what do you put in your quail pen to keep the happy

[rita2paul]

hi i have some mexican quail eggs in the incubator and i was wondering what everyone put in there pens to keep them entertained.

 

[Binki]

Hey there, good luck on your hatch!

I'm not familiar with your quail in particular but my Coturnix adore a dustbath of sand! I put grit and finch seed mix in it (for treats) so they get to scratch around for that too

They also love picking through hay for bits to eat like grass seeds and I noticed they also like having a "shelf" with a little ramp, it's a place to go, they go up and down all day and they can go underneath of it as well, giving more space in the pen and more "stuff" for them to do

I also give them a box they can hop into for their main food and stick hay and stuff in there so they scratch for it, making it a bit interesting and getting some energy out to eat

They also love a view

 

[rita2paul]

Thank you. What do you use to put in your sand for them 2 have a sand bath.

 

[tpate]

I have been using a mirror to entertain my baby quail.just have a little round mirror on a stand. They love it

 

[Binki]

I used a shallow Tupperware, the dollar store would have some Now I like to use Pepsi can boxes because they're taller and I can cut a shallow part for them to jump in and out of and then recycle it when it's dirty any appropriate sized box can be cut for a sandbox

 

[rita2paul]

i think i will go for the cardboard box, really good idea. like you said just bin it when it gets dirty.
does your quails climb, i would love to add another level to there pen.

 

[Binki]

There's a shelf about 6-8 inches high and I had their sand under it but now it's out so they have more light to find stuff in it

When it's empty under the shelf with just bedding, they do go into it but not nearly as often as they run up and down the ramp of the shelf

I have some that climb on little logs in my aviary but I'm not sure they would climb anything more than a foot high lol.

 

[rita2paul]

love the photo, thank you.
i have started to make another level for them, i will put lots of hay in the pen with lots of hiding places. i got a cardboard box from work and cut a small hole left the lid on so they can't throw the sand every where.
i have two lots of eggs from different breeders, one from Ireland and the other from Essex, so hopefully if the hatch there will be a mix of speckled mexican quail.
here is a photo of the breeders quails.

 

[johnnybarfield]

Johnny here.
It has been a while since I have commented. I have 11 Georgia Giants and they will be 10 weeks old sunday. I have mine in a 4x8 approximately. I have it sectioned off 20x24 there is 3 sections and on one end is a walled up 20x48 inches to protect them out of the weather. I have a new pig feeder 2 inches deep and about 12 inches in diameter. I put sand in it about ever other day. I am having so much fun with them I give them shredded leuttice. And sunday I put some clover in there for them to eat. I hope I didn't bore you to much. I love my new hobby.

 

[rita2paul]

hi Johnny glad for your advice. i have found this website very helpful which is brilliant.
i have not kept quails for a few years now and have just come back into it.
when i have the setup finished i will post a photo. cheers