➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[kurby22]

I had the same issue recently. I mixed some DE into the feed outside to try to kill them, then I took a gallon bag full, and put it in the freezer for 24 hours to have for the chicks inside, I was worried about having the bugs inside as well. I haven’t seen any moving bugs in the feed since. Normally I mix DE into my feed as I move it from the bag to the bucket I store it in outside, I’ve never had bugs before. I threw out my back a week and a half ago, and just had hubby dump the bag into the bucket, I thought it would be fine, just one time. Well the heat accelerates the bugs, and it was crawling with them in 2 days. Normally I use a big pickle container as a scoop, it’s maybe half gallon sized, if you’ve ever gotten fresh made pickles, you know the type of container I mean. I put a dusting of DE on the bottom of the bucket, then I mix one teaspoon scoop of DE into 3 containers worth at a time as I fill the bucket. I’ve never had issues with the birds or feed supply when I do this, first time I didn’t, bam, infested.

Thank you!! This is a great recommendation, I will definitely try this. I hate to waste it!

 

[kurby22]

I had the same issue recently. I mixed some DE into the feed outside to try to kill them, then I took a gallon bag full, and put it in the freezer for 24 hours to have for the chicks inside, I was worried about having the bugs inside as well. I haven’t seen any moving bugs in the feed since. Normally I mix DE into my feed as I move it from the bag to the bucket I store it in outside, I’ve never had bugs before. I threw out my back a week and a half ago, and just had hubby dump the bag into the bucket, I thought it would be fine, just one time. Well the heat accelerates the bugs, and it was crawling with them in 2 days. Normally I use a big pickle container as a scoop, it’s maybe half gallon sized, if you’ve ever gotten fresh made pickles, you know the type of container I mean. I put a dusting of DE on the bottom of the bucket, then I mix one teaspoon scoop of DE into 3 containers worth at a time as I fill the bucket. I’ve never had issues with the birds or feed supply when I do this, first time I didn’t, bam, infested.

The feed is in giant ziploc bags in my freezer!! Here’s hoping it works!! It’s SO hot out right now so frozen feed might taste and feel amazing tomorrow!

 

[kurby22]

Also! I just had to share my excitement—one of my baby quails actually lets us hold her without spazzing out! She’s actually sitting in my daughters lap without flying away and needing restraint to be held. This is probably my very first quail out of almost 50 quail that’s been at all friendly! I’m so excited and I’m almost certain she’s a she so I even get to keep her without guilt or crowing haha. In general, and in only my very limited experience—I have found my Pansy quails to be the most docile of all my colors. I wonder why?

 

[FloorCandy]

Also! I just had to share my excitement—one of my baby quails actually lets us hold her without spazzing out! She’s actually sitting in my daughters lap without flying away and needing restraint to be held. This is probably my very first quail out of almost 50 quail that’s been at all friendly! I’m so excited and I’m almost certain she’s a she so I even get to keep her without guilt or crowing haha. In general, and in only my very limited experience—I have found my Pansy quails to be the most docile of all my colors. I wonder why?

I’m guessing that the pansies you have are more friendly because they happened to have friendlier foundation stock. If you breed for temperament and cull the nasty and shy ones, you’ll eventually start getting higher numbers of friendly quail. It’s a double edged sword tho, my chicks that were laid, brooded, and raised by a hen ended up being super friendly because their mom is friendly and didn’t mind me holding and touching them, and she eats from my hand. However, once I moved them outside, I lost my favorite chick at 3 weeks because it flew out of the pen onto my shoulder and even though I grabbed for it quickly, a car horn went off In the road and it took off into the woods, never to be seen again.

 

[kurby22]

I’m guessing that the pansies you have are more friendly because they happened to have friendlier foundation stock. If you breed for temperament and cull the nasty and shy ones, you’ll eventually start getting higher numbers of friendly quail. It’s a double edged sword tho, my chicks that were laid, brooded, and raised by a hen ended up being super friendly because their mom is friendly and didn’t mind me holding and touching them, and she eats from my hand. However, once I moved them outside, I lost my favorite chick at 3 weeks because it flew out of the pen onto my shoulder and even though I grabbed for it quickly, a car horn went off In the road and it took off into the woods, never to be seen again.

