Would there be anything wrong with using a rabbit cage for a quail cage?

[Oregonbeek]

I'm struggling to find affordable quail cages online. They are only available from a small handful of vendors and shipping costs are deal-breakers.

On the other hand, there are a plethora of rabbit cage vendors, and the price tends to be about half for a similar size cage. What would be wrong with housing Cutornix quail in the rabbit cages? Would the floor size be wrong for their feet? What size wire should the floor be in a quail cage?

It seems as though I should be able to get a few rabbit cages, do a few quick mods to them to make them quail friendly, and be good to go.

If I'm missing something please let me know!

 

[groundpecker]

I use 1/4 inch hardware cloth for my quail/chick brooder house. You can even make your own quail cages from 1/4 inch hardware cloth and 2x4 boards. There really is no need to buy those expensive cages. Quail chicks should only be put on 1/8 inch hardware cloth or their feet will get stuck in the 1/4 inch wire.

 

[TwoCrows]

Those rabbit hutches make great quail homes. I use them all the time for shelters and such for my Bobs. I can't remember what I spend on them, but they are not that expensive. This is not the greatest pic of a rabbit hutch, but it gives you the idea. If it will be located outside, you will need to cover it with 1/2 hardware cloth to keep paws and predators out of these large 1 inch holes...

 

[Oregonbeek]

So in theory, someone could buy a rabbit pen, tilt it at a 7 degree angle and cut out a little strip along the lower side so that eggs can roll down and out into an egg-catcher of some sort?

And then if the little quail legs are getting stuck in the bottom wire you could just clip some smaller wire to the bottom of the cage?

 

[TwoCrows]

Other than Button Quail, you can keep quail on 1/2 inch wire for the floor. Adult quail will not get their feet stuck. The 1/4 inch stuff will not allow poop to fall thru the wire.

I am sure you could rig something for the eggs to roll out the back. I have never tried it, but anything is possible.