Which is better, dirt aviary or raised run?

[KansasKid]

I don't know if it will happen anywhere in the near future but i'm curious as to peoples opinions on the difference in raising a small number of quail in a planted aviary VS. a raised run and the different enclosure needs of different species.

 

[JJMR794]

Raised Pens Are Better For The Birds And Easier To Maintain

 

[KansasKid]

So say after i get the hang of it by starting with some bobs and working my way up to some mountain quail/valley quail, do they breed well in the raised runs?

 

[tweetyflights]

Bob's (I've never owned) but from other peoples suggestions I'd say raised.
Though for valleys/ new worlds quails they're fine on both but will probably breed better in a planted aviary. As I've heard of stories of them going broody in a aviary.

 

[JJMR794]

Actually Its The New World Speces That Have The Most Problems With Disease From Ground Pens... Coturnix Are More Tolerant. New World Speces ( Bobs/ Gambel/ Valley/ Mountains) Are Way More Susceptible To Enteritis And Encephalitis... Keep Them In The Same Pen For More Than A Year And You'll Likely Have Problems From 1 Or The Other. Many Who Do Keep New World Speces On The Ground Use A Combination Of Things To Help Prevent Problems...
#1 Periodical Prophylactic Treatment With Anti Cocci Drugs And Antibiotics
#2 Remove 6 Inches Or So Of The Topsoil And Replace With Play Sand Which Promotes Much Better Drainage And Can Be "cleaned" Or "sanitized" Periodically By Raking And Agitation/ Rinsing Or Sanitized By Soaking With Bleach Water, Even These Need To Be Replaced Periodically... Makes For A Lot More Work Than Throwin' 'em In A Elevated Wire Cage... And Raised Expense As Well

You Are Correct If Broody Is A Sought After Trait (albeit Rare To The Point Of Nearly Non Existant) Planted Natural Looking Aviaries Would Be Most Condusive. But Even Then Its Extremely Rare And Of Breeding Or Propagation Is A Desire Its Not Worth All The Added Effort And Expense Listed Above... Much Better Results With A Good Incubator... Oh And The Lil Monsters, Err Uh, I Mean Darlings Will Tear Your Plants To Shreds

 

[joe125]

Quote:
This is why I raise all my birds on raised wire floor pens. The digging/replacing/bleaching things sounds like work to me. I hate to beat a dead horse, but if anyone is really serious about raising "Game Birds", then incubators and brooders must be deployed!

Are we really debating broody quail hens?

 

[kahlertm]

@ Joe 125 on the broody debate....Nah, I don't read the thread that way. I believe JJ is answering all possible aspects covered in response to the various answers the OP is getting. You both do so well about following up on partial information. Filling out the voids in current folklore with science based, good husbandry that considers Veterinary issues the quail keeper will have to consider.

I don't see the broody thing as the key point of the question. I see dirt and plants vs raised wire.


I too have been tempted to try the planted aviary, covered flight pen, using imported bleachable sand...The only reason that this would even be considered is for a consumer base here in my area that would want to purchase edible eggs from, and I quote: "happy birds".

Now yuck it up all ya want. I live in a progressive liberal sector of Colorado that has a popluation base like that of the people's republic of Boulder and San Fran. The health food enthusiasts here want the "natural" stuff....So I pondered. For about hmmmmmm a minute.

Happy birds are birds that are not sick. Happy birds are birds that do not have to take dust baths in sand that has possible feces mixed with bleach residue. Happy birds do not have to be medicated periodically to get rid of pathogens they have taken in from ground that has been contaminated prior to their introduction by sparrows with coccidiosis, worms, encephilitis, etc.

This was my thinking based on information directly given to me by my State Veterinarian assigned to Poultry. I listen to Vets when it comes to defining what is a "happy healthy animal". They are the top of the food chain on defining animal health to me and to Federal animal law, State animal law, County Animal law, and Municipal county law.

So there was my thinking on this thread. I could put a covered wired run above the ground so that the birds can feel the breeze on their beaks, listen to the other birds around them (which is actually stressful to them in most cases) and eat their meal and safely grown coccidia free baby spinach and organic alfalfa fines...outside.

Safe birds are happy birds. My consumers will get "happy bird eggs". I keep them off the ground and provide environmental enrichment within their raised wire avairy.


Remember that environmental enrichment can include safely potted edible plants and organically grown green fodder, sand baths, hanging millet sprays, Peter Marshall's rabbit grass caves (my Coturnix LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these basket like caves), periodic pinning up of dark leafy greens ie: kale, romain, collards, and mealworms. All of these elements added to a "cage" or wire aviary can relieve the stress of confinement. If this is what the OP is considering.

See, now I am taking a stab at what the OP is considering when trying to decide on planted aviary dirt floor vs raised wire aviary.

I may....may just try JJ's suggested bleached sand bottom aviary and see how well I fair...Trouble is, I cannot garuntee my Dept. of Health that my eggs are picked up from a controlled environment. I wrote a plan for my egg gathering and preparation for consumption in order to meet Health Dept requirements.

It is an interesting topic. I believe I will experiment and see who turns up ill first...raised wire vs bleached sand floor... Probably me. I have a bad back and fibro. So raking is a drag for me.

Sorry for the long post, but these are things we should consider when making the decision on how to house a species. It falls within my profession once again, as an animal behavior consultant.


Respectfully,
Tonya

 

[Stellar]

Big quail commercial peeps have started doing a deep litter method (which I am still investigating), My Cbbq are on soft flooring (well pine pellets but it breaks down over time) and the problem I am seeing is poopy nails...now I give them all manicures to avoid any toe infections or amputations. Coturnix can be kept the same way, just more cleaning. I still clean their pans every day to avoid flies...smell isn't a problem.

I like wire floors BUT I do provide the kitty litter boxes...so that can be the same as having a mini aviary

I cut up plants and put them in the litter box, mealworms, DIRT from outside (forget playsand when you get sand for free outside).

There is no one method to house quail per se, if you have another method, go for it...in the UK they don't use wire bottom at all, solid flooring.

 

[tweetyflights]

I'm really not trying to start a fight or anything. lol

but how do wild quail stay disease free (i know they still get sick but if all did then they would've died out, wouldn't they of?) when they're always on the ground always eating plants/bugs that could carry pesticides?
As you can probably already tell I'm new to this.

I'm just trying to figure this all out because my house quail's run is on the ground and I don't want any diseases to get him (he's wormed though).

 

[Fat Daddy]

Quote:
Because in the wild, they are on the move constantly. No sitting the same dirt 24-7. The issue with them being in a ground pen is the same ground is the table and toilet, day after day, for long periods of time. Bill