You have already made up your mind you want to add some quails into your flock. Perhaps, you are a beginner who wants to venture into quail farming for the first time. Are you aware that you must have a quail coop?
Before the hatchery makes a call to inform you that your birds are ready, you must be will prepared with a place to keep these critters. Remember quails are game birds and will require to be confined in a good shelter otherwise, they will fly away.
However, quails are the kind of birds that require very little space. Additionally, they can be easily raised on an urban setting because they are not noisy like chicken roosters. You can opt to utilize the unused corner of your store, an extra bathroom, cages, bird aviaries or garage to raise quails and am sure they will be comfortable.
Do you want to know more about a quail coop and any other ideas related to a quails house? Then let’s roll!
Types of quail coops
There are many kinds of structures that can be used to house quails. As long as the structure used meets the birds’ demands, I consider it suitable to provide shelter for them.
However, you must consider the size of these birds before settling on a particular structure. Quails are small and cab fit in tiny cracks and fly away.
Portable Tractors
These are mobile pens that are used to house quails. Mobile tractor pens will allow them to be easily moved to new foraging grounds after exhausting the initial one.
When using this method to raise quails, make sure where you place the pen on the ground, the base is completely flush with the ground to ensure there is no loop hole for predators like snakes and possums.
In the corners, place rocks and branches for the quails to hide. Rocks and branches will simulate the natural environment where these wild birds spend their lives. Remember quails have some wild instincts and they spend most of their times on the ground in the wild hiding among bushes.
Additionally, quails are very skittish and they prefer to camouflage in the bushes feeding on insects, seeds and avoiding predators.
Also, when startled they will either hide or fly away for safety. Even in captivity, quails are easily frightened and they will always hide in anything they find or either flies.
Allowing your quails to forage gives them an opportunity to supplement their diet with green matter. They get a chance to grab small insects on the ground and grit.
Quail cages
Cages are the most effective way to raise quails for meat, eggs or as pets. If you have a small space, you can easily keep your birds confined in cages. Quail cages can be either hanged, mounted on the wall or put on any extra shelf in your garage.
Many quails can be kept in a small cage as they are tiny in size. However, you have to maintain the right balance to ensure that they are not congested.
Keeping few quails in a very large space makes them practice their wing muscles and learn how to fly. This way they can easily hit the ceiling and break their backs, necks or land hard on the floor and die.
Several cages can be stacked on top of each other making the available space well utilized. When you stack the cages on top of one another, place trays in between them to help collect quail poop and spilt feeds to use as fertilizer in your garden.
And the quail cage floor?
The floor of your cage should be made of a wire meshing. It will allow droppings to fall of to the ground or on trays. This will help keep your cage clean and tidy. Remember the foul smell that comes from quail droppings when they build up in one area can lead to respiratory problems.
The floor should also be slanted so that the eggs can roll onto the egg trays. These trays are placed in front of the cage for easier egg collection. Another advantage with the cages is that it is easier to transport your quails from one point to another.
Cages are well ventilated and will allow free movement of fresh air in and out. This is very important as quail feces are concentrated with ammonia that can easily lead to respiratory problems. Ventilations not only allow air but also allow light in the cages.
Quail hutches
Hutches are mostly used to house rabbits but can provide shelter to your Mountain quails . When using a hutch as a quail coop, it is good that you use wire flooring.
This will ensure your quails are secure from predators like foxes. Additionally, droppings will fall on the grounds giving your birds a clean environment.
Add straw bedding and branches in the hatches to give it a natural setting as possible. Straw will give your small quail breeds a comfortable bedding and a place to lay their eggs on.
Factors to consider when setting up a quail house
Number of birds
The number of birds you intend to keep will determine the size of a quail coop you will build. Although quails don’t require a very big space, consider providing enough space to move freely and exercise.
However, keep in minds that quails are easily spooked and are very flightily. Tall structures will make them fly carelessly and can hit the roof and break their necks and wings.
Take a case of birds kept in permanent confinement and congested. Fit in their feet and you will understand the importance of space. Adequate space will avoid congestion and minimize cases of bullying among them.
Security
Many people tend to forget that even rodents can lead to a stampede in a quail coop. Squirrels and rats will sneak in the jumbo quail cage for free meals.
As they do this, they frighten the quails away causing them to fly anyhow. They end up hitting the walls and ceilings causing injuries and death.
Ensure that even the tiniest openings are sealed. This way you are confident that your birds are secure. Any small openings left can be a loop hole for quail predators which can kill them for food.
Always keep the doors properly locked because quails can easily fly away whenever they get a chance to.
Hang solar eye lights and eye balloons to keep your birds safe during the day and night. Guardian dogs and a hawk netting too will ensure your flock is secure even when you are away.
Ventilation
Quail houses need to be well ventilated. Bearing in mind the strong ammonia odor from their droppings that can cause serious respiratory problems.
Ventilations will ensure quail coops get sufficient natural light. If they are able to enjoy a few hours of sun will help improve the vitamin D synthesis in their bodies.
Providing quails with sufficient light will ensure constant laying of eggs. Denying quails light makes them less active.
Quails raised for meat only can be raised in the dark. This method will make them convert every calorie of feed into flesh.
Dust bathing area
Quails just like chickens dust bathe too. They do this to control some external parasites like fleas and groom their feathers. Dust bathing helps them to control their oil glands.
Ensure you provide an area with sand in the coop where your flock of Manchurian quails will dust bath their bodies. Additionally, some birds will use this as a perfect spot to lay their eggs.
For better results, mix the quail dirt birth with small amounts of diatomaceous earth powder. It helps in removal of body parasites as well as quail worms when swallowed together with grit.
A quail coop waterer and feeder are vital
Another question you need to ask yourself is, whether there is enough space for quail feeders and waterers? Quails need food and water just like you eat and drink.
