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

[Jimbob]

Hi,

 

I'm really interested in keeping a few quail as pets with a view to breeding at a later stage.

 

I'm hoping someone could offer me some advice on housing quail.

 

I've got ducks and chickens but never kept quail. The main question is what to house them in. I've currently got a small chicken coop with integral run that I could use (triangle shape - sleeping area 3.5'x 3.5', run area 3.5' x 5', an old run which is meshed on all x6 sides (3' x 2' x 6') or a larger run (6' x 6' x 3' (no mesh on floor)).

 

I'm thinking the chicken coop would be most suitable with its enclosed sleeping area and open run area. Would wood shavings/straw in the sleeping area and woodchip in the run area (open to the elements) be OK.

 

Any advice on this would be greatfully received.

 

Thanks,

 

James

[Janty]

Any of the runs mentioned would be fine. The run without the mesh would need to be on slabs but otherwise use whatever one you think best. I've got four separate colonies of quail. One set are in an eglu, another set are in a run inside the WIR. Then 3 & 4 are in a run outside the patio with a divider in the middle. I use wicker catbaskets lined with straw for their shelter and they seem to like these...they even lay their eggs in them.

 

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd28/Janty701/Newruns002.jpg

 

I'll post more photos when my photobucket isn't playing up.

[MiseryBusiness]

I've got mine in a 2 tier rabbit hutch! They go up and down the ramp every morning and love it. We have a few concrete edging aroung it for protection to foxes, it's great!