IS THIS A QUAIL?!

[ChickenLayD]

My cousin's friend's cat was caught hunting this baby quail? this evening. They thought she was a chicken so they brought her to me. She had a very unique look, and I couldn't remember ever seeing a baby chicken that looked like this. I looked at some pictures of baby quails online and found some that look identical to her. I noticed she doesn't have raised feathers on her head like some of the others I saw. Any information on this would be greatly appreciated. Also wondering the breed... thank you!

 

[rottlady]

looks like a wild turkey poult

 

[ChickenLayD]

looks like a wild turkey poult

Oh wow... Any advice on care? I have been giving her baby chicken mash...

 

[rottlady]

if it is a baby turkey you need game bird starter. It is higher in protein

 

[yellowherb]

definitely a turkey chick.

they recommend high protein non medicated food for turkey chicks. But baby chick food will do in a pinch and you can always increase the protein amount by adding some cooked scrambled eggs.

 

[ChickenLayD]

Also, can you mix those with chickens?

 

[rottlady]

my sister in law has raised several batches saved from the hay cutter. They grew up in her coop with chickens and eventually wander off when they mature. she did have one that beat up the chickens but the rest just moved on when they grew up

 

[yellowherb]

It is recommended not to put turkeys with chickens because there are some diseases (like blackhead) which chickens can pass to turkeys. Saying that, I have done it and haven't lost a poult. Currently I have two wild turkey poults with cockatiels because they are super crazy flyers unlike heritage or non wild turkeys.

That's a new hatched turkey, still has the egg tooth. Love baby turkeys

 

[ChickenLayD]

Thank you so much for all of the timely responses! Does anyone know about eating their eggs? And how often they lay?

 

[yellowherb]

Turkeys are seasonal layers and lay every other day on average during the laying season(based on my brother's hen). You can eat their eggs, they are just larger than a jumbo chicken egg. The laying season on a turkey is just about to wrap up.

Under artificial conditions you may keep a turkey laying longer than natural conditions do. I'm not sure you can get them to lay year round though.