all get along really well

 

[007Sean]

With any gamebirds, the bigger the enclosure the better. For 10 quail, 125 sq. ft. would be a good size enclosure. You will want to build it tall enough to walk into without bending over or crawling, mine are 7' high.
A rectangle shaped pen is better than a square shaped pen....they have a longer run area to run back and forth. You will also need a sheltered area for them to get out of inclimate weather. You will also want to add some quail furniture, stumps, limbs, large smooth rocks and maybe some fountain grass or clumping bamboo. Ideally, it should have morning sun and afternoon shade at the location you intend to build the enclosure.

 

[maadroj]

Does anyone use bird netting or other material to soften impact if quail fly all the way to the top? I'd like to hang an "impact" layer below the hardware cloth. The gaps in the bird netting I looked at look a bit large, so I was wondering if there's a risk of them getting caught or injured in such netting. Go they need any netting along the sides, or just the top?

 

[007Sean]

Does anyone use bird netting or other material to soften impact if quail fly all the way to the top? I'd like to hang an "impact" layer below the hardware cloth. The gaps in the bird netting I looked at look a bit large, so I was wondering if there's a risk of them getting caught or injured in such netting. Go they need any netting along the sides, or just the top?

If the pen is tall, 6' or better no netting needs to be used. It is used by some breeders where they have lower cage or pen height, to keep the birds from 'boinking' their heads when they flush. They can also get their heads caught in the netting if they hit it at the right angle.

 

[maadroj]

If the pen is tall, 6' or better no netting needs to be used. It is used by some breeders where they have lower cage or pen height, to keep the birds from 'boinking' their heads when they flush. They can also get their heads caught in the netting if they hit it at the right angle.

Thank you! That's what I was worried about.

 

[DK newbie]

I have a couple of cages where I've used tulle to prevent boinking injuries. No risk of getting the head stuck there But probably more expensive than bird netting if it's a large enclosure and also pretty easy to break. But I also have cages with solid roofs and neither have caused boinking injuries..