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4 week old californian quail. next steps.. Feeding, housing etc

post #1 of 7
7/19/12 at 1:44pm
Thread Starter 
my californian quail are now 4 weeks old, 7 of 12 eggs hatched, but only have 5 now.

atm they are in a plastic small animal pen on 1 60w heat lamp eating meal worms and chick crumbs.

What is the next step? Especially with feed? They still sleep near the light so im keeping it on for now.
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post #2 of 7
7/19/12 at 2:07pm
Thread Starter 
here are some current pics. The black box with blue display is a large computer UPS that will keep the heat matts going for a few hours should the power go out

IMG_20120719_215800.jpg
IMG_20120719_220019.jpg
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post #3 of 7
7/19/12 at 6:36pm

Looks like you are doing a good job there. Love those top knots coming in!! If you can get them on gamebird or turkey feed, they will do better health wise. Quail need a very high protein diet, especially during the time they are growing. Helps with brain and sensory development. 

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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post #4 of 7
7/20/12 at 4:38am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by twocrowsranch View Post

Looks like you are doing a good job there. Love those top knots coming in!! If you can get them on gamebird or turkey feed, they will do better health wise. Quail need a very high protein diet, especially during the time they are growing. Helps with brain and sensory development. 

They are so cute.

I was also wondering how to sex these quail. 2 of the 5 have much larger crests than the others. Will have to have a look for quail food, i didnt realise it was different to chickens
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post #5 of 7
7/20/12 at 5:23am

You won't be able to sex them until they are fully feathered. But they are kind of similar to Bobwhites in that the male will have a white face stripe and the female will have more of a brown face.The male's chest will have more grey on it and the female will have more brown. 

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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post #6 of 7
7/30/12 at 11:43am
They look healthy. At that stage, throw in some lettuce for them to eat. They do need protein but less of it now. Adult wild birds eat more vegetable matter (seeds and lettuce = 95%, insects = 5%) and so that is what I recommend you feed them when they are older. As for sexing them, it'll be no problem - the male will have a black throat. Just google search the species and you'll see.
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post #7 of 7
8/4/12 at 7:03am
Thread Starter 

i think i am ablen to sex them now. 2 out of the 5 are looking quite different to the others.

 

they have a small black part under their eye and a distinctly whiter triangle between their crest and beak. also i think the crests are longer on those two.

from that i think..hope.. i have 2 male and 3 female.

 

the second batch are 2 weeks old :)

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