Intro to Cages & Hutches
INDOOR HOUSING: Cages
Cages are designed for indoor use - a building, barn, garage, or shed that provides:
- protection from extreme cold/heat
- shelter from wind, rain, snow
- protection from predators
- good ventilation
- convenience for daily tasks through the use of poop trays, egg rollout trays, auto waterers, etc.
Cages are often sectioned. Having multiple sections within one cage system allows you to raise different groups in one cage. For example, your “grow outs” (chicks from 4-8 weeks) can go in one section, and your breeders can go in another. You can also keep a section open for a temporary “hospital” for sick or injured birds, a “jail” for aggressive birds, or a "bachelor pad" for males you plan to butcher.
Starting with a sturdy cage designed specifically for Coturnix quail with external feeders, automatic waterers, and poop trays makes daily quail care easier. Our friends at Wynola Ranch make excellent tiered cages that can be sectioned off.
You can also build your own cages or buy kits like the ones our friend Dale makes at Dale's Quails. Most cages have poop trays, that are typically scraped 1-2 times per week. Quail poop can be composted and used in your garden!
OUTDOOR HOUSING: Hutches
Hutches are cages designed for outdoor use. They have two sections:
- an open section, usually with a wire bottom, where poop can fall onto a tray or directly onto the ground.
- an enclosed section, usually with a solid floor, where quail can go to get out of the wind and stay dry.
Hutches need to protect quail from predators. 1/2 x 1/2 inch hardware cloth offers the BEST protection. Critters can reach in through larger mesh or chicken wire!
You can purchase a hutch, build your own, or convert a rabbit hutch. Note: The interior height of a rabbit hutch is usually too high for quail, so you'll need to reduce it to 8-12” to prevent head injuries if your quail pop up and flush.
We recommend setting up hutches facing south. This gives maximum daylight in the winter months, and it protects quail from north winds.
How many quail can I put in a cage or hutch?
The recommended density for hutches is the same as it is for cages: Three quail per square foot. That may seem like it's too crowded, but after extensive testing, we've found that at this ratio, there's not enough room for them to get territorial, which makes them fight. Fighting causes stress that can lower egg production.
Learn more and see videos about quail cages and hutches in in our Quail 101 course!