COTURNIX QUAIL SAND BATH - Do Your Coturnix Quail Need One?

Summary

In this Kuternix Corner video, Terry addresses the benefits of providing sand baths for quail. He shares his weekly practice and explains how sand baths help keep feathers clean, prevent mites and lice, and provide grit for digestion. Terry also discusses the calming effect on quail behavior and offers practical tips on setting up a sand bath using readily available materials. He advises starting sand baths once quail are fully feathered, typically around three weeks old, to avoid health risks for younger chicks.

Takeaways

• 🚿 Terry provides sand baths for his quail on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
• 🦆 Sand baths help keep quail feathers clean and free from mites and lice.
• 🐦 Quails may eat sand to provide grit for their crop to grind food, which is beneficial if their feed isn't water-soluble.
• 🧊 Regular sand baths can reduce aggressive behavior in quails, making them calmer.
• 🏪 Play sand from big box stores is suitable for quail sand baths.
• 📦 Plastic wash tubs or wooden boxes can be used as containers for the sand bath.
• 🍽 Terry uses about two large cups of sand per container for the sand bath.
• 🧹 Be prepared for sand to be kicked around, which can be easily cleaned up.
• 🌳 Some people add wood ash or diet matrix earth to the sand to help control mites and lice, but ensure it's food grade and not overused.
• 🏡 For outdoor aviaries, a small kiddie pool can serve as a full-time sand bath with drainage holes to prevent water buildup.
• 🛁 After sand bathing, quails shake off and preen themselves, which is another way to keep them busy and reduce aggressive behaviors.
• 📝 Terry suggests starting to supply sand baths for quails once they are fully feathered, around three weeks old, to avoid potential issues with very young chicks.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about providing sand baths for quail and the benefits associated with it.

Why does Terry make a video on this topic?

Terry makes the video because he has received several questions on social media about whether and how he uses sand baths for his quail.

How often does Terry provide sand baths for his quail?

Terry provides sand baths for his quail on a weekly basis, if not every other week.

What are some benefits of providing a sand bath for quail?

The benefits include keeping the birds' feathers clean, helping them stay free of mites and lice, and providing grit for their crop to help grind up food.

Why does Terry believe that sand baths can reduce aggression in quail?

Terry believes that sand baths can reduce aggression because they give the birds an activity to engage in, such as playing in the sand, which keeps their minds off fighting.

What type of sand does Terry recommend for a sand bath?

Terry recommends using play sand, which can be purchased at big box stores and is typically washed and bleached.

What kind of container does Terry use for the sand bath?

Terry uses plastic wash tubs, which are used for washing dishes in the kitchen sink, or alternatively, a wooden box or even a cardboard box can be used.

How much sand does Terry suggest adding to the container for the sand bath?

Terry suggests adding two large cups of sand per container, noting that the birds will kick the sand around.

Are there any additives that Terry mentions can be added to the sand bath?

Terry mentions that some people add Diets Matrix or wood ash to the sand bath to help kill off mites or lice, but he personally uses wood ash from a fireplace or fire pit.

What is an alternative setup for an outdoor aviary sand bath according to Terry?

For an outdoor aviary, Terry suggests using a small kiddie pool placed in an indentation in the ground and filled with sand and other materials for a full-time sand bath.

At what age should quail start benefiting from a sand bath according to Terry?

Terry suggests that once the quail are fully feathered, around three weeks old, they can benefit from a sand bath, but he advises against it for very young chicks due to the risk of ingesting too much sand.