African Harlequin Quail

[SavageChick]

Have been eyeballing this beautiful breed for a few months now. Would anyone be willing to share their experience with these birds? Any information on incubation, hatching, rearing, behavior, etc., would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Tony K T]

I had 2 trios and I would recommend breeding them in pairs.They did not do good in trios at all.Be sure not to mix them with buttons,keep them pure they have made a great come back from the endangered list band it would be asshame if they were placed on it again.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[SavageChick]

Tony, thank you so much for that information. I read where they can be kept with button quail, and that was an important factor in my interest in them. So, your suggestion to not raise them with buttons is an important one for me. We now have an outdoor pen that measures 48"x36"x54", and I was considering this breed (only in a small grouping) to raise outdoors during the summer months, and keeping them indoors with our buttons (not initially in the same aviary, but would see how they did side-by-side, and possibly try to introduce them together per two pairs) during our colder winter months. Yet, it sounds like now that it may not be a good idea for me to do this. I've also read where they are okay in trios (or colonies until breeding time), so again, important information to hear from you that this should not be the arrangement for them. I do like the fact that these are a smaller breed of Coturnix. My experience has only been with hatching and raising chickens, finch, canary, parakeet, cockatiel, buttons (Chinese Painted Quail), and a couple of success stories with wild robin chicks after a squirrel invasion. So, basically, this is a giant leap for me. These are beautiful birds, and I am very interested in them, partly due to the fact that they are so rare. Unfortunately, there is scant (and conflictive) information on them with regard to their proper rearing and care. Another example of this is that I've read from one source where they are cold-hardy. Yet, another source stated that since these birds originate from Africa, they do not do well in cold temps. Can I ask you how you keep your birds (in cages, outdoor flight pen, or indoor/outdoor aviary?) Probably a ridiculously dumb question here, but since I cannot find the answer to it, I have to ask....do they require trees to perch on like the California quail, or are they more like buttons that are more limited to ground-dwelling? If they do perch, then I will need to consider either adding some height to the pen, or adding some form of branching bush. Thanks again for any info -- really appreciate it.

 

[Tony K T]

Tony, thank you so much for that information. I read where they can be kept with button quail, and that was an important factor in my interest in them. So, your suggestion to not raise them with buttons is an important one for me. We now have an outdoor pen that measures 48"x36"x54", and I was considering this breed (only in a small grouping) to raise outdoors during the summer months, and keeping them indoors with our buttons (not initially in the same aviary, but would see how they did side-by-side, and possibly try to introduce them together per two pairs) during our colder winter months. Yet, it sounds like now that it may not be a good idea for me to do this. I've also read where they are okay in trios (or colonies until breeding time), so again, important information to hear from you that this should not be the arrangement for them. I do like the fact that these are a smaller breed of Coturnix. My experience has only been with hatching and raising chickens, finch, canary, parakeet, cockatiel, buttons (Chinese Painted Quail), and a couple of success stories with wild robin chicks after a squirrel invasion. So, basically, this is a giant leap for me. These are beautiful birds, and I am very interested in them, partly due to the fact that they are so rare. Unfortunately, there is scant (and conflictive) information on them with regard to their proper rearing and care. Another example of this is that I've read from one source where they are cold-hardy. Yet, another source stated that since these birds originate from Africa, they do not do well in cold temps. Can I ask you how you keep your birds (in cages, outdoor flight pen, or indoor/outdoor aviary?) Probably a ridiculously dumb question here, but since I cannot find the answer to it, I have to ask....do they require trees to perch on like the California quail, or are they more like buttons that are more limited to ground-dwelling? If they do perch, then I will need to consider either adding some height to the pen, or adding some form of branching bush. Thanks again for any info -- really appreciate it.

I did poly my pen in the winter months and they did fine.I also raised diamond doves and cockatiels outside year round with no heat.I didn't provide any heat for these or any other bird.In my opinion it is a bad idea to heat any bird unless it's a tropical bird.Branches make your pen look nice,but the harlequins really never went into or on them,but cover always gives your birds a comfort zone if needed.They did not perch either.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[steveovergard]

I had my breeding pairs in cages in a horse stall . If you remember we had a cold winter and when it got cold, it STAYED cold for weeks and weeks. Since I also had younger chickens and Coturnix Quail in the stall, when it got down below super cold, I put out a few heat lamps to keep the brutal cold at bay. Most of the time it stayed above freezing in the stall . One morning it was 27 degrees. I did not lose any bids to the cold.

By the way, I am looking for some African Harlequin lines from outside the US. The birds can be here in the US, but the LINE must be recently from Asia, Europe, or Africa . If you know of any or hear of any, please let me know.

 

[mylittlechicken]

I got some African Harlequin Quail eggs in the Bator now too and hope for a good hatch.
Now I am just wonder how to keep them best? Keep them in breeding pairs or in a colony? I always thought they are doing best in Colonies.That was my plan to keep them all together.
Or what you all think?

 

[puttindownroots]

I am looking for some fertile harlequin quail eggs. Does anyone o. Here have any available? I live in florida and have two huge flight pens. Can they be kept in with buttons or housed alone, or maybe with coturnix??? Thanks

 

[HappyBeaks]

Hiya, I know this post is old so not sure if you still looking to get some. There is a Guy in Miami that breeds them for pets. Tim Burns I think his name is. I havent spoke to him for over 7 years though, think he does Bobs and Coturnix Japonica too. What he does not know about Harlequins is not worth knowing.

They are very sweet birds and become very very tame. We had some in one of the aviariesthat had finches and parakeets in and they where always going round the bottom of the feeders that where high up for the other birds and they would pic up every little piece of cracked seeds that the other birds dropped. I do not remember them ever fighting or attacking the other birds. two males will fight for territory though for breeding if not in a big enough space.

The love a diet of seeds and insects and out side in the aviary they get plenty of both, so they keep parasites down like lice etc

They will always self brood if the floor of the aviary has plant pots and turf growing in. We had 5 chicks survive from 9 that hatched on their own.

Hope info is of some use to you and good luck. One word of warning though, once you start keeping Harlys they become addictive.

I know loads of people who have the hatching eggs from time to time but not sure about shipping to Florida. Not sure on the laws! I know the laws are much stricter now then what they used to be.

 

[maquailnmore]

Anybody have eggs to sell or trade?

I have....
Texas a&m
Tibetan tuxedo
Pharoah
And georgia giant bobwhites

Italian speckled and a few african harlequin incubating.

Looking for more African harlequin eggs or week old chicks.

Alan at MA QUAIL N'MORE at Dayton texas