Subject: Quail
Posted by: Mabel466
Date: May 15 19
Many years ago I used to keep quail and yesterday I acquired two more who I have named Brandy & Whiskey, they were hatched out mid March and with any luck should start laying soon. Has anyone else kept quail? Any tips?
Posted by: Mabel466
Date: May 15 19
Many years ago I used to keep quail and yesterday I acquired two more who I have named Brandy & Whiskey, they were hatched out mid March and with any luck should start laying soon. Has anyone else kept quail? Any tips?
11 replies. On page 1 of 1 pages. 1
UmberWunFayun 
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There are different types of Quail and with some it's much harder to tell male from female. Do you know for sure if yours are hens? Once they're mature, I find the Japanese Quail lay very well, several eggs daily once they're settled, but they can be very nervous, flighty little birds and can injure themselves if startled. If you're keeping them indoors, make sure the cage is tall enough so that they can't hit their heads on the top if they jump up in a fright, as they've been known to fatally injure themselves this way. Wood based cat litter pellets make the best cage substrate, as it is by far the easiest thing to clean and creates the least dust. Good luck with yours, I hope you get lots of pretty little eggs! Reply #1. May 16 19, 4:17 AM |
| UmberWunFayun
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Oh, and aside from their regular diet of commercial chick crumb, I always found that they loved a pot of fresh watercress to graze on. If you have chickweed growing in your garden, they'll enjoy that, too. Reply #2. May 16 19, 4:21 AM |
Mabel466
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I was told by the breeder that they were hens because they have speckled breasts, can only hope for the best! Thank you very much for all your advice, I don't have any chickweed in the garden but we are very rural here so I will try to find some and I will buy some watercress to cheer up their diet. Reply #3. May 16 19, 8:21 AM |
| Mabel466
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Well at least one of them is a hen as this morning I found an egg! I am so pleased it's made my day, shame that I can't post a photo. Reply #4. May 20 19, 12:41 AM |
| UmberWunFayun
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Congratulations! They're such pretty little eggs, too. You need a few of them for an omelette, though! The birds must be happy if they've started laying, so I'd say you're doing things right. Have you named them? Reply #5. May 20 19, 11:21 AM |
| UmberWunFayun
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Sorry, of course you have, Brandy and Whiskey. Ignore me! Reply #6. May 20 19, 11:22 AM |
| Mabel466
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Yes Umberwunfayun I will need a few more before I have a meal. The second one also laid an egg today but it didn't have a shell( just the soft sack), as I have provided them with Oyster grit I am assuming that it's because it was her first egg, what do you think? Reply #7. May 20 19, 12:57 PM |
| UmberWunFayun
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She might not be eating the grit. Birds can be terrible bullies and stop each other from having things - the term 'pecking order' is derived from the way domestic fowl behave for a very good reason. One may be hogging the grit and not allowing the other to have any. Try placing it in two little bowls at opposite ends of the cage, or even scattering some so she can grab some on the sly if she needs to. You can also give them cuttlefish bone, they'll eat that like other cage birds and get calcium that way, also broken up eggshells from chicken or duck eggs, she might like that better than the grit. Reply #8. May 22 19, 9:56 AM |
| Mabel466
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You are right, Brandy does bully Whiskey, I noticed it when I gave them some green leaves ( which they loved, thanks for the tip). It didn't occur to me that she might also be hogging the grit. I will put some on both levels and sprinkle some crushed shells. Many thanks :) Reply #9. May 22 19, 1:38 PM |
| Mabel466
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I read up on what else you can feed quail to give them some variety and have offered them lots of different fruit and vegetables over the last few weeks, which they have enjoyed in varying degrees. Today I gave them some tiny strawberries from the garden and they went nuts for them, it was so funny to watch, one would pick one up and try to run away with it, with the other tearing after her, the first one would then realise she had to drop it to eat it with the second one desperately trying to take a bite from the side. It was like a comic sketch for quail! Reply #10. Jul 12 19, 11:35 AM |
| UmberWunFayun
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That's so cute! Sounds like you're having fun with them :-) Reply #11. Jul 13 19, 8:09 AM |
11 replies. On page 1 of 1 pages. 1
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