Autodoor, 12V supply and power settings

[Bondinho]

Does anyone know if keeping quail in a cube would work?

 

The extra height of the run would help prevent them jumping straight into the roof - although I'd still pad it if needs be.

 

I would obviously build a new wooden ladder with more grip so they could use it to climb up into the house. As the plastic cube ladder would be no good with the gaps etc.

 

And I'd remove the roosting bars and just fill the trays with hemcore or something similar.

 

Would it be do-able do we think? At the moment I can't think why it wouldn't be.... If not I'll just buy a wooden hutch from somewhere instead, just thought it might save me a few pennies.

[The Dogmother]

It's not ideal as you really need to have a double door system to stop the little blighters escaping when you open the door - they're like sheep - determined to either die or escape!

[Bondinho]

I have a plan to build something for that event when it comes to cleaning out the run/putting feed in etc! I'd read a fair bit about how much they like to escape - looking forward to the challenge!

 

But other than that, would mesh size and the cube house itself be ok do you think?

[Lewis]

Not having actually touched a cube

I think the cube itsself would be fine, apart from the ladder (they aren't very good at putting themselves to bed, but the mesh might be a bit big.

Could you try putting a clear tarpaulin around the bottom of the run, or cover it in a bit more mesh?

[bronze]

I would think the cube would go to waste and they would just roost under it.

[Bondinho]

I've tried searching for the minimum size mesh for quail but can't seem to find anything on the web. Does anyone know what it is?

 

I'd be using the clear tarpaulin I have already, covers most of the cube run so it won't allow much rain in. The back of the cube run wouldn't be covered, nor would the door panel. Would they really be able to squeeze through the cube mesh? I thought it if prevented rats getting through then quail wouldn't be able to get through it....

 

I know they wouldn't use the cube for sleeping etc, but it would provide extra shelter if they wanted it during bad weather, once I'd built a wooden ladder with a grippy surface anyway.

 

In a way it is no different from the likes of this http://www.ideas-4-pets.com/bunny-shack-rs709n-rs-p-2756.html

 

Which I'm sure quite a few people use for quail?

[Lewis]

Its not really that they would fit through and escape, but they would poke their heads out and get bitten off.

[Bondinho]

Good point

 

I'll look into wrapping extra mesh around it, but perhaps the best bet would be to get that hutch and run from ebay/ideas4pets.

 

Thanks.

[The Dogmother]

A friend of mine keeps quail in an identical coop and says that it's ideal.

 

They certainly would poke their daft little heads out through the mesh - when I've used an eglu/rablu for hatching the stoopid little chicks did the same until they got to big. I put some kickboards round the run so that they couldn't do it.

 

When you're choosing your housing, bear in mind that you'll need to be able to access all areas of the run because quail don't lay in a nest box, but all over the place! They like their run to be planted up with branches, grasses and small shrubby things too.

[bessandra]

all sounds do-able and positive doesn't it bondinho?

[sophia_chicken]

I don't know about bigger quails, but chinese painted quails can get through teeny gaps! Having said that mine never try to escape and are fairly easy to catch if they do.....

 

SOPHIA

[julia55]

Bondinho & Bessandra - you two are really two peas in a pod - I hear Rode Bird Gardens may be for sale.... why don't you go the whole hog and buy that together!!!

[Bondinho]

I got my 10 quail on Saturday night - and have put them in the cube. I've put boards all around the bottom of the cube run, put smaller mesh on the front and back panel and got a clear tarpaulin and Omlet shade to cover the sides and roof panel. So it's pretty much cat and escape proof I think.

 

Also, built a ramp for them if they ever decide to use the actual cube!

 

I'll get some photos when my camera has good batteries in it. They have got so much space - it's about 36 sq ft of run space for 10 quail!! They seem to love it in there, and are very tame, I'm able to climb in through my door conversion without any trying to escape and can pick them up very easily.

 

Got a few different colours - 1 fawn, 1 tuxedo, 2 spanish, 2 italian, 3 british range, and 1 white. They are such funny little things! Had 4 eggs yesterday too

[Minnie the Moocher]

I love quail eggs, but I think quail can be cannibals so don't think I could keep them myself. They do sound interesting little birds though.

[Bondinho]

Not had any canniballistic tendencies yet - all getting on perfectly at the moment!

 

Finally got a couple of photos

 

 

 

 

 

Added a few more long grasses since then too and they seem pretty happy.

[Lesley]

It looks idyllic for them - but i bet you have fun collecting eggs!

[Bondinho]

Yeah the egg collecting does take a bit of work But they are such funny little birds I quite enjoy getting in there with them and strolling around their little world for a few minutes!

 

And the door donversion, with velcro cable ties, makes it very easy to get in and out so it's not too bad all in all.