Quail aviary vs tractor - Opinions?

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Hello. I currently keep all of my Coturnix quail in an A-frame tractor type coop in my barn. It's worked ok so far, but I want to change it up for a few reasons.
1. The way this coop is built it's very hard to get into to clean/gather eggs.
2. My original plan was to bring it outside during the summer months, but it's very heavy and would take two people to move.
3. I'd like to breed them so I can have more meat and eggs, and I plan to use the spiral breeding method. That means I will need at least two more coops, and I want to try a different design.

So, after researching, I'm left with two main options, and I want to see if anyone else has any opinions on what might work better.

Option number one: A walk in aviary style coop. They would stay in here year round, and I would add different wood, rocks, and hides for them. I would have to have an enclosed area where they could go inside during the winter.
Pros: Probably the most natural option, may encourage broodiness(not a huge deal for me, but it would be cool), I could grow fodder so they have access to grass but that would be more work
Cons: It would get filled with snow in the winter so I would have to figure out some sort of wind/snow cover, would have to manually clean with a shovel, would be more expensive than a tractor

Option number two: A quail tractor. I like this one that I found on YouTube.

It's hard to see in the picture, but there are two layers of wire, chicken wire on the outside and 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the inside. The indoor part would have a wooden bottom and be filled with straw or shavings.
Pros: Cheaper than the aviary, slightly lower feed cost, access to fresh grass, could move it into the barn over the winter
Cons: May be more susceptible to predators going underneath, wouldn't be able to add extra hides unless I wanted to move them every time I move the tractor

I'm leaning toward the tractor because I have to build at least three of them, and they would be much easier and cheaper to build. If you use a quail tractor, how do they hold up during bad storms with wind? (We get bad winds so I'm scared of one flipping. But maybe having it this close to the ground it would be ok? If I knew a bad storm was coming, I would move it to a more protected area, but sometimes they surprise me!) Are the quail smart enough to actually use the shelter part when it's nasty out? And are they smart enough to move with the tractor as you move it? I'm worried they would just stand there and get run over. Lastly, do your quail lay inside the shelter or just wherever they like?

Does anyone have any opinions or experiences? Or pros/cons that I haven't considered? Thanks in advance!

 

[Nabiki]

Looks like you did a pretty good analysis of the pros and cons. A con of the tractor style is that quail don't really like to be moved, so they are likely to take a break of a week or two from laying.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Looks like you did a pretty good analysis of the pros and cons. A con of the tractor style is that quail don't really like to be moved, so they are likely to take a break of a week or two from laying.

If they were moved every day, do you think they would get used to it? Or would it stress them out too much?

 

[Nabiki]

If they were moved every day, do you think they would get used to it? Or would it stress them out too much?

I think it would stress them out too much, but it depends on the birds. Some are more adaptable than others.

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

It might be with a try with the tractor. Being that their enclosure doesn’t change they may get used to moving around and having a different floor. They may even enjoy it. It does depend on the birds. I’ve noticed with mine that when I take their feeder out or water or sand box, they lose it. But as soon as the items go back, they calm right down. That being said when I do change something it doesn’t take them long to accept the new change. I can’t speak on egg production and if they would stop just yet as mine are only 6weeks and have not started laying. Maybe build the one tractor and see how it goes. If it goes well then you can add more.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

It might be with a try with the tractor. Being that their enclosure doesn’t change they may get used to moving around and having a different floor. They may even enjoy it. It does depend on the birds. I’ve noticed with mine that when I take their feeder out or water or sand box, they lose it. But as soon as the items go back, they calm right down. That being said when I do change something it doesn’t take them long to accept the new change. I can’t speak on egg production and if they would stop just yet as mine are only 6weeks and have not started laying. Maybe build the one tractor and see how it goes. If it goes well then you can add more.

Thanks for the reply! I think I'm going to do just that. I'll build one for my current quail and see how they do. If it doesn't work, I'll just modify it a bit and use it to raise chicks, so there's no huge loss!

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

I think it would stress them out too much, but it depends on the birds. Some are more adaptable than others.

Thank you for the insight! I think I'll try the tractor and see how it goes.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I really like your tractor idea! I spent a year with penned birds and just switched to a large group pen, they totally love the room and more ‘natural’ feel of the litter, branches etc which your tractor will also provide. Between the metal and lumber and low profile I doubt anything but straight line winds would be an issue. If you have hardware clothe on the bottom you should also be fine with most predators. I’ve never had issues with birds stopping egg production with simple changes to housing, flock composition or moving inside and out, but they are used to people and being messed with, they don’t necessarily appreciate it but it doesn’t totally stress them out either, we just banded a bunch a couple days back and while they were convinced we were killing them they were back to eating, standing next to us and fine a minute afterwards. Your birds will quickly figure out moving means new grass and get excited about it. My one concern would be the birds using the shelter for bad weather, mine really don’t like hides or the dark half of our rabbit hutch and don’t use them, maybe yours are smarter or once one figures it out they’ll be fine!

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

we just banded a bunch a couple days back and while they were convinced we were killing them they were back to eating, standing next to us and fine a minute afterwards.

I've noticed that some days when I feed and water mine, they will fly up, convinced they are about to die! Then other days they don't care and are completely fine. I can't quite figure them out!
And thanks for the reply. I'm going to try out a tractor and see how they do. I think after they adjust, they will be happier than where they are now.