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Barnyard Buddies:  I have a pair of Quail.. Now what?  |
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RosesAreRed
True Blue Farmgirl
62 Posts
Laurie
Lehigh Acres
Fl
USA
62 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 15 2012 : 8:51:25 PM
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In a soft moment, I bought a pair of Japanese Quail (Coturnix?) They are roughly 4 weeks old.. maybe 5 by now. Not sure. They are currently in the dog cage in the garage at night, and sitting on the front porch in the day. I need to build an aviary for them. I really, really don't want to provide them a wire cage like the breeder had. It so unnatural. What shall I build? I have kept chickens before, but these ain't no chickens. What do I do with them? Besides chicken feed, what do they eat? How often do they lay? I keep reading that they lay a lot. How much is that? Any Sisters here with experience in raising quail?
Taffy |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Mar 15 2012 : 9:29:40 PM
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All I know about quail is that they nest on the ground and like to scratch in the dirt. So they are sorta like chickens in that respect. I don't know what they eat. Wish I could offer more.
cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Mar 16 2012 : 01:13:40 AM
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Good luck keepin up with the eggs! the hen will probably lay an egg almost every day after 6-7 weeks old. The are naturally a ground bird, they love to have hide outs. to prevent cannibalism try to give them sweiat or a pick block of some kind. the love to roll in the dirt. Oh and if the are regualer coturnix they may be flighty... we raise the a&m vatiey and they are super friendly, but the regs are used to train birds.
a rule of thumb on the size is 2sq ft per bird in a flight pen, but I recommend a larger area.... so that you can hatch more and have room for them! Flight pens normally are about 6ft tall and 12 X 24 ft at our house... we raise lots of differnt kinds of quail. the spooky they are the more room i would give them.
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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homsteddinmom
True Blue Farmgirl
441 Posts
Brandee
bullard
tx
USA
441 Posts |
Posted - Mar 16 2012 : 05:30:40 AM
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WE raise ours in rabbit cages with nest boxes and lots of hay to hid in. They do start laying early and they will fly. We incubate the eggs mostly. This is Ds(11) project.
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
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rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 06:43:44 AM
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Give them game bird feed, they need the extra protein. For chicks definitely give them game bird starter. If you can't get game bird feed, you can use turkey starter as it has almost the same protein content. The Japanese are really sweet little critters, the ones we had would let you pet them after a while, they are pretty calm compared to other quail. Lots of room to move around and areas to take dirt baths and hide. They should start laying eggs pretty soon, ours usually laid an egg a day, some gals would lay 2 per day. You can use quail eggs just like chicken eggs, but it takes alot more to equal 1 chicken egg. Around here, a flat of 50 eggs usually goes for about $20 (if you decide to sell any) and it does not take long to get a full flat.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
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RosesAreRed
True Blue Farmgirl
62 Posts
Laurie
Lehigh Acres
Fl
USA
62 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 08:18:47 AM
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thank you, sisters for answering my questions!
I think I have found a small aviary design for them. Now, to get building.
They are so pretty, and the noise they make is lovely. I can see that 1 pair may not be enough. heehee
I am not really sure what I will do with the eggs. I think, for awhile, I will just share with family, my dogs, and friends. Then probably sell eggs. I am certain that I will not be able to resist hatching some out.
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 08:48:28 AM
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| Post a "No Hunting" sign immediately! Of course, in our neck of the woods, that's like sending out an invitation to hunters, "Come on in -- something worth shooting for ya!" |
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rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 11:53:53 PM
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Good luck with the quail. It is so much fun to start a new venture like this, don't you think?
