4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[abwsco]

Further to my other post, what would we need if we decided to go ahead and get some quail.

 

WIR is sorted and they would have a plastic rabbit hutch to sleep in. Does this limit the type of quail we could have.

 

Would we need to plant some things in the WIR as the chickens have eaten everything that was in it -lol

 

Is aubiose or similar ok as bedding and Bedmax on the run floor.

 

What type of diet do they have? Is it pellets and if so how easy are they to get.

 

Thanks

 

Can you tell I like to be prepared even though this will be months off

[Lesley]

Ours eat ordinary Layers pellets from a small galvanised feeder with a cover, one of the usual type of drinker and a pigeon feeder for some fine grit.

 

We have a concrete base and a few inches of Aubiose on top of that. We did have shrubs in the first version but they went when we changed to concrete, so they have branches and we tie bunches of greenery or hang cabbages from them.

[abwsco]

Thanks Lesley I've also found a local seller, literally about 5 minutes away from us so have saved that for later She has Japenese and Chinese, which do you have?

[Lesley]

We have Japanese.........

[Lewis]

She has Japenese and Chinese, which do you have?

I'd think Japs would be better in a WIR. They are bigger, hardier and you'll get more eggs. The Chinese Painted look a bit better, but are often more nervous and boink when scared and end up hitting their heads.

[abwsco]

Thanks Lesley and Lewis

[Lesley]

We started with Japanese but we only have one of those left now - the younger ones are Italian, which are paler. They both come under the heading of Coturnix - I really ought to read more about them! (.......I have read all about them when we first had them but my brain doesn't retain the info. these days )

[Willow]

I would put bubble wrap or similar on the underside of your run roof. They don't boink often but it can be hard when they do.

 

They don't put themselves away at night so I'd put some boards over the mesh one corner of the run to give them an area to shelter/huddle in when it's cold (they really are extraordinarily stupid )

[abwsco]

Do you have to put them away every night Patricia? Also, can they really boink up to 6ft!

[Willow]

When I started I put them away every night but I soon stopped

 

Having seen them soar when they are startled and the hutch is open even at 6 ft I would put a layer of bubble wrap on the roof. It's odd because the rest of the time they scuttle around.

 

BTW I feed mine on the same layers pellets as the chickens

[abwsco]

Thanks Patricia Just thought of another Q if they don't put themselves to bed are they OK outside over winter?

[Willow]

They have been so far but I've worried

 

I'm in South of England so farily mild and we've blocked in the back and part way down the sides of the hutch so they have more shelter. When it's been really cold they have slept at the back. I also cover the top so it's stays pretty dry.

 

I've been keeping an eye on freecycle for a hutch I could use indoors for if it got really cold.

[Lewis]

We started with Japanese but we only have one of those left now - the younger ones are Italian, which are paler.

The Italians are still Japs, but just a different colour mutation

Some places sell them as different breeds, but they're just a different colour.