I'm a quail mommy!!!

[SunAngel]

Thanks to silkieluver_07 for giving me 53 Bobwhite quail eggs, I now have babies!

43 of 53 eggs made it to hatch day...37 hatched and the last 6 must have gotten overlooked during candling because they never developed.

My new blob of Bobwhites

2 pheasants hatched yesterday too..they are so cute!

I had heard stories about how quick quail hatch, but you would never believe it til you see it happen. I took 8 babies out to put in the brooder, walked across the house, placed them in the cage and walked back to the bator and there were 7 more running around in there already!! There had been no sign that they were going to hatch when I walked away. It was like someone snuck them in there when I wasn't looking lol.

Now that I know I can hatch them, I might have to get my name on someones quail egg list!

 

[macnugget]

congrats enjoy the fun

 

[chixie]

congrats of your precious babies

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Please explain what everyone does with the quail after they hatch? Are they pets, do you eat the eggs? Do you eat them?

 

[SunAngel]

Thanks!!

They are so cute, I am excited!

I have no clue what to do with them yet. This was my first attempt and I really didn't think they would hatch! I was told I can't sell them at our local auction without a permit, so guess I won't be taking them there, unless I find out different.

I think lots of people eat them, let them loose to repopulate an area, use them for training hunting dogs or keep them for breeding to sell eggs and chicks.

Not sure what we will do with ours. Guess I will decide after they grow a little.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Thanks for the honest answer. Isn't just the best hatching the little guys out? I heard they hatch like popcorn.

They are absolutly adorable by the way.

 

[jetto]

Congrats on the babies! Too cute!!!

We are anxiously awaiting our first hatches of bobwhites and coturnix. Most of them are being incubated by someone else in her very nice sportsman incubator but we kept 5 bob eggs out and are trying them in our ancient incubator.

We use our quail for dog training but are starting to think about eggs and processing also. I see where people say they can't get quail sold but I know most bird dog people are like us these days and are doing alot of their own training as opposed to sending dogs off to field trainers. I would say most of our friends go through 50-60 birds a year for training purposes just like we do. Maybe offering the birds on a bird dog forum that has classifieds like gun dog forum would get some sold?

Thanks for posting the pics of the babies! Makes me even more excited for when ours start hatching! Kristi

 

[SunAngel]

Thanks! Good luck with yours!

They are just the sweetest things. They jump into my hand when I put it in there, or will snuggle up next to my fingers. I hope they stay this friendly.

 

[jetto]

Thanks! I hope we get babies. I see now why everyone is so excited the closer it gets to hatch time!

I've read how aggressive the bobs can be but our current group is pretty nice and it's mostly males at this point. When they see you coming with lettuce or other goodies for them they almost coo, lol...and they'll eat it out of your hand.

They are apparently killer quail however! Hubby went to water and feed the other day and there was a dead mouse beside their feeder. Had some peck holes in it! Must not have liked that mouse in their food!

Kristi

 

[CedarRidgeChicks]

..I just hatched out 31 of 46 quail..coturnix..we are hooked...we were having so much failure with chick hatching but the quail were so easy..we are raising for the meat..however..that is going to be hard ..they are just adorable!!