There are lots of different species of quail, but Coturnix Quail are probably the most highly productive quail. For quail egg production, though, there are few birds that can beat Coturnix quail. This includes flying predators. coturnix quail are pretty awesome. They are the fastest growing of most quail species. When Japanese quail are kept domestically on raised wire-floored coops, they rarely show broody tendencies; sitting on and hatching their own eggs is very unusual behavior for quail. Fox, cats and raccoons can easily invade a coop. This will leave 4-6 inches (after the ground settles) above the bottom of the coop wire, making it much harder for predators to access the coop. Posts: 2. posted 5 years ago. Because quail waste is highly acidic, 1/2 inch hardware cloth is also used for the bottom of this type of structure. Jul 10, 2015 - Explore Amberly Davis's board "Quail Houses!!!!!" Both button quail and Coturnix grow fast, and in the blink of an eye, they’ll be ready to be moved. Why accomplish this, in the past even addition plans cost you at least a couple of hundred dollars each? Quail, especially Coturnix quail, are becoming quite popular to raise because they don’t take up much space. They are affected by common poultry diseases but are fairly disease resistant. My specialty is the Coturnix quail, therefore I will discuss different housing methods for them. The roof helps protect them from being spotted by flying predators. The challenge is to provide this security while still having access to clean out accumulating droppings beneath the coop. Small-Flock Cornish Cross Processing Made Easy, How To Keep Your Chickens Safe This Winter, 5 Ways to Cool your Chicken Coop this Summer, Farm Fresh Eggs: 7 Things to Tell Your Customers. Coturnix quail have several varieties optimal for raising such as Jumbo Brown and Texas. ! Quail are ground birds by nature. Block the hawk’s line of sight and they lose interest. You’ll need access to all corners of the coop for ease of cleaning, and also because quail will lay their eggs anywhere. Avoid cedar shavings, as the strong odor can cause respiratory issues. We have tried many methods of raising quail and found that in our environment, raising our quail off the ground worked best for us. If you are a beginner and interested in Coturnix quail, my new book, The Quail Lady’s Guide to Raising Coturnix on the Homestead, is out; it’s a prequel to Coturnix Revolution and highly recommended for all stages of quail raising. Unlike chickens, who prefer to lay eggs in a nesting box, quail may, or may not lay eggs there, But they will enjoy the snug space, especially in the winter. A few simple coop modifications will provide your quail with a safe home that also accommodates their natural preferences. As acquiring them was unplanned, we did not have quail-specific housing. Care of Coturnix quail is exceedingly easy. Coturnix are prey animals, meaning that they are game for predators. coturnix quail housing page 3 from quail housing plans Once you’ve narrowed alongside some of your favorite features for a drive house, you can order a couple of growth plans from which to build your custom plans. What works in one part of the country may not work well in another. 5. Coturnix quail are gentle birds that come in many varieties and are easily raised in small spaces. Hardware cloth works better than chicken wire for quail coops, as it’s more durable and has smaller openings. Pens can be as short as 6 inches tall, but most pens range from 12 to 24 inches tall. Good as pets, to keep for eggs or even rear for meat, they don’t require a lot of space, are quieter than chickens and are cheap to keep. They’re also less likely to get mites or other parasites by living above the ground. Several suitable quail are available for the home grower. Quail are amazing birds, and in previous articles, I’ve written about hatching and brooding Coturnix quail (Coturnix japonica), also known as Japanese quail, and Chinese blue-breasted or button quail (Excalfactoria chinensis), and some other species of quail as well. Coturnix and bobwhite quail are most commonly raised of quail. Avoid cedar shavings as they are not generally recommended for birds. foot per quail. A solid-floored, elevated coop provides security against burrowing predators in addition to preventing attacks through a wire floor. Typically, this type of housing is done with the use of 1/2 inch hardware cloth. Coturnix chicks will need to be moved to a grow-out cage by three weeks old. Jumbo brown coturnix grow the fastest of all of them. This applies to quail too. Coturnix and other. A tarp protected them from the rain. If the grass or groundcover fails to thrive because of bird foot traffic or excessive shade, add pine shavings or mulch, making it so the birds aren’t on bare dirt. You can adapt guinea pig or hamster cages for quail. Many coops come with a nesting box. sarina lynn. Quail don’t mind calm, quiet visits, but if small children or pets are running by, they’ll likely startle. Breeding of Coturnix Quail is another reason why a lot of homesteaders chose to keep them. Getty images. Quail - All About, Quail - Breeding, Quail - Feeding, Quail - Health, Quail - Housing, Quail - Other backyardfarmernz This is an abstract of an answer I provide regularly to some of my Coturnix coturnix friends requesting general advise on quail keeping Quail Ground Pen. You can see the shavings and also some plants for hiding. Make sure you provide entertainment. An elevated coop protects against the danger of predators digging in or burrowing from underneath. Provide some off-wire locations as well, such as a nesting box with pine shavings, so that the quail can rest their feet. One thing for sure most quail hobbyist will have a different point of view. Place the chicks in a warm environment—88 degrees F—that has water and finely ground feed readily available. Currently, she owns Stellar Game Birds, Poultry, Waterfowl LLC, a poultry farm that sells chicks, hatching eggs, eating eggs and meat. They can be kept indoors, outdoors, on-ground, or above the ground. They only tend to fly when startled. Her book on Japanese quail, Coturnix Revolution, is a comprehensive guide to raising and understanding these domesticated fowl. This board will give you some ideas and for all you quail lovers out there please comment on what worked for you and what did not. Environment plays a significant role in how we choose to house our animals. The Coturnix quail is a pleasant little breed of quail that many opt to keep for meat, eggs, and in some cases, as a pet. Their housing requirements are minimal. Japanese quail mature in about 6 weeks and are usually in full egg production by 50 days of age. There are pros and cons to each set-up, for both you and your birds. Luckily, pine shavings are cheap enough to change often, and you can compost old shavings. Most importantly, they eat a small amount of food, for which they produce a large amount of quail eggs. In my personal opinion, Coturnix quail ( also known as Japanese quail ) are one of the best backyard poultry. I hope that these housing method tips give you an idea of what you need for your quail.