Baby Quail News!

[MageofMist]

The babies snagged some live mealworms from the adults today when we was giving them treats... They had no idea what to make of the fact that the food was alive and were running and jumping around the cage with the mealworms in their beaks! Before then slamming the mealworms against the ground a few times and then eating them while the adults stared in confusion. It was both adorable and hilarious!

And now, not only are the chicks pecking at the father's white wing feathers, they are now pecking at his toes! Poor guy can never get a break from the little monsters.

 

[DK newbie]

Beware that the chicks pecking at the dad can actually turn serious. I had a hen hatch 9 chicks this summer and their dad was a tuxedo. Despite the fact that he'd raised them and been the world's best dad, the males were pecking his head quite a lot by the time they matured. And 8 of the 9 chicks were males so the poor roo spent the last few weeks with the chicks running for his life every second. It didn't get to the point where he was seriously hurt, but he certainly didn't look good - I definitely let the chicks stay with him too long. Interestingly the 8 young roos didn't peck at each other at all - only dad. And the young ones had white feathers as well, just only as bibs.

 

[MageofMist]

Beware that the chicks pecking at the dad can actually turn serious. I had a hen hatch 9 chicks this summer and their dad was a tuxedo. Despite the fact that he'd raised them and been the world's best dad, the males were pecking his head quite a lot by the time they matured. And 8 of the 9 chicks were males so the poor roo spent the last few weeks with the chicks running for his life every second. It didn't get to the point where he was seriously hurt, but he certainly didn't look good - I definitely let the chicks stay with him too long. Interestingly the 8 young roos didn't peck at each other at all - only dad. And the young ones had white feathers as well, just only as bibs.

All three babies appear to be female as there have been no red or blue vent feathers popping up, though they have stopped pecking at his toes now that the excitement of the mealworms has passed, but still peck at his white wing feathers every now and then. I have been keeping a close eye on them and if anything did get out of hand or saw any damage being dealt, I would step in and give the poor guy a break.

The babies didn't peck at Speckles' toes, but Rex's feet and legs are a bright orange, and he has a few stub toes that he had since we got him, so I could see where the chicks got confused with the mealworms and their dad's bright orange stubby toes.

 

[DK newbie]

Good to hear

 

[MageofMist]

I put my hand in the cage with some mealworms in it, and nearly lost my hand in the feeding frenzy that ensued! Usually the adults are more skittish when taking them directly from my hand instead of through the bars, but it seems with the extra numbers Rex and Speckles have become as bold as the babies. Once the mealworms were gone, they started pecking at my hand trying to eat that too! XD

Now they are all crowing and popcorning with joy after the feast.

 

[Binki]

Hehehe!! Glad they're getting along so well, sounds super cute and the competition factor is there, haha

you spoil them

my coturnix also like those seeds on sticks (is it millet??) that are sold at pet stores for like 30 cents each hehe yesterday I made everybody some quail eggs and peas hehe, Golden Girl started tidbitting, she's so sweet and so evil at the same time, I woke up to her nonchalantly trailing Pengu, lightly pecking at her like she was herding an old cow. Then of course when she seen me, *competition factor* and starts harassing in high gear - she got tanked for five minutes which seems to solve it xD

 

[MageofMist]

Hehehe!! Glad they're getting along so well, sounds super cute and the competition factor is there, haha

you spoil them

my coturnix also like those seeds on sticks (is it millet??) that are sold at pet stores for like 30 cents each hehe

yesterday I made everybody some quail eggs and peas hehe, Golden Girl started tidbitting, she's so sweet and so evil at the same time, I woke up to her nonchalantly trailing Pengu, lightly pecking at her like she was herding an old cow. Then of course when she seen me, *competition factor* and starts harassing in high gear - she got tanked for five minutes which seems to solve it xD

My birds are very spoiled, but I do my best to not overdo it and cause them to get fat. Heck, I even started farming mealworms just for my quails, and in two tubs I am already on the second generation.

Though I gotta be careful, as when I offered them millet in my hand instead of mealworms... The quails decided that the seeds weren't good enough and started pecking at my hand instead trying to eat it! Vicious little things. XD

And they are VERY competitive when it comes to food, especially treats, the only one that doesn't go insane is the male, while the hen and chicks go in a mad scramble. XD One chick even ran away from the hen carrying a mealworm making distress peeps before then quickly gulping it down before Speckles could take it... Speckles examined the chick's beak closely, and then went back to taking the mealworms from my hand and her mate when Rex picked one up to offer to them.

The male also starts to whine and crow if I stand by the cage too long without offering treats, and peck at the food bowl or cage bars making food peeps before looking up at me, telling me he wants treats.

These are millet sprays, though mine are a bit longer and have more of a stem at the end. ^^ The doves and quails adore them.

Edit: Heck, even the mealworms are spoiled, getting fresh fruit and veg on a regular basis as well as high quality oats and muesli. XD

 

[Binki]

I love the way you describe them and their behaviors

!

Yes your picture is what I'm talking about - "Millet sprays"

I would like to grow some finch seed mix in random places in the yard for the chickens to forage aka destroy ;D

I wanted to breed bugs like meal worms, crickets, silkworms, etc. but I share the house with my friend and she's not keen on that idea, I could do it in the garage but I'm in Canada with winter and it's not heated, sigh

 

[MageofMist]

I love the way you describe them and their behaviors

!

Yes your picture is what I'm talking about - "Millet sprays"

I would like to grow some finch seed mix in random places in the yard for the chickens to forage aka destroy ;D

I wanted to breed bugs like meal worms, crickets, silkworms, etc. but I share the house with my friend and she's not keen on that idea, I could do it in the garage but I'm in Canada with winter and it's not heated, sigh

I love watching them and their antics.

I could probably sit here forever talking about funny and cute stories regarding my quails and doves. Earlier today one of my baby quails was pecking at the female dove's tail as she was resting on the bottom of the cage after eating some millet, then the male quail walked over, went between the chick and the dove, looked to the chick, and then went to rest next to the dove. The chick stopped being a pester to the dove after that. ^^
'
I would love to grow a bunch of millet to ensure I always have enough for my birds XD I am sure they'd love some real fresh millet!
And if I was you, I'd probably hide a few tubs of mealworms under my bed.

They are very quiet and so no-one would notice, and you can take a few table scraps and some oats to feed them. Plus unlike silkworms, they turn into beetles instead of moths so you won't need to worry much about them flying out. And mealworms and their beetle forms are calmer when it is dark.

 

[MageofMist]

Here is one of my quails enjoying a good sandbath =P The little bugger was having a time of her life after she kicked her dad out of it before I could get a pic of him in it!