how many days till they fly

[john in wa]

Ok as many of you know i just had my first hatch of coturnix quail. i have them in a big box right now. What i need to know is how many days do i have before i need to cover the top so the dont fly out. thanks

 

[monarc23]

very little

Even without feathers they can jump very high around 5+ days old. Normally only when scared but when playing too

 

[cawooduck]

Either my quail are just overly fat, or i am just plain lucky, but i have yet to see the great distances they can fly!! I have had a few get out and they sure beat their wings, but they more or less hover for a slow, soft landing which made them easy to catch!!

You will be surprised how fast your quail will mature, almost overnight!!

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
I hear a lot of people are lucky like that, did you ever read about my Roo Cricket though? He flew way over 20 foot in the air straight up...and then flew about a football fields distance away from me into the neighbors woods all to avoid being caught by me (he had never flown before either). Me thinks you and many others are just lucky! Im luck though too because he came back home the next morning and finnally allowed me to catch him. He's lucky he wasnt killed or died from exposure (it was middle of winter).

 

[john in wa]

i know the wild quail we have around here seem to fly at just a few days old. i flush them up all the time when i am out changing sprinklers and even the little guys fly like little rockets. i was asking because mine already are jumping up and flaping their wings like crazy. and i dont want to be chasing little quail all over the house. i think i will put a screen over the top of the box just to be sure i dont have any fly the coop.

 

[Boyd]

mine were at 2 weeks..... thankfully Monarc warned me ahead of time!

 

[tumra]

John,

you should put some wire mesh over the top of the box just to be safe because they will jump out before you know it. I almost lost some of my chicks a couple of days ago because they jumped out of the brooder box that i thought they could never get out. Peace of mind if you ask me.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I would say 4, maybe 7 tops. They can fly pretty early! But they normally don't too badly unless there are some bullies in there, or if their food dish is empty. They'll try to fly out and find the food person

 

[john in wa]

they are only a couple days old but they love the food and picking at my hands when i reach in the box. they all come running over and peck at my ring and any thing else the think they can eat.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Coturnix quail babies are so personable. They are almost as lovable as goslings....almost

I have some older ones that still peck at me, they are about 3 months old. My 'older' ones don't do it anymore. They are about 5 months old.