- May 6, 2011
- 6
- 0
- 7
This is what I posted in response to another thread...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=266462&p=3
Hello everyone. I'm from Arizona and it was 100 degrees today. I came across this post and wanted to share my experiences.
My first batch of baby japanese quail hatched yesterday naturally (outside with mama and the crew in an aviary). As of now, I have four healthy babies. Yeah!
A total of three babies were found dead in the aviary (one in the nest, one two feet from the nest, and one five feet away from the nest near a water dish that was too tall for it to drink from).
The hen is currently sitting on 14 more eggs. She lives with three other hens and a male. I've had them for over a year.
Sometimes I collect the eggs on a daily basis for various lengths of time ranging from a couple of weeks to two month periods. The uncollected eggs would remain in the aviary until I started collecting again. The eggs are usually laid in nests that the quail create. When I first set up my aviary, I laid a 6 inch deep bed of sand for the floor. Over time, I added bags of tree trimmings and piles of stuff from my garden (sticks, old pea plants, broccoli, etc). They enjoy pecking on them and eating the bugs. A corner of the aviary has a three raised mound of mulch. The mound was created to be a refuge to keep the quail out of standing water during the monsoon season (heavy rains and wind). The walls of the aviary are wire. One side is one and half feet away from the side of my house. Two sides are covered by tarps, and there is a fairly solid roof.
Before I start collecting eggs to eat, I always smash the old eggs into my compost bins. Once, I noticed that there was some blood in one of the yolks. I was shocked because I did every expect to have baby quail with this species. A month or so ago, I stopped collecting eggs to see what would happen. Well.... I have babies!
I'm not sure if it just one hen sitting on the eggs or if they take turns. I've been too busy with work to take the time to figure it out. I'm keeping the babies inside and they seem to be doing well.
Pictures will follow soon...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=266462&p=3
Hello everyone. I'm from Arizona and it was 100 degrees today. I came across this post and wanted to share my experiences.
My first batch of baby japanese quail hatched yesterday naturally (outside with mama and the crew in an aviary). As of now, I have four healthy babies. Yeah!
A total of three babies were found dead in the aviary (one in the nest, one two feet from the nest, and one five feet away from the nest near a water dish that was too tall for it to drink from).
The hen is currently sitting on 14 more eggs. She lives with three other hens and a male. I've had them for over a year.
Sometimes I collect the eggs on a daily basis for various lengths of time ranging from a couple of weeks to two month periods. The uncollected eggs would remain in the aviary until I started collecting again. The eggs are usually laid in nests that the quail create. When I first set up my aviary, I laid a 6 inch deep bed of sand for the floor. Over time, I added bags of tree trimmings and piles of stuff from my garden (sticks, old pea plants, broccoli, etc). They enjoy pecking on them and eating the bugs. A corner of the aviary has a three raised mound of mulch. The mound was created to be a refuge to keep the quail out of standing water during the monsoon season (heavy rains and wind). The walls of the aviary are wire. One side is one and half feet away from the side of my house. Two sides are covered by tarps, and there is a fairly solid roof.
Before I start collecting eggs to eat, I always smash the old eggs into my compost bins. Once, I noticed that there was some blood in one of the yolks. I was shocked because I did every expect to have baby quail with this species. A month or so ago, I stopped collecting eggs to see what would happen. Well.... I have babies!
I'm not sure if it just one hen sitting on the eggs or if they take turns. I've been too busy with work to take the time to figure it out. I'm keeping the babies inside and they seem to be doing well.
Pictures will follow soon...
