Help! King quail, and no experience.

[birbs4days]

I recently saw a plea on facebook of someone who managed to have a quail wander into their apartment. After they shoo-ed it out three times, it kept returning. So finally, they asked for help online. I have a bit of experience with quails, and currently have six. I decided, why not take it in (until the owner was found)? At this point we had no idea it was a king quail, we thought it was a Coturnix with odd coloration due to blurry photo. Upon getting it, we quickly realized it was very much not a Coturnix quail. With only amateur experience with all quails, how do I take care of a tiny -adorable- quail?

My main questions are:
1. Can I house such a small quail with large ones? (Will he be bullied)
2. Do they like grain food? He is eating it right now, but for his future health.
3. Do they need mates?
4. How long should you quarantine the bird from the others?
5. Can they live indoors? (We have a parrotlet, and the cage is roomy enough for the quail to take the bottom bunk)

The information we have so far:
A) Its definitely a he
B) Decently human friendly
C) A great flier -We found out the hard way-

Im planning to keep him until the original owner is found, but I really need advice.

 

[Serin]

I recently saw a plea on facebook of someone who managed to have a quail wander into their apartment. After they shoo-ed it out three times, it kept returning. So finally, they asked for help online. I have a bit of experience with quails, and currently have six. I decided, why not take it in (until the owner was found)? At this point we had no idea it was a king quail, we thought it was a Coturnix with odd coloration due to blurry photo. Upon getting it, we quickly realized it was very much not a Coturnix quail. With only amateur experience with all quails, how do I take care of a tiny -adorable- quail?

My main questions are:
1. Can I house such a small quail with large ones? (Will he be bullied)
2. Do they like grain food? He is eating it right now, but for his future health.
3. Do they need mates?
4. How long should you quarantine the bird from the others?
5. Can they live indoors? (We have a parrotlet, and the cage is roomy enough for the quail to take the bottom bunk)

The information we have so far:
A) Its definitely a he
B) Decently human friendly
C) A great flier -We found out the hard way-

Im planning to keep him until the original owner is found, but I really need advice.

They can live indoors. I make cages from 30 gallon storage bins (though one pair is by necessity currently in a 16 gallon one. I cut a hole in each side and the lid and attach bird cage wire and have window screen ontop (they jump and can get their heads caught in anything with bigger openings), and use pine pellets for bedding. They learn to drink from a hamster bottle, which keeps their water clean and bedding dry.

Feed them gamebird crumble, it's available on Amazon. 20 - 26 percent protien. Seed is fine as a daily treat but not a diet. They enjoy lettuce, broccoli, and hard boiled egg. Mealworms are a great treat.

Do NOT house with coturnix. It will be killed, unless its just with one docile female. Don't house with a parrotlet either under any circumstances, the quail will be scalped or have its legs bitten clean off. Parrotlets are, pound for pound, probably the most aggressive of all parrots. They can and will kill other birds their own size and smaller.

They are happiest in opposite sex pairs but some same sex pairs bond. A tame one can be kept alone with a lot of attention, but will crow a lot.

 

[Serin]

These are some of my bin cages.

 

[birbs4days]

They can live indoors. I make cages from 30 gallon storage bins (though one pair is by necessity currently in a 16 gallon one. I cut a hole in each side and the lid and attach bird cage wire and have window screen ontop (they jump and can get their heads caught in anything with bigger openings), and use pine pellets for bedding. They learn to drink from a hamster bottle, which keeps their water clean and bedding dry.

Feed them gamebird crumble, it's available on Amazon. 20 - 26 percent protien. Seed is fine as a daily treat but not a diet. They enjoy lettuce, broccoli, and hard boiled egg. Mealworms are a great treat.

Do NOT house with coturnix. It will be killed, unless its just with one docile female. Don't house with a parrotlet either under any circumstances, the quail will be scalped or have its legs bitten clean off. Parrotlets are, pound for pound, probably the most aggressive of all parrots. They can and will kill other birds their own size and smaller.

They are happiest in opposite sex pairs but some same sex pairs bond. A tame one can be kept alone with a lot of attention, but will crow a lot.

Thank you so much! Im an amateur poultry farmer, so this means a lot. As an update, he is doing well in his temporary house and we decided to call him Kiwi.

What gorgeous birds you have there

 

[Quailobsessed]

Kiwi is a great name!

I honestly doubt an owner will come for him. I have three rescue galahs that I was fostering until owners came for them. Nobody did, so I adopted them. An owner could come, but for something as small as a king quail, I doubt it. If an owner doesn't come, what will you do with him?

 

[birbs4days]

Kiwi is a great name!

I honestly doubt an owner will come for him. I have three rescue galahs that I was fostering until owners came for them. Nobody did, so I adopted them. An owner could come, but for something as small as a king quail, I doubt it. If an owner doesn't come, what will you do with him?

I'll probably try to find Kiwi a new home, with a female. If we can't find someone who will take him in, I'll get him a girlfriend We weren't looking for such a small quail, but we can change a few things to fit him in.