Is it ok to continue if I dont know if I'm ready?

[Zabolca]

So we built a coop in the fall, its 8x16ft with10ft of that run and 6ft coop all covered with a metal roof. I want to do quail, but my aunt gave me 4 Rhode Island Red hens. I've had some before no big deal, good test for the coop as I research everything about quail online and how I might get some as I have never hatched an egg in my life. My parakeets kindly did that for me. The hens really seem to like it and I really like them.

Now word got around as to what I want and rather than instructions or a book recommendation I'm being given the birds... 10 of them... tomorrow... omg...
Thats wonderful and terrifying at the same time!

I've had an overly successful parakeet flock(had a hard time stopping them from breeding) and "regular" chickens in the past, watched a ton of quail keeping youtube vids, read a lot of articles on here but is that enough? Maybe I should buy a book? What little information I have found about blending the 2 states I cant have the quail around the chickens? I was wondering if I could get away with keeping the quail in cages inside the coop or run with the chickens running about, that almost sounds mean but might be safer for them? Or add another run and have a separated part of the coop for them? I cant do that by tomorrow though.

My ultimate goal would be a small quail flock, attempt at hatching some eggs and maybe try them for meat, Ive never had it but I do like them for pets and eggs for sure. My husband has never had quail eggs but thinks he will still prefer the chicken eggs so letting the reds go might not be an option.(I think he is just lazy and doesn't want to crack that many eggs)

Any quick advice or recommendations from more experienced flock keepers would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[JaeG]

There are certain diseases chickens can carry that they are immune to but quail are not so it is a risk keeping them in the same area. Its not a good idea to let them loose in the same space as chickens, especially a large breed like Rhode Island Reds, as the chickens will bully and potentially attack and kill the quail.

If there are multiple male quail in the 10 it's best to house them separately, one male per cage. Each male will need at least 3 females, and some need up to 7. They don't need a lot of space but the more you can give them the easier it is to keep them clean.

As a temporary solution you could put the quail in an indoor rabbit cage until you have a more permanent enclosure sorted out and you figure out which are males and females.

 

[aart]

Now word got around as to what I want and rather than instructions or a book recommendation I'm being given the birds... 10 of them... tomorrow... omg...
Thats wonderful and terrifying at the same time!

Chickens or quail?
You an always say.... "no, I'm not ready yet".

 

[sdm111]

Tell them you want to do quail and get rid of and don't accept any other chickens and get your quail
Don't do what you don't want to do just cause someone else thinks its better for you. Do what you do cause of you

 

[Zabolca]

I'll be getting 10 quail, 3 of them Texas A&M and the rest Coturnix is what ive been told. I like the idea of keeping them in the house for right now, I would like to get to know them.

Would I need to sanitize the coop somehow to change it over to quail? besides new bedding do you think? We are looking at moving the chickens into a dog kennel for now.

 

[Zabolca]

They seem happy with me This is temporary, we will have some super quail condo put up in a day or 2.

 

[lomine]

FYI, Texas A&M is the color. The color of the others is called Pharaoh. They are all Coturnix. They are easy to keep so don't stress too much.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Also lay decently

 

[Zabolca]

Oh they have been fantastic! I love the sounds they make!

 

[theycallmechickmagnet]

you could get bantams and quails. we have a rescued dove that lives in the "Little Coop" with our baby turkeys/ducklings/chicks and bantam hen just fine. we have a couple of quail eggs to hatch and hope that they can be friends when they grow up ❤

wouldn't dare put big birds with small ones tho. my turkeys tried to eat my poor bantam (probably cuz she looks like a little rat) so that's why she's with the dove and babies. my advice would be to either introduce them young or raise them together, or just throw two big groups together. when there's so many going in the coop at once, they just go along with it. but keep an eye out just in case because some can be a bit defensive at first