Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[Redoliveberry]

Thanks, I love it and so do those quails.
No eggs yet though.
I am currently feeding them on aviary feed ( this is what the previous owner was doing ) mixed with chick ( chicken ) feed.
Are you getting cold spells as well?
It was absolutely FREEZING this morning, I had for gotten how cold cold was.lol.
The funny thing was, I got 3 extra eggs from the girls today. They are strange things!

I got one egg from the quails in the last two days, they are done for the season I think.
Last year I had last egg on 31st May and then 1st egg on 1st Sep - as if they had a build-in calendar!

I lost two of my original quails recently too, no sign of anything wrong - must be just old age. They only live 2.5 years.

Luke, I have no idea how much protein in aviary feed (I know budgie feed is low), I know however that chick food is not good enough. They need high protein feed. Just give them lots of grasshoppers and mealworms.

Strangely enough I still get 4 eggs a day from my four hens...they are such good girls.

Getting cold in Brisbane too, I love my fireplace now, has been going for the last three days

 

[Colourful]

Thanks, I love it and so do those quails.
No eggs yet though.
I am currently feeding them on aviary feed ( this is what the previous owner was doing ) mixed with chick ( chicken ) feed.
Are you getting cold spells as well?
It was absolutely FREEZING this morning, I had for gotten how cold cold was.lol.
The funny thing was, I got 3 extra eggs from the girls today. They are strange things!

Quails need higher protein than most aviary birds, though they'll love the seed

. And you need to be careful because medicated chick feed can render them sterile. When my quail first got here, they didn't lay for almost a month while they got used to the place (and I wasn't feeding them enough protein), but they've slowed down again now because Winter is setting in. The best feed for them is Lauke mills gamebird maintainer (I've found) but you can also give them the Redhen chick starter as it's non medicated and in small bite sized pieces. A good start is to boil up some eggs and crush them up for them. It's a nice treat and high in protein.

Hope you're drowning in eggs soon enough

 

[satay]

Quails need higher protein than most aviary birds, though they'll love the seed . And you need to be careful because medicated chick feed can render them sterile. When my quail first got here, they didn't lay for almost a month while they got used to the place (and I wasn't feeding them enough protein), but they've slowed down again now because Winter is setting in. The best feed for them is Lauke mills gamebird maintainer (I've found) but you can also give them the Redhen chick starter as it's non medicated and in small bite sized pieces. A good start is to boil up some eggs and crush them up for them. It's a nice treat and high in protein.

Hope you're drowning in eggs soon enough

Agree with colourful and red. Lauke mills gamebird is the way to go. I use the game bird starter. But any of the game bird is fine. You can buy it at most produce stores. If they don't have it they will order it in for you. It's non medicated and that is the way to go if you ever want to eat your eggs or sell young chicks, I also give mine fruit as treats they love apples and rice mixed with raw egg, Another of their favourites is alfalfa sprouts.

 

[satay]

I got one egg from the quails in the last two days, they are done for the season I think.
Last year I had last egg on 31st May and then 1st egg on 1st Sep - as if they had a build-in calendar!

I lost two of my original quails recently too, no sign of anything wrong - must be just old age. They only live 2.5 years.

Luke, I have no idea how much protein in aviary feed (I know budgie feed is low), I know however that chick food is not good enough. They need high protein feed. Just give them lots of grasshoppers and mealworms. 

Strangely enough I still get 4 eggs a day from my four hens...they are such good girls.

Getting cold in Brisbane too, I love my fireplace now, has been going for the last three days

It's is getting really cold now red isn't it. We had 1c for two nights over the weekend. brrr... Strangely enough my quails have picked back up to 6 eggs a day the last week. No idea why that is.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

I got one egg from the quails in the last two days, they are done for the season I think.
Last year I had last egg on 31st May and then 1st egg on 1st Sep - as if they had a build-in calendar!

I lost two of my original quails recently too, no sign of anything wrong - must be just old age. They only live 2.5 years.

Luke, I have no idea how much protein in aviary feed (I know budgie feed is low), I know however that chick food is not good enough. They need high protein feed. Just give them lots of grasshoppers and mealworms.

