Choosing Quail Cage Location in Your Backyard

Now that you have decided that quail farming is the next thing to add to your farming portfolio, what is the next step? A cage or cage. The next step is building a home for your new poultry before you can acquire them and add them to your farm.

Many farmers treat all poultry the same and put them in a common coup, this is usually okay for chicken, turkey, and guinea fowl. Quail are exempt from this due to their miniature size and their delicate immune systems.

They are not guaranteed enough food or constant good health when raised with other poultry hence the need for segregation. This article takes a look at some of the factors that you should consider when choosing where to place your quail cage and why you should put them into consideration.

Where to Place a Quail Cage in Your Backyard?

A cage for quail is usually a moderate size structure. This is because quail are small and require just one square foot per bird to live comfortably. This makes it easier to build cages for them in smaller backyards that you would otherwise not be able to for the larger birds like turkeys or geese.

You can place the cage anywhere in the backyard. The things to consider when choosing the locations are discussed later in the article and this should help with narrowing down the best location to set up the cage.

How Far Should You Place a Quail Cage From the House?

A good place to build the cage is usually about one hundred meters from your house. This ensures that any smells or droppings from the cage do not affect the home. It also makes it easier to tend to them in the case of an emergency and to observe them if they are sickly or uneasy.

You can build it further out, especially if you have a designated area for poultry and livestock. But for smaller backyards, a hundred or so meters from the house is usually an excellent distance for the cage to be constructed at.

Things to Consider When Setting Choosing Quail Cage Location

Here are five core considerations that should be taken into account when deciding on a suitable location for your quail cage within your backyard.

– Walking Distance

The most important thing is to ensure that your cage is both accessible and easy to secure. This means building it in a location that is within walking distance from your house. This will give you optimal access to the quail to deliver their feed, water them, and keep an eye on their patterns in case of any change.

You will also be able to access them easily if they are threatened by a predator, and have an easy route when collecting their eggs during the breeding season.

– Noise Level

Quails, like most birds, are sensitive to noise. Too much noise puts them on edge, affecting their feeding habits and egg-laying capabilities. Although they can adjust to most noise levels over time.

It is however better to set up the cage in a location that has as little noise as possible as quails spook easily. You can also add some insulation in the area of the cage where the quail will lay eggs. This is usually a sand pit that is about 5 inches in height.

– Neighbors

Quail produces some noise in the morning and the evening. They tend to crow in the morning and can make some noise at night when they are scared, excited, or calling out for a mate. These sounds are generally cute but are audible in the dead of night.

Aside from the noise, quail farming produces droppings that have a smell. This can be disturbing to some people. It is a good idea to look for a location in your backyard that is not too near to your neighbors’ property or bordering their residence. This will prevent the quail from being a nuisance to those around you and prevent them from interfering with your cage as well.

– Utilities

Quail need access to food and water throughout the day. This is a factor that should determine where and how you set up your cage in the backyard. It should be in such a location that it is easy for you to supply the cage constantly with fresh clean water to help keep your quail hydrated.

Many automatic watering systems are cheap to acquire and will serve the purpose of keeping your cage properly watered.

Electricity is an important factor if you are looking to keep your quail in a year-round egg-laying cycle. It is also key to ensuring that they survive the winter season, as it is usually harsh on quail that are kept in the cage.

Access to electricity ensures that you can provide adequate illumination to the cage as well as artificial UV light. This helps to keep the quail healthy and warm. It is recommended that a cage is set up in such a way that it can provide the quail with around 8 hours of light a day during winter and non-sunny days.

– Predators

Choose the location of your quail cage in an area that is not easily accessible by predators. Things like snakes, rats, raccoons, possums, wildcats, and coyotes love to prey on quail. To avoid such, ensure that your quail cage is constructed at an optimal location in your backyard.

This is usually a location that has excellent lighting and is away from untamed bushes or trees. It is also good to ensure that the cage is elevated from the ground. About one and a half meters from the ground is ok. It is also excellent to cover the bottom of the cage.

A high-quality wire mesh should serve the purpose and a quarter-inch hardware cloth is an excellent option for this.

Conclusion

Quail are an excellent addition to your farm. They do not take up much space and are a good source of eggs, meat, and manure. You must ensure they are living in an environment that is conducive, safe, and clean, as this will increase their output.

I hope you find this piece helpful as you establish or advance your career as a quail farmer.

avatar James
Hey, I'm James, a hardworking homesteader for more than 30 years. I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes from tending my flock. I've raised chickens and ducks for eggs and meat for many years. I also have experience with other poultry too. Learn more

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