I'm a bit confused or maybe I missed this part. So u were weeding and seen a hen quail fly off the nest and after u seen the eggs u took them and destroyed the nest so momma couldn't come back and take care of them? I mean its your yard and if u don't want birds nesting in it that is up to u. I doubt its an endangered species or anything. So r u feeling guilty now and wanna save the chicks? Just wondering why u took the eggs instead of trying to reconstruct the damage u did to the nest and let momma come back for them, why u r worried about them now. I know your a kid and not trying to sound harsh but even my 5 year old knows to respect wildlife and if he finds a rabbit nest with babies or a birds nest, he knows to leave it alone and tell the rest of the family where its located. Granted we do have a cat so at times if my we find a baby bird on the ground we do try and assist by putting it back up in the tree or nest for its safety and to give it a better chance or remove box turtles from our driveway ect. Last weekend he found a wild turkeys nest in the woods at the edge of our yard and knew to leave it alone and told us not to mow there or throw brush on it. He is curious so he does go near it to try and get a peek a momma and swears he seen a baby turkey so we have had to get onto him for disturbing her. So we decided to let that edge of the yard be til late next month and momma is gone with the babies. Lots of birds nest on the ground. Thrush, Kill-deer, Larks ect. R u sure they r quail? I have 4 species of quail so if u want to take a pic of the eggs with a penny of something next to them for size reference I can probably tell u what they r.
I used to volunteer for the dept of fish in wildlife as a foster parent specializing in birds for KY and OH. Most needing to b rescued do to a child or pets interference but some do to construction or demolition but I think u might find u r way over your head if they r not quail which even if they r its doable but get to researching now cause I think u will find meeting quail requirements r very different then chickens. Also these rescue organizations r flooded each year with sick, injured and baby wildlife and people knowing how and r willing to foster baby birds r far and few. Many more willing or want them then those who know what they r even doing. Any that could b reintroduced into the wild were always released in protected state parks as keeping them or doing this under no dept guidance, permission or certification with some species violates state and or federal laws and come with pretty hefty fines. This is considered harboring wildlife and btw in some cases if the person u give them over too is not a registered rehabilitator and they get caught and say u supplied them with the animals u may still face fines in some states along with the new owner. I have done everything from chickadees to owls. I have only rehabilitated a released one adult male bobwhite and 9 baby grouse. Check and b sure its ok. Some state departments may overlook this and let u keep them especially if they r quail as most new world quail are common species kept in captivity but may require u to get the proper permits ( if necessary) and ask u not to advertise u took these from the wild tho as they may change their minds once friends, family or neighbors begin to report u. Once they begin receiving calls that u r harboring wildlife they can no longer over look and will have to step in and take them from u. Even then u may be required to release them at a certain age and any reports after will result in one warning if not go ahead and fine u. I think u will find that they will b very nice and may even let u continue with this venture. Just b sure what species they r. Some of the grouse we ended up with were first reported to b quail. Good luck and play it safe. They may b protected in your state.
Its also good to note and keep in mind that these r wild quail that imprint on their parents to learn to eat drink ect. and may never imprint on u and hide in the corner of the brooder with their hearts pumping 90 miles an hour and view u as a giant monster as u will never b able to mimic all the mothers noises that keep them calm and give them direction that she begins makeing days b4 they even hatch. In this case u will b forced to watch them waste away and die over the next few days after they hatch. Wild native species of quail r not tame nor do they make good pets. The ones available for purchase from a breeder r still wild and have been bred in captivity for many generations to get them where they r now and in the beginning (which is where u r) only a few made it to b adults maybe from several clutches and actually re-bred in captivity. U may luck out since they nested that close to a residence and may actually b captive bred birds released by hunters for sport in your area. In that case only those with the wildest nature survive long and only takes a couple of generations bred and raised back in the wild to where they r as wild as their cousins. They could b first or second generation released. This is why u never take baby quail or turkeys ect from momma and expect them to live or form any kind of bond to u. Please keep us updated whatever u decide to do or whatever happens. I have a feeling there may b a lesson learned here for others.
I used to volunteer for the dept of fish in wildlife as a foster parent specializing in birds for KY and OH. Most needing to b rescued do to a child or pets interference but some do to construction or demolition but I think u might find u r way over your head if they r not quail which even if they r its doable but get to researching now cause I think u will find meeting quail requirements r very different then chickens. Also these rescue organizations r flooded each year with sick, injured and baby wildlife and people knowing how and r willing to foster baby birds r far and few. Many more willing or want them then those who know what they r even doing. Any that could b reintroduced into the wild were always released in protected state parks as keeping them or doing this under no dept guidance, permission or certification with some species violates state and or federal laws and come with pretty hefty fines. This is considered harboring wildlife and btw in some cases if the person u give them over too is not a registered rehabilitator and they get caught and say u supplied them with the animals u may still face fines in some states along with the new owner. I have done everything from chickadees to owls. I have only rehabilitated a released one adult male bobwhite and 9 baby grouse. Check and b sure its ok. Some state departments may overlook this and let u keep them especially if they r quail as most new world quail are common species kept in captivity but may require u to get the proper permits ( if necessary) and ask u not to advertise u took these from the wild tho as they may change their minds once friends, family or neighbors begin to report u. Once they begin receiving calls that u r harboring wildlife they can no longer over look and will have to step in and take them from u. Even then u may be required to release them at a certain age and any reports after will result in one warning if not go ahead and fine u. I think u will find that they will b very nice and may even let u continue with this venture. Just b sure what species they r. Some of the grouse we ended up with were first reported to b quail. Good luck and play it safe. They may b protected in your state.
Its also good to note and keep in mind that these r wild quail that imprint on their parents to learn to eat drink ect. and may never imprint on u and hide in the corner of the brooder with their hearts pumping 90 miles an hour and view u as a giant monster as u will never b able to mimic all the mothers noises that keep them calm and give them direction that she begins makeing days b4 they even hatch. In this case u will b forced to watch them waste away and die over the next few days after they hatch. Wild native species of quail r not tame nor do they make good pets. The ones available for purchase from a breeder r still wild and have been bred in captivity for many generations to get them where they r now and in the beginning (which is where u r) only a few made it to b adults maybe from several clutches and actually re-bred in captivity. U may luck out since they nested that close to a residence and may actually b captive bred birds released by hunters for sport in your area. In that case only those with the wildest nature survive long and only takes a couple of generations bred and raised back in the wild to where they r as wild as their cousins. They could b first or second generation released. This is why u never take baby quail or turkeys ect from momma and expect them to live or form any kind of bond to u. Please keep us updated whatever u decide to do or whatever happens. I have a feeling there may b a lesson learned here for others.
