An easy species and a challenging species

[chickenwhisperer]

So, I have decided I want to keep some quail.
I am getting 3 doz eggs on friday of coturnix.
Then, next week I will be ordering a definate pair of Valleys, and I have a good opportunity this month to catch some wild valleys at my friends house.
These are the only species Im interested in keeping, for eggs and pets.

My plan for housing is as follows . . .
Main cage unit is 8' long, 6.5' tall, 2' deep; separated into 3 levels of compartments that start at 6" off the ground.
Each level will have a solid plywood bottom, and 3 separate front opening doors, and each level will have removable dividers that can go between each door.
There could be 3 big cages or 9 small cages and any combo between.
Questions:
1- Is 2' too tall for each level, would they have problems with flushing?
2- Is solid bottom good, I cant imagine solid ground being bad?

My other concerns are about husbandry.
I know quail should get gamebird feed, but do they also like grains/scratch/greens/grass?
I know that my chicken yard has tons of forage, but I read that its very bad to have quail and chickens mix, ergo the large cage with the solid bottoms that will be located in the chicken yard proper.
Will quail appreciate a couple handfuls from the lawn mower bag to pick thru, or is that just making a mess to clean?

The valley quail will be my beloved pets, as I just love these birds.
I have heard they are skittish as captives(especially wild-caught Id think), does 2x8x2 sound reasonable for a pair to live in comfortably, and can I reasonably hope for breeding activity in such a cage with this species?
I also am thinking of buying a quail trap and using my bought pair to call in some wild ones, does that sound like a good idea or bad?

The coturnix seem pretty straightforward, and tons of threads to look thru to answer questions.
The valley quail, tho they live around me, seem like more of a mystery and a much more difficult species to work with.
Any advice is appreciated, and suggestions regarding the cage dimensions are welcomed, maybe 18" height is better . . .

 

[JJMR794]

1 tiny problem here jumps out at me.......

Catching wild valley quail--- THIS IS ILLEGAL! BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS STRICTLY PROHIBIT THIS.

 

[chickenwhisperer]

That is good to know!
Thankyou.

Everything else sounds good?

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
NOTE CAGE HEIGHT CAN BE A KILLER--- ESPECIALLY WITH SPAZTIC SPECES LIKE VALLEYS-- THEY HAVE A TENDANCY TO FLUSH AND IN DOING SO MAY BREAK NECKS OR DEGLOVE SCALP LEAVING THE BACK OF THE SKULL EXPOSED--- THEY ARE VERY FLIGHTY--- BETTER TO USE LOWER CEILING HEIGHT TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MOMENTUM THEY CAN GET--- THIS WAY THEY DONT PING-PONG OFF THE CEILING AS HARD AND HOPEFULLY REDUCE THE TRAUMA TO THE ANIMAL.

 

[UmbraVulpis]

As a side note, make sure you don't give them any grass clippings from grass that has been treated with pesticides or chemical fertilizers for 2-3 weeks.

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Cage height is what Im having the most trouble with . . .
Shall I make it even shorter than 18", say 12-14?


I have spent days reading thru various threads about keeping quail and chickens together.
Id say 98% of what I saw was folks just telling people its not good, no reasons or explanations or valid references.
The most I could come up with was that direct contact with one anothers droppings was the key to the issue.
My plan was to prevent [that] from happening, but you say to not even keep the cage in the large chicken yard?
Can you tell my the "why", more than just "its a bad idea" . . .
(I am starting to equate this with folks saying not to keep turks/chiks together . . . they heard it once and swear its true; but the problems need to exist already in order to continue, like there has to be blackhead present in order for birds to catch it)
((and anytime I seen quail at somebodies house they lived with the chickens, one guy had so many different kinds of birds together it was amazing they werent all dead ))

I know wire floor would make cleaning easier, but that means each level would need a droppings board to protect the level below.
I have also been quite perplexed as to which way to go, and I have a great plan for a wire floor/dropping board setup, but thats xtra time and money.
Ill have to give this more thought.

Anyhoo, the egg guy called me today and told me he has 4doz eggs for me tomoro.
The bator should be empty by sunday at the latest, so a quick adjustment to fit so many eggs and Ill be off and rolling.

I really dont even know why I want quails, Ive always been a big fan of the valley quail around here with their calls and running around everywhere, and I think Im gonna raise the coturnix and eat the eggs and maybe even the adults if they get too numerous.
But, I still want to do it to the best of my ability, if Im gonna do it at all.

 

[aprophet]

Newcastle and exotic Newcastle is one disease that is shared between chickens and quail and it is one that is transmitted airborne and by clothes, shoes, the part about the solid floors was what got my attention it is almost impossible to keep quail from eating droppings with that setup, just watch chicks in a brooder another way for disease to pass. most chicken walk around with blackhead and look heathy they are mostly immune to it quail not nearly so good luck with your project

http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/veterinary/issues/vet-02-26-2/vet-26-2-37-0109-14.pdf

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Thankyou for that info!

 

[chickenwhisperer]

I found some details on the birds that the eggs are coming from, I get them tomoro and will do a fertility check then.

The birds are kept in a single cage at about 1 male for 7 females, with maybe 1 or 2 more males.
He said he thinks 4-5 males, 32 total birds.
They are roughly 6 months old.
He has never seen them breed(is that normal, or maybe he doesnt know?)

Does that sound like the makings for some fertile eggs?
He seemed surprised and confused that Id try hatching them.

This makes me nervous, not sure if he stores them right and keeps the freshest cleanest ones.
I might have to go show him what I want tomoro, and wait another few days to let him collect.
It didnt take him long to collect 4 doz for me . . .

These are the coturnix I am talking about of course!

Edit- I figure I have a better chance with local than with ordering off ebay or something.
I mean, they gotta be fertile, right?
Thats enough males to get hatching eggs . . . isnt it?

 

[chickenwhisperer]

After more than a week of back and forth with this guy, I am getting my coturnix eggs tomoro morning!
Yay me!

I told him about this site and where to look for pics of fertile eggs, and he says his are definately good!

I think he has about 5-6 doz for me!

Im really excited, I never hatched a quail before!

Oh, and Im about 2 weeks away from the Valley Quails, I found a source that has the hugest most plumpest Valley quail I ever seen.
The guy told me to wait another week or so till he knows the eggs are fertile.
And the best part is he is local!