Strangely enough I still get 4 eggs a day from my four hens...they are such good girls.

Getting cold in Brisbane too, I love my fireplace now, has been going for the last three days

O.K, thanks. We will have a search about and find a high protein food for them. The lady said they had just finished moulting and the move would have put them off, so we where not really expecting any eggs. Sorry about your 2 quails.
We have meal worms, but they are for the chickens. I could start another box for the quails, I do have heaps!
Well your hens are to good to you.
Only the last few days

. Our fire has been on every night for about 3 weeks. Even considering putting it on in the mornings as well!

Quails need higher protein than most aviary birds, though they'll love the seed

. And you need to be careful because medicated chick feed can render them sterile. When my quail first got here, they didn't lay for almost a month while they got used to the place (and I wasn't feeding them enough protein), but they've slowed down again now because Winter is setting in. The best feed for them is Lauke mills gamebird maintainer (I've found) but you can also give them the Redhen chick starter as it's non medicated and in small bite sized pieces. A good start is to boil up some eggs and crush them up for them. It's a nice treat and high in protein.

Hope you're drowning in eggs soon enough

Thanks colourful. I have put my sister on the job of tracking that down. Just have to hope hat our local feed store has it. I have seen they have a wide variety of game feed so

we can get some.

 

[mogvgb]

Thanks for the kind thoughts and condolences everyone.

My husband and I are now moving on and getting used to our strange and wobbly flock of three. I am spoiling them rotten with warm mash on these cold mornings.

Our other Wyandotte (Asura) who had just started laying has stopped - perhaps due to the stress of the loss of her friend. Asura is now firmly the bottom chook whereas little Dartlin would keep her company when she was being picked on by our tiny but maniacal Light Sussex, Sybil.

The other two chooks are pretty close and if it looks too much like Asura is being pushed out I may try to find another pullet to bring in and shake up the dynamic - but between quarantine and introduction to the flock it is a hassle that I am putting off if I can. In 12-18 months I'd like to expand the flock up to six.

 

[Colourful]

*Colourful looks around... Coast is clear*

PHOTOBOMB THE FORUM WITH TINY CHICKENS!!!!!!!


This is a Mottled Japanese Bantam trio with a Birchen Jap bantam (which the owner threw in for cheap) and a Blue Belgian Bantam pullet (D'Uccle) hiding up the back.

*One of these chickens is not like the others*

And here is another photo. I love these little guys, they just calmly sit on you and wait for you to bring the food to them. My hens are actually a little chubby...


And with this, I take my leave and fade into the background.


...Don't judge me, but I'm also picking up a pair of Peafowl over the course of the next week... I buy a lot of birds, but does anyone have any idea how hard it is to come across a Peahen?!? And I found a lady who is willing to sell one about 5 minutes down the road. Their shed is almost done, just got to finish fox proofing it. By the way, the tiny font is me whispering.

 

[satay]

Love them colourful. The more the merrier I say I would love some peacocks but I know hubby would never stand for the noise lol. I have always wanted a cockatoo but hubby vetoed that one. He doesn't complain about my other animals so I have to be happy with that.

 

[IamSamSam]

L

Love them colourful. The more the merrier I say I would love some peacocks but I know hubby would never stand for the noise lol. I have always wanted a cockatoo but hubby vetoed that one. He doesn't complain about my other animals so I have to be happy with that.

LOL I think you should. Minor veto on noise is way better than veto no more chooks !

 

[Redoliveberry]

It's is getting really cold now red isn't it. We had 1c for two nights over the weekend. brrr... Strangely enough my quails have picked back up to 6 eggs a day the last week. No idea why that is.

I got 3 quail eggs yesterday out of 4 females - strange little creatures..... I know they will stop altogether soon though. Last year they had a break from end of May till beginning of September.
Then again, last year I was feeding them chicken layer feed because I didn't know any better! Now they are on higher protein feed.
The young ones are not laying. There are 9 of them, no idea what sex, and they are 7 weeks old.
I do not like cold weather Grrrrr - I moved here from Europe for a reason! Hate the cold!