Should I keep my quail elevated off of the ground or on the ground?

[drewskimac]

Hey guys, right now my quail are in a run with a small house attached to it, and it is on the ground. I could quite easily modify my pen to be elevated off of the ground, but my question is, would the quail prefer to be elevated or are they better off the way they are right now?

All i know is that i recently kept them in a 2-story rabbit hutch for about a month and i never once saw them on the upper level, which they were free to get up to.

Any and all answers appreciated, even if it is just an explanation of your own setup... Thanks

 

[TwoCrows]

Quail are ground dwellers and prefer to be on the ground under brush and such. In contact with the ground. However this is entirely up to you as to how you want to keep them. If you live in an area that isn't too wet and muddy, a coop and run or aviary set up is a great idea. If you live in a rain forest, keeping them elevated off the ground might be a better idea.

As for them not using a two story hutch, they probably won't go up highest in an enclosure. I have found the only way to get them to use coops and hutches is to lock them in for a few days so they see these areas as safe places to sleep and stay alive. So if you put them in small coop with run, they won't go up the ramp and in the coop unless you train them it is ok to use the hutch and lock them in for a few days. Then they will freely use all of the facilitates.

I have always kept my birds in aviaries or small chicken coops with runs and rabbit hutches with runs. They love the freedom.

 

[drewskimac]

Quail are ground dwellers and prefer to be on the ground under brush and such. In contact with the ground. However this is entirely up to you as to how you want to keep them. If you live in an area that isn't too wet and muddy, a coop and run or aviary set up is a great idea. If you live in a rain forest, keeping them elevated off the ground might be a better idea.

As for them not using a two story hutch, they probably won't go up highest in an enclosure. I have found the only way to get them to use coops and hutches is to lock them in for a few days so they see these areas as safe places to sleep and stay alive. So if you put them in small coop with run, they won't go up the ramp and in the coop unless you train them it is ok to use the hutch and lock them in for a few days. Then they will freely use all of the facilitates.

I have always kept my birds in aviaries or small chicken coops with runs and rabbit hutches with runs. They love the freedom.

Thanks for the response

 

[Fat Daddy]

Leyla has told you true... 100% of quail surveyed would rather be on the ground.... The rabbit hutch type pen is totally for the human involved...

My pens have always been up off the ground thou. I am a fat man and I don't bend too well... I won't hunt eggs like its Easter, and having everything waist high means I can keep them clean see anything wrong like injuries or aggression issues better... Plus I like to just sit beside them, watch and listen... But this is all for me, the keeper, quail are happier on the ground.

 

[drewskimac]

Leyla has told you true... 100% of quail surveyed would rather be on the ground.... The rabbit hutch type pen is totally for the human involved...

My pens have always been up off the ground thou. I am a fat man and I don't bend too well... I won't hunt eggs like its Easter, and having everything waist high means I can keep them clean see anything wrong like injuries or aggression issues better... Plus I like to just sit beside them, watch and listen... But this is all for me, the keeper, quail are happier on the ground.

Thanks