Recent content by le_bwah
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URGENT HELP NEEDED
Yes, I bet you're just seeing more skin, and also what's just under the skin, since those little feathers lost their fluff. It's okay, I used to worry about the same thing with my first hatch. Birds are weird until you keep them for a while—if you look up some anatomy diagrams, you can help... -
URGENT HELP NEEDED
That appears to be a normal "full" crop. Do not squeeze it, do not pierce it. They gorge, release to digest, and repeat. Again—that just looks like a well-fed chick. -
Quail enclosure
I've never kept button quail, but I know they don't "work" like Japanese quail/Coturnix—their sex ratios are different, flock sizes are different. I was under the impression they tend to form single-partner bonds as well. More space is good, but if they aren't able to comfortably form multiple... -
Quail Dust Bath Ideas
Deeper dishes help! I've used aluminum pans (the ones advertised for baking turkeys), plastic troughs, and, briefly, the lower half of a plastic dog house. Whatever you use, they could need a boost if it's tall enough, something to help them step in and out. You might also be able to reduce... -
Why did the quail keeper cross the road? To make a quail blog!
Might want to get your hands on some Corid. It's amprolium, you can't reasonably overdose them on it and a drench can start to clear up coccidiosis the same day. It's a common enough infection—no need to wait until they're passing blood to give it a try. Anything gut-related, change their... -
Coturnix Quail Identification
I've never looked into it, but my hens grow a pronounced "beard" after their fall molt and lose it by spring. A mystery to me. @GodLovesU very interesting morphs. I'd never seen a "calico" before! -
Just some cute baby quail
Ah, babies melt my heart! :jumpy I think I see a couple cinnamon/range in there—I love the red ones. (Also p.s. great nails!) -
Poultry afraid of the rain?
Okay, but do they have lots of little hides and low cover to spend their time in, to dart into when a big bird flies overhead or a dog runs by? They might be hiding under the coop because it's the only thing they can get under. This is an old pic, but it shows the density of cover that I think... -
Poultry afraid of the rain?
Do they have cover/hides to go with their open space? In general, open space = "death from above" in the minds of prey animals. If they don't have many hides, I'd try adding several and see if it affects their behavior. -
What plants can I plant in my quail cage
I had a couple big rosemary and oregano survive in a planted aviary for a year or so (the birds didn't kill them, I just didn't water them aggressively enough during a harsh summer 😅, we even lost trees that year). Birds would bathe right at their base. When the roots got exposed I'd just dump a... -
What is wrong with my quail’s foot?
GodLovesU, that's not the worst picture I've seen—about my own experience actually. I really think your bird will be okay if you can soak/medicate (catesquire has the right idea!). -
Quail Dust Bath
Quail don't just like a dust bath, they NEED one. It's a natural and necessary part of their grooming behavior. Removes oil, debris, pests—probably feels good too, to be real. I have a dirt floor aviary with bark sprinkled overtop. The birds just dig little pits wherever they like and bath... -
Rant about Blood Thirsty Quail
Really, really sounds like a density/environment issue tbh. Yeah, adding/moving birds shakes things up, but the harm is mitigated if they have enough space to flat-out run and enough low cover to duck away under. I've been raising quail at low density for almost 8 years. Biggest takeaway for... -
Science Spiel: Broody Quail Hens and Selecting for Motherhood
I haven't noticed feather color making a difference—I've had just about every common color mutation make and sit a clutch. But I've only seen maybe 20 hens go broody total (and I've had to break most of them. They lay infertile eggs, plus I can't afford to buy hatching eggs for each of them, not... -
Broody Quail Hen Success!
The numbers are in......4 hatched! One never made it out (pipped upside down AND hit a vessel), and the rest were mysteriously empty—just yolk and huge, saddle-shaped air cells. Never had that many fail to even start developing, kinda odd. I'll try a different breeder next time. Moved mom...