Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[GregnLety]

It is important to recognize who is actually in charge. The sooner you do that the happier your marriage will be.

Tax
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I totally agree

 

[bgmathteach]

Quail are highly vulnerable to predation. One reason is the covey together on the ground to sleep. You would also need long flight pens so they would have a chance to strengthen their wings before setting them free. My dad and I raised and released hundreds of Bobwhite quail in Pike and Floyd counties of Eastern KY. We got them from the DNR at 1 or 2 days old. They were difficult to raise and we would lose almost half before they were grown. Never tried to raise Grouse but in the wild Grouse are more resilient and less vulnerable to predation. This is just my experience. Courtnix quail are easier to raise and will survive in the wild with properly flight conditioned before being released.

1) They need to be raised specifically for release. Very large pens with growth to mimic natural cover, little to no actual human contact.
2)Yes, you will lose some - even a lot - but the ones that survive will be much more savvy, and should be enough to establish a small population.
3) She could create some ground nest boxes with small openings if she wanted, and leave them for the quail to find...not too far from release. They would have a small enough opening that really only mink (or rat) would get in, maybe place a circumference of rock so other things don't dig in - or make it enclosed except for the entrance hole.

Quail Habitat Management
Quail you-tube video The 'houses' he has in here are kind of what I meant she might be able to build

These are very big nest boxes - don't need ones this big

I can't find the youtube video I had watched about a year ago, but I was thinking something like this, but out of wood, rounded entrance hole like in the above 'these are very big nest boxes' video' If you have scrap wood, there wouldn't be too hard to make, quail need only about 20sq inches for a nest...and I would put them on 'runners' (1x bys or 2x bys under the box to raise it slightly off the ground. There does need to be some other ventilation, but if you make the top just a bit wider than the box itself, you can drill a series of small holes along the tops of both sides (maybe somewhere between 1/6 & 3/8" bit. I wouldn't go any larger because of rats.

If you make a few of these, they suggest putting them at least 10' apart from each other.

 

[notabitail]

How am I supposed to use that keyboard?

 

[featherhead007]

I would keep a close eye on him and make sure he is bot gaining access to Beakbook. If he is I would be very concerned.

What’s he spending so much time in the bathroom for?

 

[bgmathteach]

Guineas will roost in trees. If you have trees near your house or barn.

I would be concerned with guineas over the winter. Their toes/feet are much more prone to frost-bite than chickens. So, you would need to give them a SAFE and draft free space for the winter. I.E. be willing to lock them up at night. I believe @GregnLety are a bit unusual in that they don't have a lot of predator pressure. Racoons, Hawks, foxes, Owls, Fischer cats (if you have them in your area), bobcats, etc. ALL will go after them. The see about as well as chickens in teh dark (not great), so anything that can climb or fly at night, they would still be predated fairly easily without protection at night.

That said, I can think of a couple somewhat simple scenarios that might work.
Long box, 3 sided with ends. Roost the length of it, put either on stilts or up in a tree. Fourth/front side be wire mesh, with automatic open/close feature based on light. Small solar battery/solar panel would be enough to manage door (you could make part of the front solid, and havee maybe 1/3 of the front a door.) Top of box might overhang front some to help keep out rain/snow when windy. Still plenty of ventilation.

 

[notabitail]

What’s he spending so much time in the bathroom for?

Checking the phone he stashed in there. It might have a heart rate sensor and Beakbook.

 

[GregnLety]

I would be concerned with guineas over the winter. Their toes/feet are much more prone to frost-bite than chickens. So, you would need to give them a SAFE and draft free space for the winter. I.E. be willing to lock them up at night. I believe @GregnLety are a bit unusual in that they don't have a lot of predator pressure. Racoons, Hawks, foxes, Owls, Fischer cats (if you have them in your area), bobcats, etc. ALL will go after them. The see about as well as chickens in teh dark (not great), so anything that can climb or fly at night, they would still be predated fairly easily without protection at night.

That said, I can think of a couple somewhat simple scenarios that might work.
Long box, 3 sided with ends. Roost the length of it, put either on stilts or up in a tree. Fourth/front side be wire mesh, with automatic open/close feature based on light. Small solar battery/solar panel would be enough to manage door (you could make part of the front solid, and havee maybe 1/3 of the front a door.) Top of box might overhang front some to help keep out rain/snow when windy. Still plenty of ventilation.

Quail definitely tolerate cold better than guineas not to mention that their singing is much easier on the ears than Guineas

 

[Ponypoor]

A woman in one of my facebook groups posted yesterday her trick for dealing with mamas. She ties a piece of wide lace around her head to cover her eyes. Says since she started they are totally calm around her.

I am crazy behind. Supposed to hit 90°+ by Sunday! So much yard/garden work to do.

Well breakfast has been eaten so off to swap my alternator. It just never stops around here.

Crazy sky last night
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Awesome shelf cloud! Did you get a thunderstorm from it?

(I will post some weather tax later...)

 

[bgmathteach]

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How am I supposed to use that keyboard?

Um, move the bowl of food?

 

[Ponypoor]

Tick #s 4, 5 and 6 have driven me indoors. This feels way earlier than normal for this many ticks.
I need to unearth my tick defensive armor. I have cuffs impregnated with tick repellent to go over my sleeves to stop them crawling up my arms and the legs of my pants. I think I have a hat with netting - like for bees. And @Marie2020 told me about geranium oil as a tick repellent.
I have it all. I just need to find where!
Meanwhile, a guy who I have asked to help with some drainage issues around the barn stopped by. His neighbor raises game birds for hunting clubs. He is going to ask his neighbor about the feasibility of me sourcing quail to free range to help my tick problem.

Tick tax.

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Hmmm - you know all you need is birds for the good weather months - borrowing someone elses is a golden idea!