Kiki, I read through that other thread, it looks pretty interesting. I had previously read that there was some lethality with the Golden Manchurian color mutation, but haven't had any of those birds (I'm pretty sure) so I didn't worry too much about it. It's interesting to learn about the lethality with the white mutation too - I have only hatched 5 white (some with head spots) birds, and of those two had eye problems too. The eggs were purchased and not from my birds.
The first one (pure white) had eye problems and didn't live much past 2 weeks as it pretty much couldn't see at all. I am still not comfortable killing chicks if it seems like they are trying to live and don't seem to be in pain so I let it keep trying when I probably should have taken action. It was a runt but it seemed content with life. By the time it passed the others who hatched same day were twice its size. Second and third ones had spots on the heads, they seemed more skittish and neurotic than the other colors and luckily they turned out to be boys so they went to freezer camp. Four and five (both all white) were in the group that just matured within the past 2-3 weeks. One is normal and one has eye problems but not as severe as the first one. When it hatched the eyes were super big compared to its head and had a blue cast. As it aged the eyes became more normal in appearance but you can still tell there is something wrong with it. Physically she was runtier than the others but only delayed size-wise by about a week as they were growing out. Both turned out to be hens and are both laying, the one with the eye issues is still a bit daintier than the other. They will both go to freezer camp pretty soon.
I have pretty much decided that white quail are not allowed in my flock and will either sell or eat any white quail that I hatch. The *fun* thing is that I have a gold and white pied/tuxedo male paired with some italian females, so a lot of his chicks are hatching yellow. They seem to be feathering out as pale italians or gold and whites but as chicks they really look like they might be pure white and making me worry.
The first one (pure white) had eye problems and didn't live much past 2 weeks as it pretty much couldn't see at all. I am still not comfortable killing chicks if it seems like they are trying to live and don't seem to be in pain so I let it keep trying when I probably should have taken action. It was a runt but it seemed content with life. By the time it passed the others who hatched same day were twice its size. Second and third ones had spots on the heads, they seemed more skittish and neurotic than the other colors and luckily they turned out to be boys so they went to freezer camp. Four and five (both all white) were in the group that just matured within the past 2-3 weeks. One is normal and one has eye problems but not as severe as the first one. When it hatched the eyes were super big compared to its head and had a blue cast. As it aged the eyes became more normal in appearance but you can still tell there is something wrong with it. Physically she was runtier than the others but only delayed size-wise by about a week as they were growing out. Both turned out to be hens and are both laying, the one with the eye issues is still a bit daintier than the other. They will both go to freezer camp pretty soon.
I have pretty much decided that white quail are not allowed in my flock and will either sell or eat any white quail that I hatch. The *fun* thing is that I have a gold and white pied/tuxedo male paired with some italian females, so a lot of his chicks are hatching yellow. They seem to be feathering out as pale italians or gold and whites but as chicks they really look like they might be pure white and making me worry.
The master chef speaks.
One does have a few stabbings/shootings.
