Intro to Aviaries
OUTDOOR HOUSING: Aviaries
Aviaries can be a lot of fun, if you have the space. They can provide:
- a more natural setting for ground-dwelling Coturnix
- more space per bird than in a cage or hutch (1+ square feet each)
- space for quail to fly or pop safely (with a height of 6 feet or more)
A well-designed aviary should offer quail:
- full protection from predators with 1/2 x 1/2 inch hardware cloth
- full protection from the weather so quail (and feed) can stay dry
- enrichment areas like dust baths and hiding spots
Bedding
Quail add a lot of nitrogen to the soil or bedding in an aviary, which means you'll need to rake, turn, or replace it every once in a while. The more quail you have, the more often you'll need to do this. You can remove and age this soil/bedding to create great compost for your garden!
Dust Baths
With an aviary, you may have a bit more room. Adding a dust bath area is a great idea because quail absolutely LOVE them! They spend hours flinging sand or peat moss over their backs to clean their feathers. You can make dust baths out of plastic oil change pans, milk jugs, or a wooden drawer. Use a kitty litter scoop to remove poop and debris from your dust bath as needed to keep it clean.
Keeping Quail Calm
Sometimes predators can visit at night and if they lunge at the quail from outside the aviary, it can make your quail feel nervous. Make sure they have plenty of places to hide (flower pots, boxes, baskets). They will feel safer if they can't see the predators outside. Another way to help them feel safe is to put a quail-height barrier (a board, shade cloth, plants) along the bottom of the exposed aviary walls so your quail can't see out as easily.
Broody Hens
Being in a more natural environment sometimes triggers maternal instincts in Coturnix and they may sit on eggs!
Learn More
Jasmine Bass gives a tour of her quail aviary in our Quail 101 course!