The picture above is 2 female Coturnix Quail enjoying a dust bath. When we first moved out to the farm, we wanted to start with something easy. Coturnix Quail fit the bill. There weren't a lot of resources on raising them in the manor we wanted to so it was quite the learning experience! Most farms raise them in a very short cage because if they get scared, they shoot straight up in the air. The short cage doesn't allow them enough room to build up enough speed to break their necks. We chose to go with a 6 foot tall enclosure that had netting at the top to help soften any impact they may have. We put panels around the sides so that they can't see scary things & predators can't see them. Calm birds, are happy birds. Coturnix Quail hit puberty at 8 weeks old, that means the girls start laying eggs & the boys get crazy violent unless you have the proper breeding ratios. So that's when the boys go to Freezer Camp.
This allows our quail to enjoy fresh grass, clean air, & live life to the fullest while not seeing or being seen by predators. The panels all around the bottom prevent coyotes, foxes, & other predators from being able to dig under the walls. The roof & hardware cloth walls keep them safe from owls & hawks. Inside they have lots of little guinea pig houses to hide in, a big comfortable coop to enjoy, dust baths, & all the necessities for life (food, water, grit, oyster shell, & tons of treats).
Baby birds are a lot like baby humans, they can't control their body temperature or clean up after themselves. It's our job as care takers to ensure that their every need is met. Food, water, & butts must be watched closely, especially that first week of life. They can get stuck in the feeders if the food gets too low. They can drowned or get hypothermia if they fall in their water dish, we put marbles in the water dish to help prevent that. You have to check them for Paste Butt frequently (it's when their poo glues their butthole shut, then the waste backs up inside of them & they die). That's right, raising birds includes a fair amount of butt wiping. Fun times.
As chicks (babies), we provide heat plates for them because it's the closest thing to a mom that we can provide. Some people prefer to use heat lamps due to it costing less. We personally don't feel like that's a good choice for us due to the fire risk. We choose to put toys in the Brooder (baby pen) because we feel that it's healthier for their mental & emotional development. Once they are old enough, we give them field trips outside so that they can get used to their future home. Then, when they are fully feathered out, they move to their mobile coop & run set up.
