New to quails need pictures of housing

[joshremlin]

We really like quails we have kept chickens for a while now and are going to build something for around 3 or 4 Chinese painted quails but for I idea was wanting you to post pictures of your quail Housing and runs.

How do you sex them and also are the males loud ? And what makes practical good housing for quails.

 

[dc3085]

We really like quails we have kept chickens for a while now and are going to build something for around 3 or 4 Chinese painted quails but for I idea was wanting you to post pictures of your quail Housing and runs.

How do you sex them and also are the males loud ? And what makes practical good housing for quails.

It is very difficult to keep chinese quail outside, without spend quite a bit to do it. Fully grown they are the size of a hamster or gerbil.

Chinese quail are best in pairs because this is the way they breed in nature. They can become aggressive if set up in a colony/covey style arrangement.

They aren't very loud, and most colors can be sexed visually, but many colors have to be vent sexed or observed until it becomes obvious.

They don't tolerate temps below 40*F very well either, so they should have a heat source of some kind if kept out of doors in winter. They don't need a lot of space though, a lot of people keep pairs in 30-40 gallon aquariums. You can house them in most anything big enough. I suggest at least 4 sq ft of floor space per bird. Coturnix (japanese quail) are much easier to keep although much larger, and not so spectacular to look at.

Just plan any cage you build for a mouse. If a mouse can out, a button quail can probably get out.

This is me with a fully mature button in my hand (chinese quail)

This is me with a fully mature coturnix in my hand (japanese quail)

 

[joshremlin]

Its Chinese quails we like I was going to build a rabbit hutch and run style housing with a tiny nest box On the side in winter I will have a low watt heat bulb or electric hen in the house

 

[dc3085]

Its Chinese quails we like I was going to build a rabbit hutch and run style housing with a tiny nest box On the side in winter I will have a low watt heat bulb or electric hen in the house

I wasn't trying to discourage you, just giving you an idea what you have to proof for. A rabbit hutch style set-up is perfect, just use 1/2"x1/2" welded wire around the sides and either do a sand or shavings floor or you could do wire, some corrugated plastic or tin for a roof and your set. If you it has a wire floor make sure you put a draft block around the sides (plastic sheeting is sufficient) so the wind coming up through the bottom doesnt chill them.

I would make it with a division that can be removed and inserted if you are thinking about raising them in a colony (so you can separate any birds that get aggressive but not have to re-pair them). Every time I've raised them in a colony one or more bird has been rejected by the others or becomes too aggressive to be left in the cage. When you split up buttons that have had a mate, they will often die from stress if they do not get a new mate within a couple months, so it can put you in a bad position.

Below are some threads that show pictures, there are tons of threads like this so just use advanced search and limit your results to the quail section.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/615029/pictures-of-your-home-made-coops-and-runs

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/103378/can-i-see-some-pics-of-your-quail-hutches-and-coops

 

[joshremlin]

Brilliant thanks for the info its much appreciated.