Yes, Coturnix quail poops smell. But how bad is it? Will the neighbors notice and complain? The truth is that while quail poops do have some scent, it can very easily be managed with one odor-absorbing product that reduces smells to zero so your neighbors won’t even know the quail are there! Here is how to make sure your backyard Coturnix quail do not stink:
Do Backyard Coturnix Quail Stink?
If an animal poops, it tends to stink. This is the reality. How much it stinks depends on the size of the droppings and how close you are to it. Luckily Coturnix quail, which are about the size of a russet baking potato, do not have large droppings.
Quail Poops Do Stink
Coturnix quail droppings have an ammonia smell to them. It is a “light-to-medium” level of scent. (Cat litter boxes smell much stronger.) Outdoor breezes whisk quail poop smells away pretty quickly but if you are within 3 feet of the quail coop, you are going to be able to pick up the ammonia-tinged odor of their droppings. It is not overwhelming and it can be reduced to absolute zero very quickly with an odor control product.
The Mineral Zeolite is the Magic Odor Control!
Zeolite is a naturally occurring mineral that is safe for use around birds, animals, pets, children, humans and vegetable gardens. In the world of farm & livestock keeping, it is sold under the name Sweet PDZ Horse Stall Refresher. It absorbs ammonia smells instantly and is so powerful, it can absorb the sharp odor of horse urine. I promise it quickly and fully deodorizes penny-sized quail droppings the moment you sprinkle the Sweet PDZ granules over them! (Afflinks)
Where Do I Get Sweet PDZ?
Sweet PDZ comes in bags and is a white granule product similar in texture to play sand. It is a naturally occurring mineral and has no distinct smell itself; it’s neutral and sweeps up easily if spilled. It is non-toxic and actually good for vegetable garden soil aeration so your quail droppings can be composted for garden use. You can buy it from local feed stores, Tractor Supply or Amazon. (Afflink)
How to Use Sweet PDZ on Quail Poops
You’ll need about 1 cup of Sweet PDZ granules to neutralize around 4 square feet of quail droppings. Simply sprinkle the granules over the top of the quail poop. In less than 30 seconds you should notice any ammonia smells have now vanished as the zeolite granules absorb it. Sweet PDZ will continue absorbing odors until it is saturated or buried in more droppings. You can apply it as many times as needed or as you desire to keep smells at near-zero levels every day.
Sweet PDZ Can Be Used as Quail Coop Litter
I personally have switched to using bags of Sweet PDZ as the actual litter and dust bathing medium for my Coturnix quail coveys. The quail in my ground pen are on 100% Sweet PDZ litter. The birds in my quail coop have a dish of regularly refreshed Sweet PDZ that they dust bathe in and their actions scatter the granules over their poops for me. (This has been very handy!) Sweet PDZ is how I keep quail poop odors extremely low and well managed.
How Long Does a Bag Last?
I use one full bag as litter in my ground pen, which needs to be reapplied every 8 weeks. For sprinkling over droppings that fall from a raised coop onto the ground, one 35-40 pound bag of Sweet PDZ lasts 4-5 weeks with regular, frequent use for a covey of 9-12 Coturnix quail.
My Neighbor’s Coturnix Quail Stink
Not all Coturnix quail keepers know about Sweet PDZ. It is popular among chicken keepers, which is where I learned about it. If you have a neighbor with a stinky quail coop, send them a link to Sweet PDZ, a link to this article and ask if they would be willing to try it? Chances are they have no idea there is such an easy solution to managing quail poop odors. (Afflink)
The Quail are Eating the Sweet PDZ?
Mine eat the Sweet PDZ granules and I promise it does not hurt them! They are consuming it as grit and while it would be better for them to pick grit pieces from play sand, the Sweet PDZ is non-toxic and does not harm them. If you are worried about the quail eating Sweet PDZ, offer play sand to dust bathe in and a few dried meal worms. The hens should be distracted by the meal worm treat and opt to pick through the sand for grit instead.
My Coturnix Quail No Longer Stink!
I hope this article has assured you that while Coturnix quail poops do stink, you can very easily manage the smell with one easy-to-apply product. These sweet, gentle birds are delightful to own and nothing beats fresh eggs from your own backyard covey. I hope you enjoy many odor-free years of quail keeping!
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