What is the general square feet per quail if I have an outdoor run for them?

[BYCforlife]

I would like to get some quail, and I am wondering how many I can get. How many square feet per quail do I need in my coop, if I have an outdoor run?

Thanks

 

[JaeG]

It depends on what type of quail. Japanese/Coturnix quail are happy with 1 square foot of floor space per bird, a pair of Button quail need 4 sq/f between them, and Bobwhites need 2 sq/f per bird.

 

[BYCforlife]

Okay, thanks. Also, If I have them in a mesh/wood cage, that is about 3 feet off the floor, can I have my chickens in the shed too? There would no way for the chickens to get to the quail, but would the chickens' clucking and flapping of wings scare the quail too much?

 

[JaeG]

It's entirely up to you whether you keep your chickens that close to your quail. Chickens can carry diseases that quail can catch very easily, but many people have no problems so it's a risk you have to decide whether to take or not. To me it's wild birds that pose a bigger threat so make sure your quail have a solid roof as wild birds love to perch and poop through mesh! Once the quail were used to the chickens they wouldn't be scared of them.

 

[BYCforlife]

Okay. I would be cleaning out the coop every day, and the quail cage would be off the ground which might help a bit. Thanks for the information!