Mearns Quail Hatching

[Chris102]

Sorry your hatch didnt turn out more chicks. I know the feeling. I had 1 survivor from a batch of 16 Black Masked bobwhite eggs. Hatching is definitely a gamble!

A good majority of the Mearns breeders I've talked to keep the humidity just above 25%. I hear that 25-35% is ideal... but I can't speak from personal experience. I just got a 2015 pair of Mearns, hoping for eggs in the next few weeks.

How did you guys do brooding the Single Mearns chicks? Did you have to do any tweezer feeding, or anything like that to get it eating?

There's so little literature regarding Mearns in aviculture...its frustrating. I will say that they're hands down the most laid back species of wild quail I've raised. At least in my experience, They acclimated very quickly to their new environment, and now take mealworms right from my hand!

I just love them and can't wait for the other pairs to arrive in July/August!

 

[UncleFrank]

I had to hand feed my Mearns with a syringe and a liquid mixture. My chick pipped the egg but never started zipping. After 36 hours, I assisted him by zipping his egg for him. I later found out by talking to an experienced breeder that the Mearns will pip through the egg but take up to 3 to 4 days to zip out. So...I almost lost my chick for lack of knowledge. I hand fed him for a week with liquid through a syringe until he was strong enough to eat live meal worms. Now he's as healthy as can be and jogs in place when I make the feeding call for his meal worms. Now I'm trying to wean him off the live meal worms slowly.
They are a digger in nature and grow very long toenails, so if you keep them on wire, you must keep their toenails clipped or they will pop a nail off which will cause bleeding then toe pecking from others. The breeder I spoke to keeps his on board with wood shavings. So if you had a wire bottom cage, you could simply make a wood floor to fit over the wire. If you keep them in an aviary with ground floor, they have been known to dig out and byebye expensive little bird.
Once I found out I only had 1 fertile egg out of six, I added a button quail egg to the bator and hatched them together so he would have a companion to grow with and also help me teach him how to eat quail feed.
I will be getting 10 eggs from a 20 year breeder in June and will definitely get more knowledge from him on raising these gorgeous birds.
Hatching and brooding looks like the hard part but with their natural digging instinct, that can be a learning experience as adults as well.

 

[callduck2010]

1 out of 6 eggs are developing for me as well. This person mentioned he had 27pair(hard to believe) in his email. Bought the eggs eBay, he's from Edinburgh, IN. Made several attempts to call, voice message left. No response. Their ad stated "fertile" eggs. Loosely worded..frustrating.

 

[callduck2010]

Thanks for responding. Yes, I saw the one pair...also his ad was a private auction which draws a "red flag". Did you file a report? This will be my next step. Thanks for the tip with humidity.

 

[callduck2010]

Thanks, will do. I saw a pre sale listing on eBay for June delivery..
I would like to be on his list..can you supply his contact info either through pm or public.

 

[UncleFrank]

Goto my google+ page, go on google+ and search for a community called "quail enthusiasts" I have him listed there as a recommended breeder. Scott O'Brien. 20 yrs experience raising quail...raises mearns, mountain and benson quail. If you cant find it, pm me and ill send you his number.
Thanks

 

[Tony K T]

UncleFrank did you say you got yours from a guy in In?Or Scott O'Brien?I don't know who the guy is in In.,but Scott is in Maine,so I am getting confused.I have been to Scotts place (a few years ago)and he did have a few pairs of Mearns.I don't know the exact count on pairs.
I found Scott to be a stand up guy and very knowledgeable on quail.He and a few other breeders were the ones who helped repopulate the harlequin quail and possibly stopped them from extinction.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[UncleFrank]

No scott is an awesome breeder of quail and who im recommending to get Mearns eggs from. Hes been breeding quail for over 20 yrs and takes his bloodlines very serious! Great breeder!
The other guy is from Indiana and not trustworthy one bit! Code name is bestdlsonweb4u on ebay...sells mearns eggs and those high dollar black chicken eggs...does not back up his sales whatsoever and selling infertile eggs. A good breeder always checks his fertility before selling eggs to anyone...i assumed I got his first batch and only one was fertile but after reading this thread i know he isnt trustworthy. Wont be getting my business again thats for sure.
Scott O'Brien is a very good breeder and highly recommended from me. Lives in Maine and is a lobster fisherman and rare game bird breeder. Knows his stuff and has the best price out there.

 

[Tony K T]

Ok that cleared it up.I know Scott is a good guy and won't try to take anyones money so I had to ask to get a clear answer.Thank you.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[UncleFrank]

Yea he is an excellent breeder and very knowledgeable. Dont know where the confusion was but I'll let him know you had his back lol. Talked to him yesterday. I will be getting mearns eggs and a couple pairs of Benson quail from him this year. He is highly recommended on my quail page.