They come and go as they please. The brick shed is dry, warm and has their food/water. The outside pen is open and for them to scratch and do their thing. They go in for safety.. if they get spooked they shoot in. If it rains, they go in (whilst fussing about it of course).
When the colder...
Imagine a wall, with a brick sized hole in it, about a foot from the ground. Now imagine a wee ramp, with horizontal ribs going across it. That is all I have on either side. I kept them in the brick shed for a week or so before letting them out, and when they were out, made sure that food and...
Perhaps one, with lots of one on one time would work to an extent.. but you wouldn't leave it to run about the place like a dog or cat.
I had about 30 quail in a room, and man, it was tough.. I wouldn't do it again.
Unfortunately you will have to consider either culling, or moving on most of your males (for your number, I'd keep one, maybe two at a push in a large cage).
Not much to add to the folks above. I have my chicks inside for the first 8 weeks, and you have to be fairly strict with the cleaning.. I don't use a wire shelf system, instead opting for a 4'x3' box with glass front, and a 6'x3' box, also with glass. These guys make the men's toilet at a non...
Personally, I find them perfect for both meat and eggs... I don't have the meat that often, but the eggs are absolutely beautiful.. and bountiful!
Absolutely. Of course, you can't just chuck them out from room temperature to -15, but my chicks will be going out pretty soon, and it is around...
I have a chart from somewhere, I'll see if I can find it. It is from when I kept lots of reptiles and arachnids.
Edit - I can't find it, but saw these..
http://www.chameleonnews.com/02SepDonoghue_files/droppedImage.jpg
http://www.geckotime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/table-large.png
Oh believe me, they can crow alright, and if there is more than one, they all take turns.. Mine are starting to crow a bit now, with the daylight hours getting longer. Thankfully no night time crowing anymore though.
It is hard to see the small ones getting hammered, I have one that is out by himself for a bit of R&R, as he has been on the wrong end of another boys attention.
Of course, this means that I have a night crower, and the others like to join in..
I use warm water and gentle persuasion with my fingers. They seldom need it done, and are (well most of them) happy enough to sit and have it done. Of course, out of 20 there are a few dissenters!
I'm from the reptile hobby as well, and know what you are on about. The colours in quail can be mixed, as they are all the same species. They have been bred for so long that any issues, in regards to colour, have been bred out and are true.
I'm sure you know about stargazing (and other issues)...
That is odd.. I think the latter to be honest. The fact that it recovers so immediately after you administer the extra stuff is crazy! Does it maybe have an absorption issue? Might be a life long problem.
This is what I use, and it works a treat.. 90% plus hatch rate. Remember to calibrate your thermometer, and to take account of your local humidity. For example, here in Belfast, humidity is usually really high, but it is freezing cold. I don't have to add much water to the bator..whereas someone...
My immediate response is that there shouldn't be any issues, being two different species etc.. however I am happy to be contradicted by those with more experience. Are you wanting to keep them together?
I would put it in.. just an oul basin with sand, or dry dirt.. they love it, keeps their feathers etc clean as well. You will see them stretching out on it etc