New Bob White Quail owner, now what?

[Mommysongbird]

Just became the owner of 2 bob white quail!!! They are approx. 4.5 - 5 months old. Got them at a church yard sale. The guy who raised had them donated 2 pair for the yard sale and we got the bob whites.

So now, I need to know what to do!!! We have owned chickens for a few years now and ducks this year. I do know that the bob whites CAN'T go in with the chickens and ducks, so we are going to take some crates and build them a new home beside the duck and chicken runs, is that okay? Or should it be a little further away? We don't have a lot of room.

What do they need to eat? The guy that I got them from said they can have layer mash crumbles, the same thing my chickens and ducks eat and like wild bird food, just no large seeds/nuts. I read that they need extra protein especially in the winter, so what is the best way to get this?

Please any info you can give will be great!!!

 

[jsdobson]

I would try to not to put them right next to the chickens give them a few feet between should be ok it'll keep the stress down as far a feed use game bird grower 20 percent protein till spring if u want eggs then use game bird layer good luck

 

[Mommysongbird]

Thank you, I will have to see if our feed store carries any feed for quail?

Okay, that gives me a better idea of where to put their new home.

 

[TwoCrows]

You can get one of those rabbit hutches to keep them in. These hutches are built well and are a good size for a pair of quail. Put some cut branches from a tree or even fake foliage propped up in the corners to give them a safe environment. Bobs do not do well exposed and will flush and hit the ceiling if they get frightened. The branches and jungle like feel will help them feel secure. If the hutch is kept outside make sure it is varmint proof and if you have to, add hardware cloth to the outsides. You can use grass hay for bedding or use a wire floor.

Try to find some gamebird food, non medicated, something with at least 20% protein. Shoot for 24 or 26% if you can, but 20% is all you can find, then it will do. You can offer up some hard boiled eggs a few times a week or meal worms to up the protein.

They like similar treats as chickens....cut up fruit, veggies, cabbage, greens, peas in the pod, mealworms, berries, ect..

Give them a pan full of dirt or sand for dust bathing. They do not require a nest box. Next spring they will start to lay eggs. Offer up crushed oyster shell for the layer.

Good luck with your pair of Bobs!

 

[Mommysongbird]

You can get one of those rabbit hutches to keep them in. These hutches are built well and are a good size for a pair of quail. Put some cut branches from a tree or even fake foliage propped up in the corners to give them a safe environment. Bobs do not do well exposed and will flush and hit the ceiling if they get frightened. The branches and jungle like feel will help them feel secure. If the hutch is kept outside make sure it is varmint proof and if you have to, add hardware cloth to the outsides. You can use grass hay for bedding or use a wire floor.

Try to find some gamebird food, non medicated, something with at least 20% protein. Shoot for 24 or 26% if you can, but 20% is all you can find, then it will do. You can offer up some hard boiled eggs a few times a week or meal worms to up the protein.

They like similar treats as chickens....cut up fruit, veggies, cabbage, greens, peas in the pod, mealworms, berries, ect..

Give them a pan full of dirt or sand for dust bathing. They do not require a nest box. Next spring they will start to lay eggs. Offer up crushed oyster shell for the layer.

Good luck with your pair of Bobs!

We have some crates that were once used for other fowl or rabbits or something small in, they are clean so we are going to just put 2 of them together to make them their outdoor shelter. I will try to find some branches and such to put in them. They already have hardware cloths on the bottoms and the doors, just need to put them up on legs off the ground and then put a board or something in one side.

The only thing I could find today for food was at Pet Smart. It is a dove and quail blend food. It only has 10% protein though. I have to check with our mill tomorrow to see if they have anything.

 

[TwoCrows]

You can always order 5 pound bags of "gamebird showbird feed" on line. It is not too expensive and might last a month with only two birds. Just a thought. You could always add a protein supplement to their diet like "Farmers Helper Ultra Kibble" or even "Calf Manna" makes a protein supplement you could add to up the protein of any feed. You could also use a chicken chick starter of 18% protein and add things to that to bring the protein up into the low 20's.