quail questions

i have 8 pharaoh quail 1 male and 7 females. im looking for information about quail
1. whats a female called and a male called?
2. i have them on chick starter the fellar i got them from when they were newborn said chick starter is fine thru out there life, is that fine or do i need some game bird feed?
3. i bought them january 21st when will i get eggs?
4. do the females lay a egg at a time like a chicken?
5. do they use a nest box or do they lay everywhere and anywhere?
6. can i let them free range like a chicken and they come back home at night or will they book it?
7. how much room do 8 quail need?
8. whats the ratio between males and female is 1 male to 7 females alright?

1. A female is called a hen. A male is called a cock, roo, and sometimes rooster.

2. Regular chick starter is too low in protein. Non-medicated turkey starter or gamebird starter is better.

3. Egg laying depends on many factors.How old are your birds? They can start laying at 6 to 8 weeks old. They need 12 to 14 hours of light a day. And they need to be comfortable in their new housing. If you have dogs, cats,or any other predator near their cage, they might not lay because of stress.

4. Females normally lay one egg every day when in prime breeding conditions.

5. They will sometimes use a nest box such as an overturned basket with a hole cut in it. If they don't have a nest box, they will just lay their eggs on the cage floor. It is extremely rare for a hen to hatch her own eggs, tho.

6. Please don't let them free range. The are too small, and any predator will make a quick snack of them. They also might not come back.

7. They need a minimum of 1 square foot per bird. That means a 2X4 cage is big enough for 8 birds. If you can, give them more room. I try to give my birds 2 to 4 square feet per bird. Larger spaces help reduce feather plucking and aggression.

8. 1 male to 7 females will work if you only want eggs for eating. You can still hatch eggs, but you might have a slightly lower hatch rate. 1 to 4 is better for fertility. Try not to go less than 1 to 3. The males will harass the females too much with a lower ratio.

Hope this helps.

white ninja said:

i have 8 pharaoh quail 1 male and 7 females. im looking for information about quail
1. whats a female called and a male called?
2. i have them on chick starter the fellar i got them from when they were newborn said chick starter is fine thru out there life, is that fine or do i need some game bird feed?
3. i bought them january 21st when will i get eggs?
4. do the females lay a egg at a time like a chicken?
5. do they use a nest box or do they lay everywhere and anywhere?
6. can i let them free range like a chicken and they come back home at night or will they book it?
7. how much room do 8 quail need?
8. whats the ratio between males and female is 1 male to 7 females alright?

Click to expand...

Myself, I call males grilled with onions and peppers a great meal, and females are breakfast egg laying machines. Here is a great link for you to read.
James

haha your funny james the bald there eggs are the only food from my quail ive never had quail and waiting on my buddy to harvest his for meat
buttonquailtx my quail are 9 weeks old and have a light for warmth only, ill build them a nesting box (they love cardboard boxes) they live in a 10x2x2 chicken tractor and ill change feed tommorow and the other information is much appreciated!

Change their feed slowly. Start by mixing 1 part new feed to 3 parts old. The next feeding, mix half and half. The third feeding, mix 3 parts new to 1 part old. The fourth feeding can be all new food.

Sometimes, if you change their food too quickly, they can get runny droppings. And sometimes it doesn't effect them at all. Myself, I choose to be more cautious.

Also, 2 foot high can cause the "boink factor". If you do a search you will find many bad stories. You can do several things to prevent it. Myself, I prefer to clip wings.

Clipping wings also makes it easier to retrieve them if they get out and spook. Mine will just wait calmly around my feet until I put them back. But if they get out and get spooked, I'm in for a chase around the yard with a net in my hand. BTW, I suggest getting a net and keeping it near their cage at all times.

Try adding a screw in fluorescent bulb in a clip on light.

9 weeks isn't uncommon for birds not to lay. It may take up to 12 weeks. Especially if they haven't been getting enough protein. When you change their food, it might speed up their laying time.

great info now to find someone to clip wings... and is 20% protein good i bought purina flock raiser couldnt find game bird feed

James the Bald said:

Myself, I call males grilled with onions and peppers a great meal, and females are breakfast egg laying machines. Here is a great link for you to read.
James

Click to expand...

Every time James recommends this thread, I'll put 10 cents in a jar. I'll be a rich man by the end of the week. Just read the thread people! BTW someone should make that a sticky...

my mistake it is already a sticky, but half the people don't read it
Cheers

got my first egg!