I really wanna raise quail!!!

[pringle]

Ok so I might be able to get quail next year and I really want to get cortunix quail.Ive been looking them up on google and ive gotton mixed things.I really want to know how much space each birdwill require and what type of feed I should give them.

 

[First To Hatch]

Gamebird feed its like 18% (when they're older ofcourse)

But when chicks 22%+ gamebird starter, or turkey starter.


I always fed my birds starter even as adults but when I sent my mom to the store she got me 18%, they seem to look better now that they're on starter again.


As far as space per bird I always used to ask that question and got many different answers, I've had FIVE birds in a 3' by 3' cage FIGHT, while I've had like 20 in a 4' by 3' cage be fine with each other. If you aren't someone that gets too attached or something, then all you have to do to prevent fighting is make sure the ratios are good and when they are and someone still has trouble send em to birdie heaven. Bt back to the topic, it depends on the birds, but you also gotta remember how enjoyable is it to sit and watch birds in a crowded space?

 

[quail newbie]

I think in the sticky on here it says 1sq foot per bird. Mine have tonnes of space so i guess I need some more birds

I do turkey starter and have switched my boys over to game bird grower. The girls also get oyster shells and I give them all a bit of dry cat food too. I know there are alot of people on her with tonnes of experience that can probably give you all the answers you need. Good Luck!

 

[monarc23]

My birds are in 2 X 2 pens 4-5 birds per... no issues as long as ratio is kept 1 roo to 5 hens max or 1 roo to 3 hens... no matter i fyou follow the ratio or not there is going to be aggressive birds from time to time, also no matter what size of pen you have could be HUGE and if the quail is determined it will attack the birds it doesnt like.

I also feed starter the birds entire life because of the higher protien.... My protien percentage is 22% highest I can get, and I suppliment. Lower protien really seems to effect egg production and feather picking.

I do not follow the 1 sq ft per bird thing on my sticky.... I found that from many other sites and put it in there as a stable thing to folllow, however if you know your birds and are able to visit and watch them a lot (stay at home wife/hubby etc) then keeping birds in smaller quarters with ratios kept well isnt an issue. Just always realize both roos AND hens can be aggressive.

Also ofcourse it's great watching birds in a large flight, but when you're breeding for eggs/meat and genetics flights like that arent always simple to do. NOw if they're just for pets sure a flight would be wonderful and work well.

 

[renegaderidgefarm]

we do the same with the feed gamebird starter then game bird feed. i have a pen i designed for cotournix and it holds between 50 to 70 birds and works great. It also has its own light source and alows us to have eggs year round without a break. i'm the same with the mean ones they go to the freezer. they say a red light prevents fighting never tried it, I just weed them out. i keep a ratio of around 4 females to 1 male and it seems to work great. check out my website.

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
Nice bobwhites where's your coturnix? I wanna see!

 

[First To Hatch]

Quote:
I've bought your colony breeding plans on ebay, they're pretty good, I didn't build one exactly like it but I ran off your idea.

Was afraid something would steal the eggs if I made the cage roll out for eggs, I made it smaller too as I didn't want that big of a cage to take up that much space, but rather have smaller ones stacked on top of each other, but I loved how I was able to build a cage with only two cuts of wire! And the set up for lighting is great I'm hoping to set something like that up this winter so water won't freeze so quickly.