Good overview of keeping quail. Just needs some edits as suggested by others.
Anonymous
3.00 star(s)
Isn’t “pharaoh” quail just a name for the wild type coturnix color not a separate species? Someone already mentioned the breed vs species issue. I also believe the plural of quail is quail, quails is a verb meaning to cower or balk in fear. Also a big difference between raising coturnix (domesticated for centuries) vs New World quail which are raised more like pheasants or other wild type galliformes, probably not as good of backyard production animals, definitely less domesticated and more fussy though bobwhites may be better than others. Good overall info but should either focus on basic coturnix care OR differences between species, not briefly mention the species and then treat care as the same (buttons are subtropical!).
The author should have referred to the various quails as 'species' not as breeds...there are no breeds of quail, unlike chickens that are known by the 'breeds'. Also, the blanket statement referring to their eggs as having 'spots', not all quail eggs have spots, Bobwhite eggs are solid white, Gamble, Valley and Blue Scale have cream colored eggs with tiny spots to medium spots. Coturnix have eggs with various sized splotches of brown to black colorization.
Another point is in protein percent of feed. Adult quail need a higher percent 'maintenance' feed, 16 to 18% protein is not adequate for adult birds. A minimum of 20% to 24% protein is a better choice to provide adequate protein for adult birds. A higher percent protein feed is also recommended for hatchlings and for young chick's, 28 to 30% protein is needed to provide optimum growth weights.
