Coturnix Quail Basics- Information and Pictures Galore

[HunterH]

She hatched, more would of too...
Sadly my 4 week olds are rejecting her Grrrrrrrrrr!
Only my roosters tho... Well my 2 known Roos and a unknown (does this mean he's a roo to?)
Everyone else ingnored her...(hopefully my 2 unknowns are hens...)

Not a good idea to mix them until they're all 6-8 weeks and adults...even then there can be dominance issues. Can be fatal. Maybe try to find someone with chicks so she has a friend? Not sure how well a single chick will do.

 

[HunterH]

Was curious if anyone has experience with running lawn mowers and tractors by your quail pens? Are they going to bonk their heads?

 

[orumpoultry]

Was curious if anyone has experience with running lawn mowers and tractors by your quail pens? Are they going to bonk their heads?  

Most likely. My dogs barking sometimes causes them to go ape.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Sudden sounds or movements will cause mine to jump. I keep 3 pens and all of them act the same.

 

[HunterH]

Do you guys pad the top of your pen? A lawn mower or tractor driving by shouldn't be a sudden noise, but the pen is in the yard and has to be mowed.

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

Was curious if anyone has experience with running lawn mowers and tractors by your quail pens? Are they going to bonk their heads?  

My quail don't seem to mind. I keep my laying pens on the ground and move them daily chicken tractor style so they can pick at the fresh grass through the wire. I just mow around them, making sure the discharge is away from the pens. I also put them in grower pens outside at 2 weeks of age, so they learn about the lawn mower at an early age.

 

[Sill]

Do you guys pad the top of your pen? A lawn mower or tractor driving by shouldn't be a sudden noise, but the pen is in the yard and has to be mowed.

Start mowing on the opposite side of the yard if possible so they get used to the mower and won't mind it so much as it gets closer. Maybe give them something fun to do like pick at a big juicy kale leaf just before you start so they won't be a big deal.

 

[HunterH]

Start mowing on the opposite side of the yard if possible so they get used to the mower and won't mind it so much as it gets closer. Maybe give them something fun to do like pick at a big juicy kale leaf just before you start so they won't be a big deal.

My thoughts exactly! Didn't know they would pick kale. What other vegetables will they eat?

 

[Sill]

My thoughts exactly! Didn't know they would pick kale. What other vegetables will they eat?

Anything edible that they can make fit into their beaks. Favorites include kale, collard, moringa & turnip greens, finely shredded carrot, beet, chayote & summer squash, and cucumber slices. Curly kale is the hands down favorite though!

 

[HunterH]

Pretty cool, I'll have to give them some healthy treats then! Already going to give them alfalfa sprouts. Been saving pasta sauce jars forever, finally have a use for them.