California Quail???

Also, you could build a small pen out on the grass for them with a covered top to keep them safe. You could also keep them in the pen they have and give them some things to do such as a mirror, cuddlefish bone, treats, or even just holding them for a little while each day would make them happy.

Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join us. I'm a chicken person and don't know much about quail (never had any), but definitely take advantage of our quail experts at the link that Wyandottes7 left you with. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your quail.

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

California Quail are not a good beginner quail. They are skittish, very difficult to handle and require great detail in keeping them. A good beginner quail is Coturnix quail (Japanese Quail). They are very easy to keep, easy to handle and are calm compared to other New World species of quail. You keep them in smaller spaces and aren't going to flush when they see you.

You can not free range quail. They will disappear quick. You will do best of you set them up in a small chicken coop with a run. Some people keep them in rabbit hutches or aviary style. Make their environment as natural as possible with some grass hay in the coop and some fake foliage in the run.

If you are only in this for the eggs and keeping them as pets, don't keep males. They cause more trouble for the females than they need. Coturnix require at least 2 square feet per bird, more if you can afford it. They don't use nest boxes like chickens, but will make nests if you provide grass hay. They do not go broody and hatch their own eggs. If you want chicks, you will need to get an incubator.

Feed them gamebird food or something with 24% to 28% protein. Food is a great boding agent and will enjoy seeing you coming with greens, cabbage, quartered fruit, cut up veggies, meal worms, corn on the cob, etc...

Quail are not snuggly like other pets and are pretty aloof for the most part. However they enjoy eating from your hand and some can even learn their names.

Definitely stop by our quail section for more help with this new adventure! Welcome to our flock!

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Good luck!

Hello, just joined to post on here but think im going to stick around.
I have four cali quails from incubation who are now at 5 weeks old. I had a few coturnix before and a few buttons so I didnt imagine the difficulties.
firstly, well I incubated about 20 eggs just to get 4 survivors and everytime ive tried them before they have never made it, which isnt great considering the price.
Also they are monogamous unlike coturnix so you will be keeping the males around which means a lot more noise.
they hate being held and ive just seperated one who is enjoying pecking the beaks of the others at the minute which is causing quite a stir.
they are lovely to look at but really...if i was to start again i probably wouldnt have made the investment.