Empty nesting the brood!

The quail have made their move to their full size enclosure! It was a nervewracking first couple nights as I ensured they'd make it through the cold high desert nights. They're loving it in there so far. The dust bathing instinct was a lot of fun to watch happen, too.

The moment their feet touched the dirt, they got right to their bellies and ruffled their feathers. They were all covered in clouds of dust in no time at all.

Their outdoor structure is only partly outdoors, it's built on a garden net cage and lined with chicken wire. The cage is buried a few inches into the soil bed of a greenhouse. Having it in a greenhouse offers a little extra warmth in the winter days, as well as a secondary wall to (hopefully) deter predators.

I'm a big fan of problem solving, and animal habitats have always been one of my favorite projects to work on. This quail run has been a great way to kick off the projects ahead at this new location, and I'm eager to start on the outdoor veggie beds next.