Dumb Question re Coturnix, or any Quail for that matter....

[Laurieks]

Dumb Question re Coturnix, or any Quail for that matter, you make 'em all look good!
Now knowing that all Quail are migratory and likely to leave if I let them out to browse, is there any chance at all that hatching them in the Fall and keeping them in all Winter will 'seat' them at my place so they will stay here?

I should probably just be satisfied with a small chicken.... I was there until I saw a new quail post... sooo tempting.

 

[saddina]

My thoughts, others will vary.

Before winter's over you'll have well fed cats, dogs, coons etc. Some people do release them, but you'd hqve to see if it's even legal in your area, and then you're running the risk of them being eaten and all your work going for nothing.

Quail are easy to keep (I'd say mine are about even with a few goldfish, feed daily, clean up poo once a week, watch them), but I don't think they'd free range well.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Since coturnix are not native to any place in this country it would be illegal to release them. Other types of quail, you'd need to have a permit to release. And free ranging would be considered released.

 

[Laurieks]

ok, thanks, had to ask. Adding quail housing to my wish list for next Summer. With a cover on the run, not just 6' fence, right? Shelly (& all) you'll still have eggs then, right? DH says it's classic 'fear of loss' that car salesmen thrive on. Sitting on hands.

<well fed cats, dogs, coons etc> I was thinking keep them in in all winter so they'd know this is 'home' *sits on hands again*

Thank you both for gently keeping me honest. *blush*

 

[saddina]

Quote:
Well if you want coturnix you don't need a flight pen or a run, they're quite content in small family groups, I have 5 in a 6sqft cage and they are happiest in a small group and a small space. Let me dig up the link, if you want detailed plans I did them out on graph paper and can email them.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=230277

Note I am short, so I put the door on top, so I can reach in, a side door would work too, reason I came up with this design is you can build 1-2 more as needed for really cheap, and still have it look nice in a city yard.

 

[shelleyd2008]

If you have chickens you would just need a cage inside the coop for the quail. They really don't need all that much space, as saddina mentioned. About 1 sq. ft. per bird is recommended, but many of mine don't even have that much room, and they all get along fine.

And I should have eggs, provided I still have quail.

I don't plan on getting rid of them, so I should have them

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
QUAIL ARE GAMEBIRDS-- YOU DO NOT LET THEM "OUT TO BROWSE" IN MOST STATES THIS IS CONSIDERED RELEASING EXOTICS AND QUITE ILLEGAL. IF THEY ARE NOT AN EXOTIC GAMEBIRD THEN THEY ARE MOST LIKELY COVERED UNDER OTHER STRICT LAWS ABOUT POSSESSION, AND PROPAGATION, AND RELEASE INTO THE WILD. THEY WILL LIKELY ONLY FREE RANGE ONCE AND BE GONE.... EITHER OFF TO MAKE THEIR WAY IN THIS WORLD OR OFF TO A PILE OF PREDATOR DUNG...

MOST QUAIL ARE NOT MIGRATORY, COTURNIX ARE, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT BUTTONS, BUT ALL NATIVE SPECES OF QUAIL--- BOB WHITE, BLUE SCALE, GAMBELS, ETC... ARE NON-MIGRATORY. THEY STAY PUT.

NOW IF YOU WANT QUAIL, AND ITS NOT ILLEGAL FOR YOU TO OWN THEM THEN I CERTAINLY WILL BE 1 OF THE 1ST TO "EGG YOU ON"

BUT THEY DO REQUIRE CERTAIN CARE FOR THEIR OWN WELL BEING AND YOUR ENJOYMENT.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Uh-oh, he said he's gonna egg you!