My first Quail. A mini blog.

[Finchbreeder]

Caged birds or quail, if more than 1 start hatching round the same time, and then one of them is behind. It needs help. Just gently crack the shell with a fingernail, along a line. Then the bird can finish pushing out. Sure it may not make it, but without the help, it is less likely to do so.

 

[pac]

Finally. My Ebay eggs are ready to ship.

I ordered 48 (24 bird increments) on account of the low hatch rate experienced with a lot of shipped eggs... and certainly my last two attempts. But the incubator only holds 44 if I remember. So some are going to be fried.

He wanted to put it off yet another day on account of being four eggs short, but we communicated (excellent in that regard) and I'll be getting 24 browns and 24 pearls. I did not want just four Pearls on account of the ratio being off should something bizarre happen and all four happen to hatch.

When I see the numbers I'll decide if I need another smaller pen to keep the Pearls separate or if they can take over the lower section of my hutch and the browns be on top. Even though the ages will be mixed. I imagine there isn't any real need to have everybody all the same age. Though that is what my mind initially wanted.

I cannot wait until I don't have to rely on shipped eggs to incubate a new crop of birds.

 

[pac]

I cannot wait until I don't have to rely on shipped eggs to incubate a new crop of birds.

Boy I can't say that enough.

My Fleabay seller screwed up and shipped my eggs USPS. Which is the "legal" way, but he said he used another carrier and that's one of the reasons why I chose him.

Otherwise, if I knew they were coming the same way my previous two orders did, I would have had them sent them to my sisters house. That would have bypassed my local post office.

So I have one batch of eggs I'll probably never see on time (next Monday according to USPS tracking ) unless they were marked to hold, and the seller saying he will get another order together and shipped.

All on time sensitive fertilized eggs...

I had no idea that getting started into raising quail was going to be this much harder than chickens.

 

[catesquire]

Is there anyone selling them locally near you? I had luck looking on Craigslist for an in-person pickup, avoiding the whole shipping issue

 

[pac]

Is there anyone selling them locally near you? I had luck looking on Craigslist for an in-person pickup, avoiding the whole shipping issue

I stopped by the local co op to check out their bulletin board, but never thought to check CL. I've never dealt with them.
But I have read news reports of folks getting murdered meeting someone from CL... probably not for quail eggs though

 

[CliftonQuail]

I stopped by the local co op to check out their bulletin board, but never thought to check CL. I've never dealt with them.
But I have read news reports of folks getting murdered meeting someone from CL... probably not for quail eggs though

I've sold hatching eggs to people through CL. If they won't agree to meet in a public place, preferably during daylight, I'd tell them to find another vendor. Pharmacy parking lots have been useful. Fire and Police station parking lots are another good idea. I don't list my address and they never come to my house.

Edit to add: I also conceal carry, but that's a separate issue.

 

[catesquire]

In addition to craigslist, you can also look for bird/small animal swap meets in your area. Coturnix hatchlings get used as feeders for snakes so check out reptile ones too!

 

[pac]

I'll try Googling animal swap meets.
I've never heard of such a thing, but that doesn't mean there aren't some going on somewhere.

I'll try looking at CL, too. I might get lucky.

My old vet used to get quail for his falcon, but he isn't around anymore to ask... But if I could find another falconer in the area, they might have a source, too.

 

[pac]

Yeah, nothing in my area except someone advertising a dozen quail FS in a too small looking cage.

My mind has been thinking.
The Four will be three weeks old Next Monday.
But... next Monday the temps are dropping to 60F during the day and low forties at night. Of course, that is basically what the other one went into the hutch in.

Or... if I move them out tomorrow they will have the temps gradually lowering Sat and Sun, so less of a shock. They aren't under any heat right now. The brooder temp has been 70 at night to 73 during the day, but they are huddling when they aren't eating or drinking. Or walking around.

Unless they still have a little fuzz on their bellies, they look fully feathered to me.

 

[pac]

I guess I'm flying alone on that one.

The temps ended up dropping a lot earlier than expected. And it's supposed to stay that way.
So they are still inside.

Meanwhile,

Day 1 for the mail quail

I'll have to trust the previous settings on the incubator. No room for the Govee.
And one egg felt really light, with rough spots, but I didn't see any cracks and there wasn't any egg in the shipping container. I put it in anyway.