Bobwhite Quail can make excellent house pets.

[Goldie Russell]

Lol omgosh! Poor Fred! Lucky he has you and Wilma now

Since they're already grown I think the best you could do to tame them is to talk sweetly to them, don't act like a predator crouched over them, staring, and try lots of treats so they will associate you with pleasant goodness

They may not take treats from your hand at first but if you patiently work with them, you could build their trust

If you do want to start petting them, pet them once lightly along their leg fluff while they're distracted but don't do it sneakily and not on their back (could be felt as dominance to them).

Just pet once and it's over and it was a good experience without them freaking out and continue slowly as they tolerate.

O.K. I will start with their meal worms... I usually put them in a dish in their cage but I can sit on the floor and put the dish close to me... thank you

 

[Binki]

Try making a "treat" sound, mine is a sharp kissy sound and it'll send my coturnix quail into monsters - it's the only time they try to get out of the cage - they're so triggered by the kissy sound they know something great is coming and they come running and try and spill/jump out at it xD

You can also make the sound then tap where the treat is, like the floor or side of the mealworm dish. This is similar to chicken and quail tidbitting for each other, usually a male to the female but have had females do it for chicks and even for me LOL.

Tidbitting is when one bird picks up and drops a good treat like a bug or berry and makes a special treat sound, it's an offering

It's good at first to almost ignore them if you want them to approach you, like, talk to them, but nothing intense, and "get distracted by looking over there, or fixing your hair, texting on your phone, etc - this gives them the idea you're not staring them down, ready to pounce if they close close enough.

And again with your song songy sweet talking, usually several phrases like "oh hello, there ya go, whatta good biiiird," and other "crazy bird people" things

 

[Goldie Russell]

Try making a "treat" sound, mine is a sharp kissy sound and it'll send my coturnix quail into monsters - it's the only time they try to get out of the cage - they're so triggered by the kissy sound they know something great is coming and they come running and try and spill/jump out at it xD

You can also make the sound then tap where the treat is, like the floor or side of the mealworm dish. This is similar to chicken and quail tidbitting for each other, usually a male to the female but have had females do it for chicks and even for me LOL.

Tidbitting is when one bird picks up and drops a good treat like a bug or berry and makes a special treat sound, it's an offering

It's good at first to almost ignore them if you want them to approach you, like, talk to them, but nothing intense, and "get distracted by looking over there, or fixing your hair, texting on your phone, etc - this gives them the idea you're not staring them down, ready to pounce if they close close enough.

And again with your song songy sweet talking, usually several phrases like "oh hello, there ya go, whatta good biiiird," and other "crazy bird people" things

O.K.. I did a clicking sound and tapped my finger on the ground next to the mealworms... it worked!!! They got pretty close to me... thank you !!! They are so cute...

 

[Goldie Russell]

Lol omgosh! Poor Fred! Lucky he has you and Wilma now

Since they're already grown I think the best you could do to tame them is to talk sweetly to them, don't act like a predator crouched over them, staring, and try lots of treats so they will associate you with pleasant goodness

They may not take treats from your hand at first but if you patiently work with them, you could build their trust

If you do want to start petting them, pet them once lightly along their leg fluff while they're distracted but don't do it sneakily and not on their back (could be felt as dominance to them).

Just pet once and it's over and it was a good experience without them freaking out and continue slowly as they tolerate.

They love their mealworms... I'm doing what you suggested. Fred gets closer to me than Wilma but won't eat out of my hand... yet! I'm going to keep trying... thank you for all the great tips!!!

 

[Binki]

Awesome ! Body posture and direction can also be important, like when approaching a scared dog or other animal.

It's best to not sit straight at them but rather kind of with your shoulder to them, so the animal doesn't feel as threatened by your presence and are more apt to approach

 

[Goldie Russell]

Awesome ! Body posture and direction can also be important, like when approaching a scared dog or other animal.


It's best to not sit straight at them but rather kind of with your shoulder to them, so the animal doesn't feel as threatened by your presence and are more apt to approach

That's the hard part.. I let them out of the cage while I clean it and I basically have to "herd" them back in... this freaks them out!!! I do it slowly but they run into their cage...

 

[Binki]

That's the hard part.. I let them out of the cage while I clean it and I basically have to "herd" them back in... this freaks them out!!! I do it slowly but they run into their cage...

Maybe save most of the mealworms for when you want the quail to go back into their cage by putting the mealworms in the cage and then making your tidbitting sound?

They go to where the food is, doesn't seem far fetched to train them even with a specific "treat in your cage" sound

 

[Goldie Russell]

Maybe save most of the mealworms for when you want the quail to go back into their cage by putting the mealworms in the cage and then making your tidbitting sound?

They go to where the food is, doesn't seem far fetched to train them even with a specific "treat in your cage" sound

O.K. I'll try that... My family thinks I'm crazy!!! LOL...

 

[Binki]

O.K. I'll try that... My family thinks I'm crazy!!! LOL...

They just don't speak bird

 

[sywright28]

I bought year old quail (2 male and 6 female) last October. I want them to lay and incubate their own eggs and babies. I read Robert, the Quail and instantly fell in love. I know I can't coax these grown ones into liking me but I hope to hatch and love on a few babies this spring. 3.2.23