California - Northern

[TheKeeper]

I am wanting to start up with quail and have absolutely no idea about them. What I am looking for is what size of a cage I need for about 60 snowflake or California Valley quail. Also what kind of feed do I buy for them? And what kind of nest do they need? Any links would be appreciated so I can go on and just read and maybe see some pictures of others' set up. Thank you

To start, you need a special permit to raise California (or Valley) quail or any other game bird like pheasant or morning doves etc. I'd stick to Coturnix quail. They in so many great colors and are much more domesticated & better for backyard flocks.

 

[chiqita]

I am wanting to start up with quail and have absolutely no idea about them. What I am looking for is what size of a cage I need for about 60 snowflake or California Valley quail. Also what kind of feed do I buy for them? And what kind of nest do they need? Any links would be appreciated so I can go on and just read and maybe see some pictures of others' set up. Thank you

Snowflake are special bobwhites, so you wont get many eggs from them, and they MIGHT ( not sure) need pair or quad groups for them? I seem to remeber that bobs are family quail. for SURE mountian ( ca) quail are family groups, not raise together groups.

I know you like rare stuff, so you could do rare bob ( id get a permit , depending on who you ask at fish and game you will get differnt answers, so just get it for ANY quail that are from the norther hemisphere) in a set up of a lot of smaller pens, but you will need soft tops for the, and expect a few to break their necks. You also will need birds that are mature NOW to get eggs from either of those breeds, they are one season a year layers.

Mountian might nest, bobs do only rarely, and need a LOT of space to do so.

 

[PetRock]

I tried raising Bobwhites because I got free eggs with my incubator. They were cute little birds but definitely wild things! Also, I didn't know it at the time but Bobwhites are said to be monogamous with 1 male to 1 female. Of course, I hatched mostly males. We had them for almost a year and did not get a single egg so I must not have had the right conditions for them. I sold them and converted my double decker quail pen into a temporary coop/outside brooder pen. For the foreseeable future, I am sticking with chickens!

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Here's Sylvester, 19 weeks old, next to a 5G bucket for perspective. He's freaken huge. I'm actually wondering if I might need to enlarge the pop door for him, LOL! He BARELY fits through it anymore, and he has to crouch down to do so.

 

[TheKeeper]

Here's Sylvester, 19 weeks old, next to a 5G bucket for perspective. He's freaken huge. I'm actually wondering if I might need to enlarge the pop door for him, LOL! He BARELY fits through it anymore, and he has to crouch down to do so.

What a monster! Nice.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Quote:
Sadly, I'm 99% sure he has split wing. Oh, well. It's not like I was going to be a big time breeder anyway, and so far he's just sweet as pie. If I want to hatch eggs, I'll swap with the friend I gave a trio to. That boy is also humongous and I think he may be turning out to be a better physical specimen than Vester.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

This was the best shot of the day. Clancy just lounging next to the netting. Of course I totally missed the shot of Venetia trying to catch his tail, LOL! Once the plants are established, I might try actual free ranging and see how that goes. So far the dog just seems utterly uninterested in doing anything beyond sniffing them occasionally and they aren't in the least bit afraid of him.

 

[tommysgirl]

If anyone is interested in Dorkings for layers, or some cockerels, I have an ad here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/953313/silver-gray-dorking-pullets-cockerels-delaware-cockerels

I love my Dorking girls from Kim. They are beautiful, talkative, good layers and good mamas/aunties.

 

[chrissyr]

Does anyone know how to do the vent color dye trick to see who's laying what?

 

[Fuentes Farm]

Anyone have a female cayuga duck for sale?