Those of you with OUTDOOR quail in their own pen/cage/run

[Eggs on Toast]

Thank you, Eggs on Toast! Your wintertime temperatures are the same as some of our night time SUMMER temps, LOL! So, I'll have to keep thinking, but I love your little "quail box!" Is it secured into the ground in some way? In my area, predators would either flip that, or dig under it.

When we had Button quail living in the small dog actually dug and got under the cage and another time she dug a hole beside the cage just big enough so she could fit her head through and got one of the quails. So we put some rocks around the cage and then started building a fence around it to keep the dog out. I don't think we have many predators over here except from pets and wild birds so didn't need to do any major reinforcing. But I guess if I did get a lot of trouble with predators digging underneath it then I probably would put some wiring around it in the ground.

 

[Heyruthie]

I wish we didn't have a lot of predators in my area, but we have a HUGE population of Racoons, Opossums, Foxes, and even Rats that would eat quail. Just last night, a big Racoon in my yard was so assertive toward me at dusk that *I* had to run into my house! That's unusual, but it gives you an idea of how careful I need to be when building my pen!

 

[keepmumsane]

Hi, im in new zealand. In our region we have a -4 to 40c range. I have japanese quail that live in outside runs all year. They have wee houses to go into but like cuddling down in wee bird rafts even in the worst weather. I cover them with a tarp for excess rain, or wind.
They're happy.
Will post photos if I can figure it out tomorrow.
If its really bitter I pack in some hay as insulation and a wind break. They're tough wee birds. They're 2 year old, so had 2 winters safely.
Good luck

 

[Del1977]

I live in Victoria, Australia where we get temp ranges from -4 up to 45. Have had quail for two years now, heading into third and never had a problem with the temp ranges. Haven't lost one from heat or cold yet. Have some in a large cage my husband built and some in a converted cubby house that is covered with bird netting. In that they seem to sit out on the veranda even when it's freezing or raining!

Usually keep them inside for the first 2-4 weeks depending on how many we have hatch but the last two hatches were bigger than we normally do so they went into what use to be the guinea pig cage with an IR lamp and woollen blanket over it. They are 2 weeks old tomorrow and have been turning the lamp off in the afternoon lately as it has been warm.

 

[Ibuquail]

I have kept 2 adult birds outside through this last winter. My cage photo is on my thread about my girl incubating her own eggs. It's got a leaning cover on one side of a A frame and I put a little brick house in the pen too and some lawn clippings. I'm in SE qld in toowoomba so we get quite a bit colder than the coast. Winter was pretty much dry with over nights going as low as 0 celcius. I didn't cover the cage. My girl successfully incubated 5 chicks despite two massive downpours and nightly temps varying from warm to chilly, all she had was the lean to as cover while nesting.

 

[jak2002003]

In the UK I kept 3 Japanese Quail in an unheated aviary with my budgies. The had a pop hole at ground level so they could get into the indoor area.... which was also unheated.. but insulated with the thick wood the shed was made from and there were no cold winds blowing into it.

On the floor I had some small cardboard boxes with quail sized holes in cut in the sides and I stuffed them with hay. The quails loved to sleep in them.. and one of my females even nested in there are hatched, raised her own chicks.

I also kept Chinese painted quails in the same way in the past... they were fine... but I gave up on that species as they were just too aggressive with each other in a group.. and even keeping pairs the males would harass their mates too much and pluck their backs.. When the males were housed on their own they made such a noise!!

 

[Mary1956]

Hi, when putting hay into pen, can you use any type of hay? Alfalfa, barley, etc. is there any type that should not be used? Thanks

 

[jwalk2515]

pretty much all seems ok. they are just going to make a mess with it anyway. I've used timothy hay for rabbits in my quail cages and random bales of whatever was available and cheap. they love it all and it looks like a wild party when I add it.

 

[Mary1956]

pretty much all seems ok.  they are just going to make a mess with it anyway.  I've used  timothy hay for rabbits in my quail cages and random bales of whatever was available and cheap.  they love it all and it looks like a wild party when I add it.

Thank you. Sounds like it could be a fun time for all. Them to throw it all around and for me to watch it them.

I never knew what personalities they have. I'm really enjoying them and just want to make sure I cause them no harm.