free ranging bobwhite quail

i want to know if it's true free ranging bobwhite quail
i had bobwhite quail before 6 of them all of them were males one day two got lose they where out all day and as soon as it got dark them came back

is there anyone that free range's their bobwhite quail?

They can free range......but its really a BAD idea and you will loose many birds.

Quail are small (and not too intelligent) and easy prey for many predators.

Also they are very flighty.......not really domesticated like farmyard chickens and turkeys and ducks. If they get scared by something they are likely to fly off and not return.

If you really wanted to try the free ranging I would advise you to breed a lot of chicks from you adults, then if a few go missing then you still have some quail left!!! Then only let out some birds, otherwise you may well loose the lot.

Adult quail in an outside run, will call and attract the other quail to stay in the area. You could make a kind of pigeon trap door, so they can return to the pen, but not be able to get out again.

You don't want to let any stay out overnight EVER.

What about clipping their wings?

If you let bobwhites go you'll never see them again. Coturnix might be able to caught at the end of the day but it's just a bad idea.

It is against the law in some areas without permit, since free ranging a bird with no instinct or desire to return is essentially releasing them. You should call your state fish and game office first to find out if it is even legal. Every state I'm aware of also require a permit to keep bobwhites. You can obtain permits to release them for hunting purposes but that's about it. Honestly it's not good for your local eco system either our domestic birds can carry diseases that could wipe out entire flocks of local quail. That's leaving aside the fact that hawks, falcons, crows, ravens, cats, dogs, bobcats, raccoons, skunks, weasels, foxes, snakes, and anything else with teeth or a sharp beak would love for you to free range your quail Also most parasites they get spend some portion of their life in an intermediary host such as ants, flies, earth worms, crickets, slugs, etc. They have little resistance these parasites, and while any caged bird can get them free ranged birds are much more likely too.

Not everyone lives in the US and you could say the same dangers of letting your cats outside.

Not even close to the same thing. Cats have an instinct to avoid danger and wont pass disease or parasites to local birds. Your cat is about 100 times smarter than a quail. It would be more like free ranging a pet hamster if you want to compareit to something.

The vast majority of members here are from the states. If you updated your location info you would get more specific information.

if you have 10 quail let 5 go at a time and put 5 back in and you wont lose many, they call eachother back but you may lose some to pedators and such

You are basically asking about releasing bob whites.... I have released bobs as well as had a few escape.... They may return to the others calls but it's only because they are scared to death of the huge unknown world. Or because they have no clue where else to find food or water..... This will only happen until what ever critter that will eventually eat them comes along.... Generally they free range once.... But good luck....

Thank you for the info, at this time I only have 3 but hope to hatch more this year, I ended up constructing an aviary/greenhouse and planted forage to simulate free ranging.

velvet13 said:

Thank you for the info, at this time I only have 3 but hope to hatch more this year, I ended up constructing an aviary/greenhouse and planted forage to simulate free ranging.

Click to expand...

That sounds like a awesome set up for your birds... I have known folks with large planted aviaries, that had bobs go broody and actually raise clutches. Its still rare but maybe you'll get lucky! I think a big part is the birds still being able to feel "wild".... But no matter if you hatch the eggs or the birds, it sounds like a great place to hang out and just watch..... Good luck!