The Barn
Freesteading group focused on the discussion of livestock.
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I think quail should be on the ground
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I think quail should be on the ground
I wanted to share my experience with anyone interested in getting quail and how you don’t *have* to put them in wire floored cages. If you do, and that works for you, then great! But I wish I had seen more from people who don’t when I started out.
I started out with quail about 5 months ago. I did loads of research before getting them, and it seemed apparent I should put them on wire floors, because 1) everything wants to eat them and 2) is the most hygienic.
I built a change with a wire floor and an egg roll out tray. I placed a plastic shoe box in there with wood chips and noticed how much they preferred it. I had some squabbling between the roosters and the roosters and the hens, and had to temporarily place them in some large Tupperware buckets that I put wood chips in. They seemed to really love to be able to scratch around and dust bathe in the chips.
This led me to research more on deep litter method and more natural methods of raising quail. I wanted to do a quabbit cottage (my version of a Raken house, but I don’t have the funds at the moment. A tractor was an option, but I know they can be easily hurt in the tractor moving process and don’t want to risk that.
I have very minimal carpentry experience— just the previous other cages I’ve built. I ended up building a solid bottom floor housing that’s covered in a protective vinyl bottom. I then took some unfinished compost/castings from my worm bin along with some of the worms and placed that in the bottom of my housing. Then did a thick layer of fallen leaves, followed by a layer of woodchips I got from a chip drop order. I’ve got weed blocker on top to help keep the rain out, but still allow ventilation.
I realize I will have a higher cost, since I have more inputs, and that I may need to change the bedding out more often (depending on how well the vermicomposting goes), but that’s something I’m comfortable with listening to the happy chirps and seeing them scratch and getting them as close to a natural upbringing while keeping them safe.
I’d love to see if anyone else has done anything similar, as well as what other creative housing you guys have. I’ve got 17 in the brooder box I have to build a home for next!
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14 Replies
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I forgot the pictures!🤦🏼♀️
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If you want them to be even happier make it a sand bottom with some branches for cover. Wire cages are really just about being as economical as you can while providing proper care. There are plenty of things you can do to make animals happier if you are willing to do the extra work and/or spend the money. My next layer pen I’m planning to do the whole floor as sand since that’s where they spend 90% of the time anyways. Growouts will still stay in wire cages though.
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I’m dabbling with experimenting with that, as well. I was just super fixated on the vermicomposting so I wanted to start with that. I’ve got to build another pen I may do sand in next and see which I like better.
Anything else you like to do for them? Do you do any enrichment or anything? I’ve seen stuff for chickens, but not much for quail. I just scatter some bsfl around for them to forage plus maybe some greens/hay I have on hand.
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Honestly I haven’t found anything they enjoy more than sand. They love dust bathing in it and pecking around in it. I guess it make sense as they are ground dwelling birds so foraging, dust bathing, and breeding are their driving behaviors. They are so messy with the sand but they seem to enjoy it so much I can’t bring myself to not keep refilling it lol.
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Should add that I start my chicks in pine shavings but as soon as I add a sandbox it quickly replaces them playing in the shavings to the point it seems like a contest to see how many chicks can pile into the sand at the same time.
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That sounds lovely! I’m definitely going to give it a try with my next batch. I gotta get their new house build fast— it’s crazy how fast they grow!!!
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There is no quail ecstasy like a sand bath. They love laying eggs in the sand as well.
I had a hutch that was half wire and half sand. (Slightly Rednecked /Chris Karnes from YT has great build tutorials)
I love your ground pen!! I get snow, so it would be good for me about 8 months out of the year, but it looks sturdy and easy to move. I am all about “rotational grazing”, and while quail aren’t cows (but the comparison makes me laugh every time) my yard seems to rebound from the egg layers and “meatballs” (CC chickens) just fine. Why not tractor some quail? I like them to live their best life too. My chicken friend and I were talking about the wire skirting that can be hinged up to move and layed down and weighted with rocks or bricks, to prevent the mentioned raccoon atrocities. This sounded like a good solution.
I had them in an A frame ground pen at one point, but. I was pretty new at it, and the nightly raccoons would sneak an arm under a side and every day it seemed, Ii had a bird or two missing.
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I would love to pasture my quail, but I’ve got a couple limiting factors.
My husband isn’t thrilled I have “livestock.” As long as it doesn’t look trashy and doesn’t disturb the neighbors, he’s fine with it. This also makes my front yard off limits for tractoring; plus we have a ton of stray dogs in our neighbor hood.
I’ve got a dog myself, a sweet boxer/pittie type dog we rescued last year. She’s sweet as can be, but she’s big and would play with them too death if she could get close. So, until I can fence off some more area for tractoring, a stationary pen is my only option.
And I’m totally gonna get them a sand bath! I’ve read/watched YT videos like Slightly Rednecked that they love it. That’s next!
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Hello. Mine stay in these pens with blue shop towels covering the wire floor till they get feathers 3 weeks. I have 2 like the one on the left. & 1 3 tier breeder cage. Which are keeped inside a shed with heat lamps . At three weeks I put them in the outdoor pen. I cut long juniper branch for hiding spots.Under the wood chips is poly coated wire. I’ve had every predator try to get in!!! A red tail hawk sits on the ground outside. An owl sits in the trees in the back. So far they are safe.would like to make a tractor for them. A wire floor is a must for me. I would love to see or pens
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Wow those are awesome! Did you build them yourself??
I’m pretty new to carpentry, so mine are functional, but definitely flawed visually 🤷🏼♀️
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Thanks . I didn’t see any flaws. No I had help. I got a bunch of free 2×4 . A friend cut them all into2x2 on his table saw.While we have a table saw. I’ll only use it for plywood. Cortunix Corner You Tube has instructions☺️
Also made chicken feeders out of left over aluminum. I’ll post a pic . Soon
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So it’s made out scrap aluminum. Cut with tin snips. Bent and riveted. Bought 1 copied the design. If I can find the pattern I made I’ll post it.
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Wow! You made that!!!
I haven’t ventured into metal. I was thinking of doing some sort of j feeder out of wood. I know it’s porous and all, but I figured if I painted it it may be better.
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I’m sure wood is fine. Actually once I put them outside . I use the the long red chick starter feeders. & rubber bowls if it’s cold. Couldn’t find the full pattern for the metal feeder. But I took a pic of the bender that came from harbor freight. As far as the rivets they have manual rivet guns that you squeeze. As far as wood experience I’ love to make stuff not a lot of time. Most of its trial & error. & many years of diy , fix it.
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