African Harlequin Quail

[J3172]

I have a couple African Harlequin Quail that I hatched from eggs this last spring. Well here in michigan it gets pretty cold so on the first snow fall I brought them into the basement. I was wondering if they are winter hardy? As next year my flock will grown, but I don't want all those birds inside.

 

[JJMR794]

Send A Pm To Tony Kt As He Is Located In Cold Climate And Has Them... Perhaps He Can Advise You?

 

[Stellar]

They are not the cold hardy of the coturnix. I have my pairs (they are monagamous) housed indoors. They get heat lamps when cold. If you think about it these birds are from Africa, they love heat.

 

[Tony K T]

I got mine from Scott O'Brien in Maine.He raises his outside all year,but he does poly around the pen in the winter.The top is always covered and the bottom is open.I have mine outside in an off ground pen with my pheasants under them.So far they seem to be okay.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[Stellar]

I believe Scott houses them in pairs. He sent me one pair. But I guess it's personal preference on housing and if they get used the cold, so be it.

 

[J3172]

I got mine from Steve Klan, and they were in in a pen off the ground as well. I'll have to try it next year, Thanks for the answering my question.

 

[Tony K T]

When I visited Scotts,he had about 30-40 in each pen,but he had pairs set up in his shed.Maybe the groups were what he had hatched earlier.I have 2 trios running together.They all get along fine,but fertility is not to good.Lots of eggs when they are laying.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[crash0330]

Hi, not to steal this thread, but I was looking at the pictures of African Harlequin and they look a lot like coturnix. Whats the difference between them?

 

[Tony K T]

The hens look a little like the coturnix,but these harlequins are smaller and a little bigger then buttons.
In N.H.,Tony.this is a male harlequin.

 

[Stellar]

The Coturnix is just latin for quail. African Harlequin and Japanese Quail are both Coturnix, one is from Africa and one is originating in Japan BUT there is a size difference among the two. The Japanese Quail is not the only COturnix out there...