Quails & Chicks

[Small Town Girl]

Hi! I am new to BYC, having just ordered my first chickens online. My chicks will be arriving the first week of August from My Pet Chicken. Anyway, last week I bought five 5-week old quail chicks (bob whites) on impulse. Since they were older, they are really skittish and will probably never really be tame. I was wondering if it would be alright to keep them in the same coop with my chickens (once the chicks were older.) Will the two species co-exist or am I going to have to arrange for separate quarters? I appreciate your input!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Welcome to BYC!

I keep mine seperate because the quail are so small and flighty that their escape would be inevitable. As the chickens get older, I think they may turn aggressive towards the quail, then again, the chickens probably couldn't catch the quail.

I would build seperate pens, just to be safe.

Someone else, may have more experience with this.

-Kim

 

[Small Town Girl]

Thanks Kim! I was pretty sure the answer was going to be "no", but thought I'd go to the experts. I will have to get the little guys their own run with itty bitty wire, as they all seem to be escape artists!

Jennifer

 

[Mrs MIA]

Everything I've read is "no"... sorry. Size differences, susceptibility to each other's diseases, attitudes... I wouldn't think the quail would do very well in the same setting. And don't feel badly... I've raised BWs from eggs and they're just as skittish.

Darnit.

 

[roosters97]

mine are fine together, the quail mother 'em

oh yeah i forgot