Raising quail to release?

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Coopin-It-Real

Coopin-It-Real

In the Brooder
7 Years
Aug 20, 2012
24
1
29
Southern Virginia
Is there any way to raise quail to literally release into the wild (on our farm). The quail population was devastated around here years ago due to others over-hunting the land. Would they have the instinct to survive on their own after the incubation period or would they become reliant on our care? Wouldn't release anything without a great chance of survival. Any thoughts?
 
Chance of them surviving would be low. You would probably only end up feeding the local predators. I've read that when State Fish and Wildlife agencies release birds for reintroduction, they do not release domesticated birds. The birds they release come from wild stock because they have a much better survival rate (having learned how to survive in the wild).
 
your probably wasting money doing that. Seems they never are wild enough if humans are involved. You might help the population by planting cover and food sources, telling hunters your trying to build up the quail numbers, ridding your land of predators that are legal for you to shoot. I live in Nebraska and the game and parks department even say its not worth raising quail to release but in the end its up to you.
 
As posted above, releases rarely work, even from the most experienced in this endeavor. Quail have lost the instinct to brood, raise young or even survive in the out doors. They have imprinted on humans and rely on them for food, water and shelter. You would only be sending them off to their deaths for the most part.

AND...it is illegal to release quail in many areas of the country as they can endanger the natural populations of quail that are barely clinging to life in small pockets of land. Quail have disappeared for many reasons...mainly humans and predation. You would need to contact your local fish and wildlife and see if it is legal or not to do a release, even on private land.

But again, these birds will be lucky to survive one or two nights and either die from predation, thirst or starvation.
 
Kind of what we figured. Thanks for the comments. We have been trying to provide cover and add food sources to encourage a good habitat for new comers but we have recently gained a pack of coyotes as well :( That can't be a lot of help in building the quail population.
 
I know a few folks that have tried similar products and in the end, it went the same way...all quail were subject to predation no matter how much instincts they developed to stay alive. Unless predator control is practiced in the environment, quail generally don't survive.
 
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Thanks for all of your responses...looks like I may need to begin researching more on decreasing the coyote population first! I'm not certain how many there are around here but it's creepy to hear them howling out during early night hours. Haven't actually seen them yet but we know they're here (somewhere) and I think we may have to take care of that issue first. Now I'm off to find out what's legal around here when it comes to ridding your farm of predators!
 
I raise bobwhites and I also live a few miles from a game bird hunting ranch. There are just bobs everywhere here calling during mating season. Plent of cover and croplands. i believe these are the released birds. So maybe with the right management you can make it happen. Dont give up. I let somse of mine go in hopes that they can survive.
 
Coopin-It-Real said:
Thanks for all of your responses...looks like I may need to begin researching more on decreasing the coyote population first! I'm not certain how many there are around here but it's creepy to hear them howling out during early night hours. Haven't actually seen them yet but we know they're here (somewhere) and I think we may have to take care of that issue first. Now I'm off to find out what's legal around here when it comes to ridding your farm of predators!
Click to expand...
Haha, bait em to your farm and take em out quietly.
 

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