Ferreirabee
Hatching
Hello everyone!
I have been a follower of BYC for years, but never joined until now!
I am new to raising Bobwhite quail- I’m on the west coast, so I have never even seen one in real life. But I think they are gorgeous birds and I wanted to try to raise them. I opted for the Mexican Speckled Bobwhite variety.
Long story short, I had been in days 16-21 of incubation when a series of wildfires broke out here in California, and our power was out the whole time. I kept the eggs warm in front of the fireplace. I didn’t sleep during the nights- I kept “egg watch”, and my sisters helped to keep an eye on the temps during the day so that I could nap. It was quite an adventure!! Five out of seven eggs hatched right on day 23, and three passed away a day after they were born.
I have these two left, and my family adores them.
They are nine weeks old, and even though I have spent hours looking at all different pictures, forums, and videos, I can’t quite determine who’s male/female.
Maybe someone with more experience can tell?? I was hoping it would be clearer to me by now!
As far as behavior goes, they act like best friends. They groom each other- but the white one seems to groom the brown one more.
The only other distinct behavior I have noticed is when the white one approaches the brown one, sometimes the brown one hunches down and starts squeaking a high-pitched tone. The white one will walk away, and the brown one will stand back up and act normal again.
All together, I really think they are happy birds, and I really love them!
Any opinions would be great!! We would like to name them- but we’re waiting to make sure we know the genders first!
Thank you!!!
I have been a follower of BYC for years, but never joined until now!
I am new to raising Bobwhite quail- I’m on the west coast, so I have never even seen one in real life. But I think they are gorgeous birds and I wanted to try to raise them. I opted for the Mexican Speckled Bobwhite variety.
Long story short, I had been in days 16-21 of incubation when a series of wildfires broke out here in California, and our power was out the whole time. I kept the eggs warm in front of the fireplace. I didn’t sleep during the nights- I kept “egg watch”, and my sisters helped to keep an eye on the temps during the day so that I could nap. It was quite an adventure!! Five out of seven eggs hatched right on day 23, and three passed away a day after they were born.
I have these two left, and my family adores them.
They are nine weeks old, and even though I have spent hours looking at all different pictures, forums, and videos, I can’t quite determine who’s male/female.
Maybe someone with more experience can tell?? I was hoping it would be clearer to me by now!
As far as behavior goes, they act like best friends. They groom each other- but the white one seems to groom the brown one more.
The only other distinct behavior I have noticed is when the white one approaches the brown one, sometimes the brown one hunches down and starts squeaking a high-pitched tone. The white one will walk away, and the brown one will stand back up and act normal again.
All together, I really think they are happy birds, and I really love them!
Any opinions would be great!! We would like to name them- but we’re waiting to make sure we know the genders first!
Thank you!!!
See mine with the red/brown on their heads instead of the white stripes are females.