Marianne |
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RosesAreRed
True Blue Farmgirl
62 Posts
Laurie
Lehigh Acres
Fl
USA
62 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2012 : 07:07:16 AM
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I do love new adventures. I have raised many a chicken for others to keep, but haven't been able to keep any for myself over the years. I got this Bloodhound that has an incredible hunt and prey instinct.. and he is absolutely obssessive and loud about it. My last adventure was a rabbit. The rabbit has a new home. The dog does let me keep the gerbils and rats, but goes insane when I clean cages. I can't have any of them out, unless I put them away. The other Bloodhound could care less, and she liked the rabbit in a friendly way. ANYWAY, I am bound and determined to have some kind of hobby farm here. I like birds a lot. I like eggs. :) The quail are small enough, take up very little visable space. Red really won't notice them, and if he does.. he will get used to them, because they won't be strutting through his yard.
I am dissapointed that these birds don't like to be held. The chickens were always well handled and enjoyed hanging out. These quail are different. Are there any quail that do enjoy being held, and aren't so flighty?
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2012 : 07:14:12 AM
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we raise Texas A&M courtix quail and they are friendly. They also are a good meat quial. we sell some as pets for kids, as the are a great way into the world of birds.
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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RosesAreRed
True Blue Farmgirl
62 Posts
Laurie
Lehigh Acres
Fl
USA
62 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2012 : 11:01:55 AM
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I wonder if I can find those around here in Florida....
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hoosiercountry
True Blue Farmgirl
572 Posts
karla
north port
fl
USA
572 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2012 : 9:45:56 PM
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Hi Laurie, There is a great chicken, quail, duck breeder close to you in Fort Myers off of Bayshore down by Lawhorns. He's on Craigslist under Farm and Garden. They call him the Chicken Man, he has the Circle S farm. He's a great guy full of knowledge, been doing chickens for 25 years. He has a large varity of chicken, and he does raise quail. I am very pleased with the birds I got from him. I will email you his phone number. |
Edited by - hoosiercountry on Mar 20 2012 10:13:39 PM |
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RosesAreRed
True Blue Farmgirl
62 Posts
Laurie
Lehigh Acres
Fl
USA
62 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2012 : 04:57:16 AM
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oh my gosh!! Small world. That is exactly where I got these two quail from! I LOVE is poultry farm. Thank you for thinking of me like this!!
Taffy |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2012 : 09:10:45 AM
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if you have an incubator, you can try to get eggs on ebay. other wise maybe we can arrange a shipment with you on eggs.
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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RosesAreRed
True Blue Farmgirl
62 Posts
Laurie
Lehigh Acres
Fl
USA
62 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2012 : 09:29:10 AM
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I DO have an incubator! I would rather purchase eggs from you.
Kirataffy@centurylink.net |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
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RosesAreRed
True Blue Farmgirl
62 Posts
Laurie
Lehigh Acres
Fl
USA
62 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2012 : 08:53:09 AM
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| I did. I am thinking, and enabling a friend who also has 3 of the same quail we have. :) |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2012 : 09:08:53 AM
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Laurie I know pretty much nothing about quail but as for gentle pets my sister in law used to have a pet button quail and it would follow her around and was a very sweet pet.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
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sissarge
True Blue Farmgirl
502 Posts
Linda
Montgomery
Texas
USA
502 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2012 : 04:17:18 AM
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| I have had several kinds of quail over the years. I have raised on ground, with dirt, which they love, and also off ground, just provide a sand box, they love lotz of hay thick in winter, so they bury themselves. Mine will lay in nest boxes, and have hatched their on, only problem, if there is several females, they will keep giving her more eggs to set on, and she will be surrounded by eggs, and cannot hatch them all. I have successfully hatched them in the incubators, and sold them, and sold their eggs. We eat their eggs, and are expecially good hard boiled. and even pickled. In the evening the sound they make, is so beautiful. And I agree, lots of eggs you will be getting. Have fun. Farmgirl #946 Linda |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2012 : 6:45:50 PM
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Oh my you girls are talking me into getting some little quails.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
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Barnyard Buddies: I have a pair of Quail.. Now what? |
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I have a pair of Quail.. Now what?
