➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[007Sean]

@007Sean and @R2elk and others! plans are in the works to build a separate aviary for my quail, and add other birds such as ornamental pheasants, possibly partridges etc. My question for you are as follows:
1) I was looking at a pheasant chick assortment from cackle hatchery as I can get 15 chicks for less than the cost of 1 juvenile pair. Any experience with this hatchery and does it sound like a good idea??
2) what type of plants, grasses etc would be good to plant in the aviary for the gamebirds? or any good sites to look at ideas/designs? (trying to research on youtube and google but with your combined experience, I chose to start with the experts’ opinions!)

First off, I'm not an expert but have raised all kinds of birds for 50+ years.
I have no experince with hatchery birds, so I can't advise on that question.
I have looked at some of their stock before and they seem to be a bit pricey. It would be best to get the birds from a reputable breeder. Or if you can find hatching eggs, that route may be more appealing to you?

As far as 'pheasant furniture' is concerned, my pens have huge smooth rocks, small river rock, stumps, limbs, and perches. As far as green stuff, I have clover, purple fountain grasses, native grasses, pampa grass, clumping bamboo. Shrubs include, rose of sharron, native lantana. Not all my pens have everything listed in them, some only rocks, grasses and perches.

Contrary to what's posted on alot of sites, lantana has not poisoned my birds yet, they pick at it and eat it but hasn't hurt them one bit.
If you decide you want bamboo, get the clumping kind...otherwise the runner type will destroy your pens in no time and it's extremely hard to irradicate. HTH

Edit for spelling...stupid auto correct
And also to add, the perches are mainly for my Ruff pheasants, my True pheasants hardly ever use perches.

 

[muddy75]

First off, I'm not an expert but have raised all kinds of birds for 50+ years.
I have no experince with hatchery birds, so I can't advise on that question.
I have looked at some of their stock before and they seem to be a bit pricey. It would be best to get the birds from a reputable breeder. Or if you can find hatching eggs, that route may be more appealing to you?

As far as 'pheasant furniture' is concerned, my pens have huge smooth rocks, small river rock, stumps, limbs, and perches. As far as green stuff, I have clover, purple fountain grasses, native grasses, pampa grass, clumping bamboo. Shrubs include, rose of sharron, native lantana. Not all my pens have everything listed in them, some only rocks, grasses and perches.

Contrary to what's posted on alot of sites, lantana has not poisoned my birds yet, they pick at it and eat it but hasn't hurt them one bit.
If you decide you want bamboo, get the clumping kind...otherwise the runner type will destroy your pens in no time and it's extremely hard to irradicate. HTH

Edit for spelling...stupid auto correct
And also to add, the perches are mainly for my Ruff pheasants, my True pheasants hardly ever use perches.

of course hatching eggs would be my #1 preference but at the time I was first researching none were available (it was too early hahaha) just looked again and lots of options opening up!! Thanks so much for your reply!! It gives me a great direction to continue my planning! first step is to finish our deck on that side which we’re hoping will be done by early april, then hopefully aviary completed and a small garden and grass in remainder of the yard before Mother’s day and pool opening time!!

 

[CoturnixComplex]

I just butchered my first three birds ever - I had been putting it off for a long time - and I'm super proud of myself. I only shrieked like once.

In the time it took me to do that, THREE MORE hatched.

I think I am at 18 now but most of the last six have pipped.

 

[BullChick]

I just butchered my first three birds ever - I had been putting it off for a long time - and I'm super proud of myself. I only shrieked like once.

In the time it took me to do that, THREE MORE hatched.

I think I am at 18 now but most of the last six have pipped.

Why did you shriek?
How long did it take you?
Which method did you use?
And, because I really want to know, did you do it in the kitchen?

 

[Kiki]

I just butchered my first three birds ever - I had been putting it off for a long time - and I'm super proud of myself. I only shrieked like once.

In the time it took me to do that, THREE MORE hatched.

I think I am at 18 now but most of the last six have pipped.

Congrats! That is a big deal!

 

[Kiki]

Why did you shriek?
How long did it take you?
Which method did you use?
And, because I really want to know, did you do it in the kitchen?

I wanna know the how part too.


We do it at the kitchen sink.
Notice how I say we.
I do the shreiking while the boys do the dirty work.
I'm just not there yet.

 

[007Sean]

of course hatching eggs would be my #1 preference but at the time I was first researching none were available (it was too early hahaha) just looked again and lots of options opening up!! Thanks so much for your reply!! It gives me a great direction to continue my planning! first step is to finish our deck on that side which we’re hoping will be done by early april, then hopefully aviary completed and a small garden and grass in remainder of the yard before Mother’s day and pool opening time!!

If you plan on getting them on eBay, be careful, some sellers are better than others. Even those that have good (high) feedback numbers can be unpredictable.

 

[Kiki]

If you plan on getting them on eBay, be careful, some sellers are better than others. Even those that have good (high) feedback numbers can be unpredictable.

@muddy75 maybe I could research some people for you.

 

[BullChick]

I wanna know the how part too.


We do it at the kitchen sink.
Notice how I say we.
I do the shreiking while the boys do the dirty work.
I'm just not there yet.

I was raised city, and took a while to get through different stages. I’m currently at the “I am going to mess up” stage. That is more for processing chickens.
Quail are easier to kill, and because they are not a big deal to do in the house, I can get it done whenever I have the nerve to do it. No detailed prep, just scissors and plastic bags.

 

[muddy75]

@muddy75 maybe I could research some people for you.

any suggestions would be awesome!! i’m learning the hard way about the whole ebay thing! went with this person on button eggs due to good feedback but no update on shipping yet!!