I'm a year into my keeping quail experiment, also in an urban heat island. Here are my urban quailer tips so far:
1) Rats. Rats have been a serious predictor to my quail, even with the hardware cloth. Make a super secure cage. I put mine on stilts, with a planter box below filled with wood chips + wine cap mushrooms (helps neutralize the poop smell and gives them something comfortable to walk on ... But I still had hardware cloth under the wood chips. Rats tunnel.)
2) Think through your street lights - make sure the quail will have a dark corner to sleep in.
3) I'm also a vegetarian and my strong suggestion is if at all possible get only girls. Means you'll have somewhat older birds most likely, but guys are just gonna need to be culled eventually.
That being said, I love my girls!
