The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Daisys Mum on July 03, 2013, 05:25:21 pm

Title: Putting Quail out
Post by: Daisys Mum on July 03, 2013, 05:25:21 pm
My quail are now 3 weeks old and the house stinks,  is it too soon to put them out into there own house?
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: doganjo on July 03, 2013, 05:41:42 pm
Hi Anne
Are these Japanese quail - Cameron found a couple and I may be getting them - trying to gauge their age so how big are yours?
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: in the hills on July 03, 2013, 06:00:59 pm
Guessing that they are fully feathered by 3 weeks and given the time of year they should be fine outside.


I would make sure they have  cosy shut in quarters and protect from the wind and rain.


I find that they are difficult to age, Doganjo. Fully grown and laying at 6 weeks. Not as easy as chickens to age .... no comb or pullet shape to use as a clue.
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: doganjo on July 03, 2013, 06:02:46 pm
Ok, need Cam to tell me theri size if I get them so I know my pens are secure.
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: in the hills on July 03, 2013, 06:51:45 pm
Needs to be the wire with the tiny square holes .... can't think what they call it  ::)
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: sokel on July 03, 2013, 07:49:10 pm
mine have been out for 10 days  , they are a month old now. I have them in an ark with the square aviary mesh on it , I lock them in the house section on a night
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: Daisys Mum on July 03, 2013, 08:02:06 pm
Will try to put on a picture of my house and quail. Oh and ITH it's weld mesh the wire with the little holes. ;D
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: in the hills on July 03, 2013, 09:02:34 pm
 ;D  Will try and remember .... not very good at these things.  ::)
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: doganjo on July 03, 2013, 10:51:27 pm
My weldmesh panels are 1.5 inches square.  Cam says they are about 3 inches but I'll bet they'd get through that, so ........   tomorrow I put five panels together with chicken wire! ::)
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: Clarebelle on July 04, 2013, 06:55:58 am
I put my quail out at 4 weeks but I'm sure they'll be fine at 3 weeks when the weathers warm.

I tried shutting mine in the eglu at night but they hated it and kicked up such a fuss that now I don't bother. They potter around all night!

The run on my eglu isn't the really small gauge wire its like rectangular space about 1" x 2.5" which the quail can not get through a much as they try. However, we had to cover the whole run with small spaced garden netting because our cat managed to kill three of our quail by getting a paw through the gaps.
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: in the hills on July 04, 2013, 08:47:48 am
Used to attempt to lock mine in at night but they don't appreciate it  ::) . Don't seem to go to bed or roost as chickens do and seem to be running around at all hours. Runs do need to be rat proof though, including floors, or they will dig in.
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: doganjo on July 04, 2013, 08:53:47 am
They'll go in my garage (concrete floor) inside a dog run, inside a cage of some sort with smaller than 1.5 inch square holes. Unless anyone can come up with something better? ???
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: in the hills on July 04, 2013, 09:07:41 am
Plenty of light ????? ..... necessary for all that egg production.   ;D   :fc:


They love a dust bath and conifer branches etc. to hide under
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: doganjo on July 04, 2013, 09:58:25 am
Hens get that anyway, so will do their run similar once they're old enough to be out in it.
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: Daisys Mum on July 04, 2013, 02:12:31 pm
The Quail out in their new house
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: Eve on July 04, 2013, 02:16:37 pm
Nice!  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: goosepimple on July 04, 2013, 06:34:49 pm
Nice house Anne, when can I move in  :D
 
Can't you put them out with a heat lamp - one of those ceramic types that don't light up just heat up?  Or don't you have an old furry hat they could cuddle up to?
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: Bert on July 05, 2013, 07:10:41 am
Daisys mum that quail house is fantastic  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:   :love: .
 What size is it? And how many quail do you have? If you don't mind making me even more jealous  ;D
I still really miss my quail. Will get more one day  :fc: I have to, I've still got over 80 egg boxes to use  :-J . That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it  :innocent:

 
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: doganjo on July 05, 2013, 09:19:35 am
Daisys mum that quail house is fantastic  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:   :love: .
 What size is it? And how many quail do you have? If you don't mind making me even more jealous  ;D
I still really miss my quail. Will get more one day  :fc: I have to, I've still got over 80 egg boxes to use  :-J . That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it  :innocent:
I might need some quail egg boxes - seems it's three hens I'm getting - 2 painted Chinese, 1 Yellow Japanese.   :excited:Where would I get them in Central Scotland?
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: Daisys Mum on July 06, 2013, 05:16:41 pm
Daisys mum that quail house is fantastic  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:   :love: .
 What size is it? And how many quail do you have? If you don't mind making me even more jealous  ;D
I still really miss my quail. Will get more one day  :fc: I have to, I've still got over 80 egg boxes to use  :-J . That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it  :innocent:

 


The house is 3mtrs long and 1mtr deep and it's 2mtrs high with a pull out floor just at the right hight for an old lady like myself.
My son built it and it cost  him £330 to build but I'm worth it  ;D
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: Bert on July 07, 2013, 06:33:39 am
Daisys mum that quail house is fantastic  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:   :love: .
 What size is it? And how many quail do you have? If you don't mind making me even more jealous  ;D
I still really miss my quail. Will get more one day  :fc: I have to, I've still got over 80 egg boxes to use  :-J . That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it  :innocent:
I might need some quail egg boxes - seems it's three hens I'm getting - 2 painted Chinese, 1 Yellow Japanese.   :excited:Where would I get them in Central Scotland?




I got my quail egg boxes off eBay . You can get anything from 10 to 800 ( I've just done a quick search ). I manged to find someone to deliver to the islands so you should be OK :thumbsup: :fc:
Title: Re: Putting Quail out
Post by: Bert on July 07, 2013, 06:41:54 am
Daisys mum that quail house is fantastic  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:   :love: .
 What size is it? And how many quail do you have? If you don't mind making me even more jealous  ;D
I still really miss my quail. Will get more one day  :fc: I have to, I've still got over 80 egg boxes to use  :-J . That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it  :innocent:

 


The house is 3mtrs long and 1mtr deep and it's 2mtrs high with a pull out floor just at the right hight for an old lady like myself.
My son built it and it cost  him £330 to build but I'm worth it  ;D




Well done son  :thumbsup: :trophy: . Can I borrow him :eyelashes: . The other half dose all my chicken/quail house building and they are very good, but they never end up looking as stunning as yours.