Minnesota!

[scandiafowl]

Nah, not at the moment. Although I do really want to say yes. I did read up on the breed a bit and googled some pictures. The Roosters are huge! It's a beautiful bird - especially the blue and splash.

They are, their size is one of the reasons I'm interested in the breed. They are also known as a gentle breed.

 

[lalaland]

had a little excitement this morning in the predawn darkness - was getting feed for the flock when I heard the loudest whistle - sounded like it was right next to me. I froze, and then it happened again and I realized, its a bobwhite call!!!

those quail are maturing, I have been hearing little sounds that are different. I went to the coop and there was one male standing as tall as he could be, whistling away.

I have been opening the door to their run - they are super super cautious and still at the just a few feet out stage. The least little disturbance and they run back to the coop for safety. Hard to believe they will ever leave but I am betting they will. This weekend would be a good time because of the weather but with the saws going I am afraid they would freak out and really dash off when I am building the hoop coop. So I won't let them out then...

 

[lalaland]

in case you are curious, here is the ornithology lab recordings of the whistle
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_bobwhite/sounds

why anyone thinks that sounds like "bob white" is beyond me!

 

[scandiafowl]

One of their calls reminds me of trying to tune in to a radio station.

I'm curious, why do people keep quail? They are beautiful birds.

 

[lalaland]

good question, I am not entirely sure! you know mine came because someone in forest lake gets chicks every year and sets them free in the fall, and offered them to me. I figured they wouldn't survive if left free (not so sure about that now) and took them

Some keep for meat, although there is a coturnix quail that has a little more meat. some keep these itty bitty ones called buttons. some raise bobwhite and release for hunting. apparently a dog can flush them out and you can blow the quail away out of the sky. must be a hunting test since then really it would be hard to have any meat left. these are about fist sized birds. and some raise to restock/repopulate natural habitat.

I woke up to the whistling!

the males call the females to treats just like roosters.

 

[lalaland]

scandia, do jersey giants lay larger eggs?

 

[scandiafowl]

Lala - According to the National Jersey Giant Club, they lay more eggs than other heavy breeds and their eggs are large.

I'm trying to figure out a system to track who lays what. Not easy.

 

[holm25]

Lala - According to the National Jersey Giant Club, they lay more eggs than other heavy breeds and their eggs are large.

I'm trying to figure out a system to track who lays what. Not easy.

There r tgese things called trap nests. When the hen goes in to lay the door closes and when she is done u have to let her out.
Not really ideal if your gone all day...

 

[scandiafowl]

There r tgese things called trap nests. When the hen goes in to lay the door closes and when she is done u have to let her out.
Not really ideal if your gone all day...

Didn't you set up a webcam at some point ?

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Didn't you set up a webcam at some point ?

I have heard of folks using food dye.