Our new Qauil.

[davidald]

Hello, we are new to Quail and wanted to ask some questions. We have three Quail (hopefully 2 hens and a male) The male hops on the hens regularly so I guess the sexes are right. They are not laying eggs however they have only been in the cage for 3 days so maybe they need to settle..
This is the boy (Top photos) (we hope) He keeps hopping on the girls. My question is, the breeder we got the quails from had zillions of quail in one aviary with no room to move. Our boys feet were buried in hard set poo which we had to soak before we could get it off. Also he has been pecked and is threadbare in spots. We are hoping that in this new environment he will get better and regrow his feathers?


This is the cage and I am hoping it is big enough for 3 Quail.

This is our Tuxedo girl.

This is our other girl I don't know the breed but I think its a she.

 

[Peacerose]

Your quail are very pretty. They look like they are enjoying their new home. I'm new to quail too and can't really help with the sexing, but it sounds like they know what to do. They need a high protein diet to lay eggs, so make sure you are feeding them breeder/layer gamebird feed. Also some hardboiled egg mashed up.

Even if you have only hens, I think they will lay eggs if they have ever heard a quail rooster crow. They just won't be fertile eggs for hatching.

 

[laseterlass]

Poor things. Your roo looks fine. The males fight and will kill each other. When crowded the females will fight too. Looks like the little Tuxedo girl has lost an eye

 

[davidald]

The tux girls eyes are fine, just a dodgy camera shot.

 

[myfinefeatheredfriends]

Bless you for rescuing these guys! Shame on those who can do this to these beautiful innocent creatures. As the others said, make sure that the quail get along and don't peck each other. As long as they don't, their feathers should grow back in no time.

 

[davidald]

They are getting along fine now and seem happy. Love the male Quail call.

 

[prasaanth]

Hi,
Beautiful quails you have.
They look pretty well fed and healthy!
Great job looking after them!
BTW, Are they really smelly birds?

 

[GrandmaBird]

can you remove the bands on the legs?
pretty colors

 

[davidald]

The birds do not smell at all but I clean the cage floors every day at put down fresh sugar cane straw. I would like to remove the leg bands but I do not know how.

 

[prasaanth]

Ermm...birds do smell...quails are the worst..!!!

Chicken does not smell when kept properly...
but quails poop are naturally smelly....