Coturnix Quail Basics- Information and Pictures Galore

[HugHess]

So this sounds like a good topic for discussion. What are the characteristics / requirements for a jumbo to be a jumbo?

I thought it usually went by weight and even that will vary from breeder to breeder?)

 

[cajun quail365]

Yea my jumbo quail eggs weigh 14 grams and if it weighs 20 grams it's a double yolk

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have read every post in this thread!

Does that make me obsessed?

Yep but thats ok! Nothing wrong with trying to do things the right way. I have read it from the beginning too.

 

[TwoCrows]

Ok all...I did some heavy "culling" of some recent posts on this thread. You have to remember that this thread is about "Coturnix". It may have started out as "basics" however it was always doomed to vary to ALL aspects of Coturnix Quail.

So lets not argue about where it is going please. Keep it on the topic of Coturnix, no matter what that entails, and all will be well.

Thank you all for your understanding and cooperation.

-Staff

 

[Lobzi]

Thank you for stepping in and giving us guidance. I appreciate knowing that a full discussion of Coturnix quail, and their experiences with them, from all participants is welcome on this thread.

 

[vwright0401]

I love this thread, I'm very new to the coturnix quail and i could read thru this info till my eyeballs popped out!!!.

I currently have 15 birds, all a mixture of colors, I have no idea which color is called what, and really have no idea what I'm going to do with them, other than like my chickens and ducks (not housed together) as pets and for eggs.

my cage is 4'x8' solid bottom They're on the east side of my house so they get nice morning sunshine and avoid late day heat. I use pine shavings, and that's all for bedding. Should I give them some nesting material for them to use? right now the eggs I'm getting pretty much just show up all over the floor of the cage. I've given them chick grit and a handful of mealworms. They're eating gamebird feed, which I've had a hard time finding in big bags.

Should i put some small boxes, or branches for them to have hiding spots? I've heard they really don't roost so I haven't added any roosting poles or anything like that.


Can you think of anything else i need to do?, I'll try to post some pics, maybe you can help me identify my colors?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I love this thread, I'm very new to the coturnix quail and i could read thru this info till my eyeballs popped out!!!.

I currently have 15 birds, all a mixture of colors, I have no idea which color is called what, and really have no idea what I'm going to do with them, other than like my chickens and ducks (not housed together) as pets and for eggs.

my cage is 4'x8' solid bottom They're on the east side of my house so they get nice morning sunshine and avoid late day heat. I use pine shavings, and that's all for bedding. Should I give them some nesting material for them to use? right now the eggs I'm getting pretty much just show up all over the floor of the cage. I've given them chick grit and a handful of mealworms. They're eating gamebird feed, which I've had a hard time finding in big bags.

Should i put some small boxes, or branches for them to have hiding spots? I've heard they really don't roost so I haven't added any roosting poles or anything like that.


Can you think of anything else i need to do?, I'll try to post some pics, maybe you can help me identify my colors?

One thing I thought of, how tall is the quail pen? too much height, they can bonk their heads and literally kill themselves. If the roof is wire, they may be ok if its not rigid. If its higher than 18 inches I suggest adding a padding to the roof. Quail if startled will fly straight up with a lot of force.
They do enjoy hiding places, but the natural brooding instinct has been bred out of coturnix. They just drop their eggs wherever! The also will climb on limbs to explore but not actually roost.
Please post pics! Its fun to see what folks have and to try guessing breeds.

 

[Toddandsarah]

Can you keep a single male coturnix as a pet or do they need females?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Can you keep a single male coturnix as a pet or do they need females?

You could, technically. My Mom has a Golden she keeps as a pet, but its a hen. I take Speckles out to visit my other Golden Coturnix often so she is not lonely. She is imprinted to a flock and has social interaction with other quail. It would be a very empty life for him, he would be crowing frequently searching for other quail. If I was to keep one alone as a pet, I would chose a female. She would give you an egg daily and likely be more socially interactive than a male. This is Speckles, my 80 year old Moms pet, and very spoiled big girl:

 

[Toddandsarah]

Thanks. I was given a male, he will be kept Indoors and held daily. I'll look for a hen or two though also. He was beat up by the other quail and issmall for his age, blind in one eye, and missing feathers,the feathers will grow back but the eye may be a gonner . This is Dribbles