Quail were the first bird that James & I have ever incubated! Hatching, brooding and raising them was indeed a huge learning curve but we managed to successfully grow them to maturity and have kept quail for nearly 6 months now.
So, we would like to let you know what we think is the best way to keep them safe and happy as I know that there are plenty different options out there when it comes to bringing quail into your garden! Many people like keeping quail in raised hutches and on wire floors as they say it keeps quail hygienic and makes it easy to catch and inspect them. Many others swear by low runs as it keeps the birds on the ground but somehow prevents them from flying up and hurting themselves. James and I subscribe to the third method and that is to keep the birds as naturally as possible, replicating their natural environment and habits to the best of our ability whilst still keeping them safe and productive for our smallholding (see our setup in the next chapter).
Quail are ground dwelling birds, so it seems like a good idea to keep them dwelling on the ground! They like making nests in tall grass and amongst bushes and various other shrubs.
Whilst quail do not fly very well, it is no secret that they launch themselves upwards when they get startled or spooked, so they need height to be able to fly up and land safely, without smashing their little heads into wire cage ceiling and breaking their necks or suffering head injuries. Yes, they don’t fly well but it is within their ability and nature to try so we like to think that if quail are free to fly in their enclosure, they are free to exhibit their natural behaviour which can only be a good thing. That is probably why majority of quail eggs in supermarkets are labelled with a “free to fly” sticker indicating higher levels of welfare.
Quail need to be kept safe from predators as they are only small and prove to be a target for various predators. We are very lucky up here in Orkney as we have no foxes but there are local house cats, large crows and large rats that still pose a threat to tiny quail.
The setup of quail living on the ground brings an added benefit of there being nothing to clean as any droppings are washed by the rain into the soil, making quail housing naturally hygienic and the soil more fertile. Fertile soil also means that taller and denser grass is able to grow, providing better nesting and shelter to quail and it also helps our fruit bushes. The quail eat bugs and slugs which protects the plants and helps them thrive. This setup is mutually beneficial and is perfect for our self-sustainable permaculture garden.
The food and water system that we have is self-dispensing and provides the birds with all the nourishment that they need without much effort from our part. We love popping into the cage as we are often greeted by a fresh clutch of quail eggs, but if we need a day off farm chores, we can have it! In this instance, the land is working for us - not the other way around!
Next, I will explain in detail how we keep our quail, how our cage setup works and why I love it so much!