Do quail need houses?

[bcfcciderhead]

Maybe a silly question but I intend to keep some Japanese quail in my aviary with the finches.
Will these fellows need somewhere to hide, like a nest box, but of course on the floor, and what about perches, what height etc

[lovezebs]

Hello.

For some reason I couldn't tag you (should let Sally , know about that).

Anyway, there are no silly questions, so ask away....

Regretably, I don't own Quails (Japanese or otherwise ).

However, I did find a bit of information for you here and there.

Japanese Quail, are reputed to be hardy birds.
Incubation lasts 17-18 days, and a hen can lay 200 (yes, 200 eggs in her first year )

Males, will fight (so that's something to be aware of).

They are considered mature at 6 weeks.

Quails don't need perches, as they stay on the ground (and don't like climbing)

If you give them a house, it pretty much needs to be at ground level, or offer them a little ramp (for getting in and out).

Apparently they don't necessarily build nests, but will hide their eggs somewhere on the ground.

They do appreciate some conifer branches or something similar for cover. They also like a few small logs, raised off the ground by a couple of bricks (so that they can hide under or behind.).

It's also suggested, that a dust bath is a must, to keep them both clean and entertained.

When they're startled, they fly straight up, so I'm assuming you don't want to keep them in a low in closure (or you'll need to supply them with little helmets, lol).

Please keep us updated, and good luck.

P.S. Hopefully, some members who have Quails will chime in with more information.

[bcfcciderhead]

Thanks for the reply, they will have a 7ft tall flight so helmets shouldn't be needed lol
I will make some hiding places in the inside part of the aviary.
Some good information, thanks

[lovezebs]

Let me know when you get those first 200 eggs.... I want a picture, lol.

[FLDoc]

When I had button quail in my finch aviary, I gave then a medium sized plastic igloo-type house as you find in reptile or hamster cages. They seemed to like it.

[debbie276]

When I had bobwhite quail I put a upside down wooden box with a door in the aviary. They would lay their eggs in there.

[Jen]

I have some button quail in my outdoor aviary. They have a little wooden house that I built and they totally ignore it. I have a piece of white PVC pipe about 5" long and about 4"wide that was laying in the corner of the aviary and that seems to be their favorite "egg hiding" place. They also build nest in the grassy area right out in the open, so I have to be careful where I'm walking!

They have the CUTEST babies you will ever see! I went from a pair to 25 in no time flat! So be prepared!!!

[bcfcciderhead]

Thanks the replys guys it all helps.
I will continue with building some wooden houses but after ready the replys may just put about anything in there for them, got bamboo and tall grasses planted outside so will keep an eye out in there.

[Colt]

They may also appreciate lookout posts like a low log or something similar they can jump up on to.

[StodOne]

I am no quail expert , but I know that their eggs (non fertile ones) are very tasty , so if I were you bcfcciderhead I would stimulate her to lay eggs , hehe xD
Oh and lovezebs , you dont need to click the tag icon you can just copy paste his name and add @ at the start of his name.

[Paul's Amazing Birds]

I prefer the Chinese Painted Quail (Buttons) to the Japanese Coturnix because in a mixed aviary they seem to be less hyper and less aggressive toward each other and other birds. I'm always concerned about the safety of finch fledglings that wind up on the floor for a few days.

I currently have 23 quail...all quite tame. They huddle together in several colonies at night and like to lay eggs in secluded brushy areas but they also drop eggs just about anywhere they want. The babies are so active (they run around a lot) that the hens have trouble keeping them warm in the first week...so for best results I use an incubator with an auto egg turner and a fish tank brooder when I want more birds. The abundance of quail eggs also makes good egg food when boiled with chicken eggs and added to the commercial nestling food blend I use for the finches and canaries.

They eat just about anything that falls on the floor and particularly like fruit and veggies, all kinds of seed and fresh growing turf. The turf is in a "green feeder" which basically a 2' x 4' wood frame with 1/2 inch welded wire over the top so they can't pull the grass out by the roots. Any kind of bugs or worms from the compost pit are another favorite. I'm working on a way to dispense live worms from a suspended bucket of compost with holes in the bottom.

Bamboo and grasses will provide plenty of hiding places. They will also like to poke around a few small boulders. For water, all my ground birds have 3 automatic water devices to choose from that were designed for chickens. They also get all the left over egg food from the finch and canary "treat trays". There are plenty of places for dust baths but the one they like the best is a 2' square tray filled with Diatomaceous Earth. That tray was made with a 1/2" plywood floor and a 2"x2" rim to hold the dust in. Your quail will need a dry, weather protected area for rainy days. Mine don't seem to know when to come in so I occasionally have to herd them and confine them to a drier part of the aviary.

Best of luck with your new quail... Fun birds to keep!