Awww that’s sad! That would definitely make me super bummed. Even worse for my daughter :-( I do love them being more chill and friendly though, it’s much less stressful to be around them when I don’t feel like I’m going to cause them to have a heart attack by reaching in to feed them!

 

[Nabiki]

Awww that’s sad! That would definitely make me super bummed. Even worse for my daughter :-( I do love them being more chill and friendly though, it’s much less stressful to be around them when I don’t feel like I’m going to cause them to have a heart attack by reaching in to feed them!

I have a hard time keeping them from swarming me when it's feeding time. I have to throw a distraction towards the back of the pen or they all come running out of the pen at me.

The other something dug a hole under one side of the pen and about half of the youngsters got out. I was able to recover most of them because I came out with their food and water and they all came running towards me!

 

[RUNuts]

I have a hard time keeping them from swarming me when it's feeding time. I have to throw a distraction towards the back of the pen or they all come running out of the pen at me.

The other something dug a hole under one side of the pen and about half of the youngsters got out. I was able to recover most of them because I came out with their food and water and they all came running towards me!

Did you try installing a step over portion at the door? I did something like this with the chickens to hold them back as I scooted through the gate. Knee high, easy to remove if you have something big being moved.

Gate opens to the outside. Attach 18" tall something (I used a wire shelf but a board would work) so they couldn't walk through the gate but had to fly up over the step over in order to get out. Worked well for me. I did the same thing with the cages. The door didn't go to the floor and it kept those from just walking out the open door.

Good luck

 

[kurby22]

I have a hard time keeping them from swarming me when it's feeding time. I have to throw a distraction towards the back of the pen or they all come running out of the pen at me.

The other something dug a hole under one side of the pen and about half of the youngsters got out. I was able to recover most of them because I came out with their food and water and they all came running towards me!

See, that is what I want from my quail! I am really hoping this newest batch is more friendly because I am spending more time handling them this time around. The Pansy Fees from you have been pretty good about coming over for treats and food, so I'm getting there with them! But my first batch and some of my first celadons are stress balls that flip out if I even look at them funny!

 

[Nabiki]

Did you try installing a step over portion at the door? I did something like this with the chickens to hold them back as I scooted through the gate. Knee high, easy to remove if you have something big being moved.

Gate opens to the outside. Attach 18" tall something (I used a wire shelf but a board would work) so they couldn't walk through the gate but had to fly up over the step over in order to get out. Worked well for me. I did the same thing with the cages. The door didn't go to the floor and it kept those from just walking out the open door.

Good luck

I'll have to do that. Now that I have the walk in pen, I'm toying with the idea of finches. If I do that, I'm hanging a noren on the inside so they don't fly out when I open the door.

I am concerned that if I put the step over portion I'll still have to worry about stepping on them. They do not have a healthy fear of feet. They like to peck at my shoes.

 

[RUNuts]

I'll have to do that. Now that I have the walk in pen, I'm toying with the idea of finches. If I do that, I'm hanging a noren on the inside so they don't fly out when I open the door.

I am concerned that if I put the step over portion I'll still have to worry about stepping on them. They do not have a healthy fear of feet. They like to peck at my shoes.

Yes, I had to gently toe my way to solid ground before I stepped in. I did step/trip on a couple. They really love the giant who brings food to the point of no fear of being squashed. Distracting them by throwing treats to a safe place makes sense.

The noren is a good idea. I needed something like that on the chicken tractors. I'd open the top and it looked like I was releasing doves for the wedding. "Last one out is a rotten egg." This was with quail and chickens in the tractor. The quail were better (worse for me) at it than the chickens since they'd fly 100 feet. I was opening it to release the chickens, so no problem but you will miss breakfast.

The zoo bird aviaries have an air lock/double gate arrangement. If they get past one door, you still have them contained. May need more than a noren for finches.