Can a silkie raise quail?

[chicktwit]

If I get some valley quail eggs can my little silkie raise them if separated from the reg chickens until weaned? They could go in a flight pen then. Or is it better to add a few chicken eggs & when the quail hatch separate & raise them myself. That way she could have some babies to raise too after all that work.

 

[linebacker]

An older gentleman told me just a couple of weeks ago that he use to have banties to hatch bobwhite eggs. The hens actually hatched the quail in flight pens.

Brad

 

[therealsilkiechick]

yes silkies can definately hatch them not a prob. as far as raiseing them yes to a point or so old i believe they could. quails usually hit mateing age pretty quick so u want them seperated before that.

 

[Dill]

I was wondering if they could hatch the eggs (I thought they might accidently smoosh them they're so small) but I would definitely separate the babies from the adopted mom.. if she accidently stepped on them...

 

[Lophura]

Quote:
The eggs are pretty small and silkies aren't the most graceful of birds, so I wouldn't try it. A smaller bantam breed or even silkie cross would work better for quail.

If you do decide to attempt, keep in mind that chicks are very tiny. The chickens will probably kill them if left alone to rear them. Also, keep in mind the area for which they will be housed. The chicks will be able squeeze through the smallest of holes, drown easily, could be stepped on, etc.

Your best bet would be to hatch them in an incubator and brood them yourself. Once you have adult Valley, by all means allow those hens to rear their own young.

Dan

 

[shelleyd2008]

A very small bantie hen could hatch and rear the young, to a point. But you would need a very small hen, think serama or oegb. But the hen would most likely need to be seperated from them sooner than usual. And it would be best to hatch them where the quail are going to stay, and taking mama out when the time comes.
I haven't tried this with my hens though, I spent too much $$ on the quail eggs to let something happen to them!

 

[chicktwit]

Thanks for the info. It gave me info I needed. Thanx everyone.

 

[monarc23]

silkies were used in china for many years to hatch button and coturnix quail eggs. So yes.

 

[First To Hatch]

Know two guys that hatch quail, and other gamebird eggs with hens one uses bantams and the other guy used cochin x silkie crosses, I thought about doing that next spring but chances are its not going to go broody when I want it to so I decided not to. But some other guy said it wasn't a good idea because the quail could give then hen a dieses and kill her, but I've also heard of people who have had success, if your doing it you should try it with a bantam.

 

[Brownie101]

I have a breeding pair of California Valley quail but they hate me. I am getting one silkie that will live in the same coop as my quail. I will be breeding mine every year as meat and show birds. My plan is to incubate the eggs myself then put them under the silkie when they are about as big and tough as a chicken chick. The silkie will then help them grow up to be calmer and she will be part of the flock. I have a lot of fellow 4-H-ers that have done this with all kinds of game birds before. I'll let you guys know how it goes. Here are some pictures:


Best of luck to all of you who are trying the same thing!