Sleeping outside.

Hi all, I'm a bit worried about the fact quail like sleeping outside. We have have chickens that put them selves to bed at dusk, but I'm just wondering what others do? Do you just leave them to it? I don't want to stress them out by shutting them up all night, but equally I don't want them to get too cold. They would have a perspex roof on the run, so the rain wouldn't be too bad.
Also, what do you all house your quail in? I've seen people using rabbit hutches, but do you have a run attached? We where thinking of getting some sheds and using them, but they are about £180 each, and we would want a variety of breeds so it would get too expensive. Can someone recomend a good (not expensive) house for Italian and Califonian quail? I know California's like to roost up high.....

Any help would be great.

x.x.x.

I have a hutch, run and sort of "kennel" for my japs (and italians - same thing). They'll be moving outdoors at the end of feb. The hutch sits on top of the run, and the kennel is attached at the side so they don't have to go upstairs for shelter.

I intend to cover the roof, and block off one of the sides of the run to cut out draughts and just leave them to it, unless its wet then I will put them to bed.

I bought a small aviary with a 'penthouse for my Japanese quail.

When I went out to check them at dusk when I chekced my chickens, the quail had not gone to roost.

I left them for an hour and then put them one by one into the penthouse - only for them to run back down each time.

I tried it again when ti was pitch dark and possibly sleeping. I got them al lup there - and then as soon as I shut the aviary door they all ran back down.

I thought I might find them all dead in the morning - but they were bright and perky - and we had had frost in the night.
They have a covered run, so perhaps that helped

Thank you both so much for your quick replies.
So, is it more likley they will "go to bed" if the house is on the ground, not high up? I suppose if they are really cold they will go in there...
Lottie (Dilly?) I saw your post on Omlet about your new arrivels (tis xChicken04x) Its very cute, could you tell me where you got the house from? And also where did you get the quail from?

Worst comes to the worst I'll have to round them all up and night, shouldn't be too difficult....

Thank you both again.

x.x.x.

It was quite funny really. Having looked on lots of forums, sites, books, magazines, ebay, - I found them locally - just 5 miles away from where I live in Norfolk!

They are a family fun company who make aviaries - and I just went to see them to see if they could make a quail house. They also sold all sorts of exotic birds - parrots, finches, etc. and had quail - lots of them - in all their aviaries - which they sold too!

Within 'the hour' they had assembled the 'pack flat' aviary, and delivered it with all the birds etc.

I can enquire where they get the pack flat aviaries like mine if you like. It is the only one they had - they make and sell panels and doors as well as making 'bespoke' everything made with wood really for the garden and animal shelters.

Theres 2 companies on eBay selling the same type of house -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330210683420 - I bought my new housing from here.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200196398028

Hope this helps

Suz

That is cheaper than the price I paid. I never found mine on ebay but did look - perhaps it was because I was looking for quail housing LOL

But on the other hand, it was assembled and delivered so I was very happy - the difference in price was not much (including the courier charge on ebay) and I could not have easily assembled if myself.

LOL

I've put up pics of my outdoor set up here

Do yo think you need to use avairy wire or will 25mm chicken wire work?

Gyp wrote:Do yo think you need to use avairy wire or will 25mm chicken wire work?

I think that might be big enough for them to get their heads stuck. I've gone for 15 x 10mm aviary wire on my indoor cages, and have some to replace a couple of panels on my run.

I've used 1"x1" (25mm x25mm)12 & 14g aviary wire mesh on my cage front, brooder lids & aviary and Arks, my hutch has 3x1.5cm and new houses 2x2cm mesh, and never had any problems with stuck heads - 1"x1" wire mesh is excellent if hanging food & water containers on the outside of there cage - cutting 2 squares to make one is a perfect fit for japs heads.

Oh cool, I won't worry about changing the panels on the run then. I did read somewhere about heads getting stuck in chicken wire, and since the birds aren't the smartest I didn't want to give them any chance to hurt themselves!

Oh I dont know about chicken wire Emma (isnt it funny shaped???), thats just the sizes of holes of the normal aviary wire that I've used.

I'll try it and let you know. the avary wire costs a fortune.

Gyp wrote:I'll try it and let you know. the avary wire costs a fortune.

Yeah, cheapest I could find it was £20 for 6 metres

ok I just asked about that hous eI'm looking at. the reply I got back was half inch by one inch 19g mesh
now my brains so frazzled I cant even picture it let alone work out if it would be ok. Anyone?

Just read Suz post with the 1x1 so I guess it would be fine

That will be perfect for quail Bron, I've got a stronger gauge but that because it was bought to be parrot proof.