Nipple drinkers use minimal space and ensure that the only water that comes out goes to the birds stomach. These no mess waterers will reduce spillage and dump coop beddings.
As for my quails, I place the feeder outside the coop and above egg trays. This way my birds pass their necks between wire mesh to feed. The method works well for me and reduces wastage of feeds.
In addition to that, it also ensures that the coop is kept clean a little bit longer. Narrow trough feeders that are deep enough reduces spillage of feeds.
Quail Coop Ideas
Quail coop ideas are the building tips and insights that you should have before making a quail house. They will help you build the right structure at the right place for the actual number if birds you intend to keep.
A good quail house should be well ventilated, easy to clean, easy to collect eggs and change the beddings. Additionally, it should be easy to access and built on an area free from flooding with the right materials.
8 Best Quail coop ideas
Before you make any decision on the type if quail coop have in mind, here are some of the plans where you can compare notes.
Let’s roll!
Predator Free Outdoor Quail Run
This is one of the best quail coop if you want your birds to be spending more of their time outdoors during the day. Make an enclosed run with a hawk netting around and over the roof. The netting should be made of a quarter inch hardware cloth.
However, the netting should be buried a few inches below the ground to keep of burrowing predators like dogs and foxes that kill these game birds for food. Additionally, make sure there are no gaps along the poles that can allow predators inside.
Put rocks, branches and hay bales to mimic the natural environment for these birds to hide under and lay their eggs. This type of run will allow these birds to sand bath and enjoy hors of sun. However, have enough shaded areas for your birds to shelter when the sun is too hot.
Stacked Quail Cages With Egg Roll Out Tray
Stacking quail cages on top of each other is the best bet if you have a small space. A single cage can hold several birds depending on the breed. However, put collecting trays between the cages to collect quail poop and any spilt feeds.
The egg roll out trays will make it easier to collect eggs laid without having to stretch your hand inside the cage to get the eggs. In addition ton that, it is easy to manage waste, monitor the birds and change the beddings when using this method. Cages can be stacked inside the garage or in one of the extra bathrooms inside your house.
Portable Quail Cages With Feeders
Portable quail cages allows for easier transportation of your quail breeds from one area to the other. Additionally, the birds can be put in these structures to allow you to clean and disinfect the main quail house.
They have no mess feeders located on the outside where the birds remove their heads out to eat without raking through the crumbles and causing spillage. Portable quail cages can also be used as holding or isolation pens just in case there are cases of quail bullying or new birds in the flock.
Quail Coops With Multiple Drinkers
These types of quail houses are very ideal because they offer all the birds equal drinking opportunities. In addition to that, they can be fitted with nipple drinkers to help prevent moist beddings.
You do not have to worry about your birds dehydrating anymore. Fill the water tank and let the birds drink whenever they feel like. However, remember that quails are small birds and can easily drown in open containers. It is advisable that your quail waterers be shallow if you are not using nipple or cup waterers.
Clean the waterers regularly to avoid dirt built up or algae growth. When using open bowls to water your flock, add rock pebbles to act as islands where they can step on as they drink.
Bird Aviaries for Small or Few Quails
Quails are tiny in size and can be raised in bird aviaries. However, this method will only limit you to keep a few number of them preferably as house pets.
It is easy to monitor, feed and collect quail eggs when using this method. Additionally, you can carry you pet quail with you in their aviary for a work or when going for a vacation.
Bird aviaries will allow you to integrate different pet birds like parrots and Icelandic pigeons together with your wild quails.
Low levelled barns for commercial quails
Low leveled barns are the ideal way to raised Cortunix quails on a large scale. The reason they are low levelled is to discourage the birds from flying carelessly and breaking their backs and necks.
Here, the birds are kept for a specified period of time either for meat or as layers. This method is capital intensive as you will require enough manpower to feed, collect the eggs, change beddings and water them.
However, it allows you to raise as many quails as you can depending on the available space and your financial muscle.
Predator Proof Tractor Cage for Quails
Predator proof tractor cages are an ideal way to let your quails forage, collect seeds, insects and bugs. This method is cheap and very economical as long as you have the tractor cage.
Quails are able to supplement their diet of game bird feeds with what they get on their natural environment when still safely confined.
Additionally, they help fertilize the soil with their droppings as they are moved to fresh pastures. This helps prevent quail poop build up and at the same time controlling the number of insect pests on the farm.
However, these birds will need to be moved to a shaded area when the sun is too hot. During the night and on a rainy day, have someone to move them in to keep them safe.
Urban Quail Cool in a Small Garage Space
This quail coop idea will help you raise a small number of birds on the available space in your garage. It can either be stacked cages or a hutch placed on the shelf.
The technique is good for people living in urban or populate areas and wants a o have these birds for meat, eggs or as pets.
Common questions people ask about quail coops
What kind of coop do quail need?
Rabbit hutches, chicken coops and cages for quails or any other structure can be used as a quail house. These structures should be well ventilated, well closed and not so high if you intend to raise these birds.
However, they can also be housed with other wild birds like Cuba pigeons and guinea hens. I prefer keeping them alone as they can be easily bullied by bigger birds.
Will quail use a coop?
Yes they will. They require a well sheltered house to sleep, lay eggs and raise their young. If you let quails out on their own, they will fly away in the wild and never make a comeback.
Domestic quails will need a good shelter to keep them safe from predators and harsh elements.
How much space does a quail need?
Unlike chicken, quails do not require big spaces. They can be raised in small cages several of them. Remember they are small birds in terms of size.
How do you coop quails?
Quails can be kept in cages, rabbit hutches and quail tractors. They can also be kept in any other structure that is well secure and safe. You can also coop them together with chickens if you can.