How do you manage Bobwhites?

[sunnychooks]

I was thinking of getting some Tennesse Reds because I have a number of friends that hunt and would like some. I looked at the McMurray catalog and saw that they only sell in lots of 100. That would not be a problem, but I've just read a number of posts about how they should be grouped in pairs or trios only.

How do you manage large numbers?
How long does it take before they need to be separated (age-wise)?
How do you sex them so that the pairs and trios can be divided?
Is it a problem to house each sex separately or do they still fight?

I hatched some Coturnix and kept 1 male and 2 females, but that's about the extent of my quail experience. I know that each breed needs to be managed differently. I want to get educated before I order or even decide if this is something I want to do.
Any info will be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Robo]

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[Hooligan Farm]

Hey give Rob a call. He has Tennessee Reds.

 

[sunnychooks]

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He does??? I might just do that. I thought all he had were Coturnix.
Thanks!

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LOL! That's something I may want to do WITHOUT bothering to sex them!
Thanks for the info. Would you explain a flight pen to me? I've seen the term but I'm not really sure what type of enclosure it is. I'm assuming it's like a large aviary?

 

[Hooligan Farm]

He has those and the Whites. I was thinking about getting some Whites.

 

[Robo]

Yes, it is a large pen for flight conditioning birds. It is usually a huge wire pen with automatic feeders and waterers. The point of this is to have the least amount of human contact possible. If they don't fear humans they won't flush and will probably be eaten or shot easily if released. They are flight conditioned for many reasons, like avoiding human contact, and better flying abilities. Most hunters are looking for one of two things. A: Birds that have an unpredictable flight pattern to train young dogs B: To have fun shooting them. The reason huinters usually want them is for training their dogs to hunt wild birds. If they plan on releasing them on a ranch of some kind they will want birds that are flight conditioned, little human contact, and an unpredictable flight pattern.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Who is Rob? (sorry, I don't know!

)

 

[Hooligan Farm]

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He's not one here. He is a friend of ours that has supplied us with our Coturnix.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

O!!

 

[Robo]

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He's not one here. He is a friend of ours that has supplied us with our Coturnix.

Hooligan does he ship eggs?? I am short on breeding stock.