xScrunchee Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Hi all, I have been keeping chickens for about 3 years and am now thinking about getting some coturnix quail. The enclosure is 4ft long x 2 ft wide and 4ft high. Here are my questions.... 1) Would the size of the enclosure be ok for 4 females? 2) Would 4 females make enough noise to cause any neighbours to complain and if they did complain-what are the chances of the council saying they had to go? (The quail-not the neighbours sadly) 3) They would have a wooden shelter inside the run but what about opening the run? It would not have a double door thingy so what do people do to stop them escaping from hutches/runs when the door is open? Do they just shoo them in?? Thanking you all in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Sounds like a good space for them Do you have a photo of it? - is it a hutch, wire cage or run type thing 4 girls will fit in there fine, maybe fit 6 in? Will see from the photo or what it is. The girls aren't loud at all, just make a few squeaks, the boys are the ones that crow like a frog - neighbours shouldn't notice they're there, and I doubt the council will say anything Just be careful not to let them out - clip their wings and make sure they aren't by the door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Thank you It is a run which is attached to the outside of my chickens WIR. It will have a wooden shelter inside it for them to use if they wish to. I am going to be using a thick layer of aubiose on the floor and some pots etc for them to explore, of course not forgetting a dustbath I am not sure when I will be getting them, hopefully within the next few weeks. Just wanted to be extra sure about the noise before making a final decision. Are they quieter than chickens? Haven't got pics yet-spent the afternoon attaching it to the main run and sorting out a way to make the roof waterproof So far so good. So, do you just sort of shoo them away from the door if you just have a single door? Thank you soo much Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 My quail are in an enclosure similar to what you describe and they love it...so much so that the females are nesting in there. It's quite sweet. The famous Tony has just been out to build me a quail enclosure that is 10feet(divided in the middle) x 3 feet x 4 feet high with a door at each end. I am going to hatch some quail (although the girls might get there before me) to go in there. Here's some photos of my quail run. It's inside the big run. Regarding the noise, my boys don't really make a lot of noise. The neighbours sometimes hear them but it's certainly no louder than the seagulls. I'll post pics of the other run when it's all aubioused, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Oooo, looking forward to the photo's I haven't yet got a 'house' for them to put inside the run. Would a cat box be ok as a temporary house or do they need a wooden one really? Bearing in mind that their run is outside of my WIR, (which is why I was worried about making sure that they don't escape) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Sounds great They are quieter than the chickens, they sound more like chicks squeaking Yep, they aren't as friendly as chickens so shouldn't rush to get out, but you can just shoo them back - if they do get out you can catch them, but best not to risk it Cat box will be fine, a few plant pots on their sides and some conifer branches in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Excellent I think I have made my decision. I will stick to 4 though rather than 6 just to make sure that they have plenty of room rather than risk problems further down the line. Plus keeping an eye on 4 when opening the door should be easier than watching 6 Although 6 would mean more eggs Oooo, I'm so excited Just one more question though I'm afraid. Hubby needs to know if the cheeping noise is constant or if they do it on and off throughout the day. The reason he is worried is simply because we live in a very built up area and there are certain people round here who enjoy moaning just for the sake of it so we need to be careful that we don't draw attention to ourselves. Sorry to go on. Thank you so much for your help-it is very much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Same as chickens really Just the odd cheep, not constant cheeping - shouldn't hear them over other birds in the garden + not over the chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I agree. My females make hardly any noise at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 10, 2010 Author Share Posted April 10, 2010 Thank you so much for the helpful advice. OH seems happy for me to go ahead Slight change of plan though. I have decided that the quail run is now going INSIDE my walk in run. I just feel that it makes things more simple and if one of the children accidently let a quail out-at least it would only be in the chicken run and easier to get back in. I will be saving up in the mean time to get a completely seperate walk in run for the quail with a double door thingy but think that the little run inside the chicken run will be fine for now. The reason I was having it on the outside was simply to save taking up room in the chickens run but I only have 3 bantams in a 11ft x 5 ft run so I'm sure they can spare a little space for the quail Even if I got a couple more bantams in the future there would still be plenty of room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Yes, I think the banties could share the space! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 That sounds like an excellent plan. Quail make a lovely chirruping sound which most neighbours wouldn't even notice. Is the run on a concrete floor? - we started ours on grass, then added mesh after losing 3 to rats and then ended up making a concrete floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 10, 2010 Author Share Posted April 10, 2010 Thankfully the floor is concrete (An old shed base) with a layer of slabs on top. When the quail get their own run-that will be on a double layer of slabs. Have seen a few mice outside from time to time but so far never rats. I have been told that rats do not live where mice are so I hope that is true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 Here is my new quail run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 11, 2010 Author Share Posted April 11, 2010 Wow-that looks lovely I bet they will be very happy in there. I think I am going to aim for something similar in the future because it looks perfect for them The only trouble I'm having now is buying them I live in Dagenham in Essex and cannot really travel far to pick some up. So far, to get them delivered/couriered is going to cost around £50 without the price of the quail I really haven't got that much right now Also, I would love a bit of a mixture of colours. Don't ask for much do I? Will try to put some pics of their 'new home' on here soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 The only trouble I'm having now is buying them I live in Dagenham in Essex and cannot really travel far to pick some up. So far, to get them delivered/couriered is going to cost around £50 without the price of the quail I really haven't got that much right now Know someone who breeds quail in Essex - will Pm you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 12, 2010 Author Share Posted April 12, 2010 PM'd you back Many thanks Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
