Bobwhite Quail - toys?

[DrMeow]

I was wondering if my quail, Mildred, would play with any of those chicken toys that Tractor Supplies just put out for chick days....

 

[Nabiki]

Is your quail alone? They are social creatures, and while a mirror and/or a stuffed animal may help, other bobwhites would be better.

I don't know if she'll play with the toys or not, but it might not hurt to try one or two.

 

[DrMeow]

She is for now. I rescued her in the middle of a winter storm. So she will be getting an upgrade on her cage (she is doing better now) and friends very soon! Hopefully by the end of the month if I can find some local....

 

[Nabiki]

She is for now. I rescued her in the middle of a winter storm. So she will be getting an upgrade on her cage (she is doing better now) and friends very soon! Hopefully by the end of the month if I can find some local....

Do you have your permit? I think Bobwhites require a permit to keep in most states. If she's wild, you may want to consider taking her to a rescue.

 

[WildNectarine]

I was wondering if my quail, Mildred, would play with any of those chicken toys that Tractor Supplies just put out for chick days....

In my experience, quail of both domestic and wild variants can enjoy a multitude of toys. Most notably foraging toys.

Though, the type of forage and method of forage they’ll prefer will widely depend on their wild behavior and diet. As I have come to learn, some species, such as Mearns in specific, tend to enjoy digging away in a sandbox for grubs, since that’s their natural method of finding food. Meanwhile other species such as the domestic Coturnix love a good old fashioned live cricket chase, but that’s not much of a toy. But individuals can vary, too. I’ve noticed that almost all quail have a unique sense of “taste” in what they tend to enjoy. Some of the same species will like or dislike the same exact things, so it’s all a learning process with your bird.

Either way, most all love seed. And, while I don’t know about bobwhites in specific, you’ll most likely have the best of luck with spray millet, given it’s safe for their species, so I’d double check that with some others.

But, there’s two very important things about foraging games that it’s important you know before you introduce.

One, that it’s in moderation, so they still get enough of their normal feed to stay nice and enriched. Treats should sadly, only make up 10% of their diet, so measure correctly, because as cute as their excitement for treats is, we do have to practice some restraint to prevent them from becoming “borbs” (Bird-orbs).

And two, that it’s difficult. You will most likely find that they’ve suddenly morphed into tiny geniuses when treats become involved. Make them really have to use their brains to get the treats out when designing/buying. It might take them a while to figure things out, but isn’t that the point, eh?

I highly recommend the site “Make your own bird toys,” for their “natural” section of the site, my birds simply adore a bamboo stick or vine ball stuffed with millet, or a pine cone dipped in a bag of wild bird seed mix. They’ll peck at all the nooks and crannies for quite a while with the pine cones. Though I’d be careful collecting any yourself, as sap can be awful.

But, there’s plenty you can still DIY, and get at regular pet stores. I’ve found that Coturnix quail seem to enjoy the rodent and rabbit sections of the store instead of the bird section, being that they are “ground” birds. You can get willow balls, the same thing as the vine balls, just a different material, and usually colored, there. But hay mats, huts, and especially tunnels are definitely a hit, too. They adore hidey holes.

There will be plenty of surprises and so much personality once you get to know your little Mildred and her likes, and I wish you and her the very best in your quail journeys.

-WildNectarine