Pheasants or Quail?

[JRNash]

As to the quail, they seemed to do fine around the chickens. You DO NOT have to worry about diseases from captive birds. I've never had a problem. If you go with coturnix quail from egg to laying in 8 weeks. They can be processed at 6 weeks. I'd also HIGHLY recommend getting coturnix DIRECTLY from James Marie Farms in Louisiana. They have a website. If you go the bobwhite route their production cycle is like a chicken,nothing for 6 months.

 

[JRNash]

As for as the quail being hurt by the chickens,as long as they have adequate room the quail will run circles around the cbickens

 

[Sophocles]

Quail are not a particular threat to chickens in terms of biosecurity - at least not any more than introducing a new chicken to your flock. But chickens are a major threat to quail. A lot of chickens are (asymptomatic) carriers of coryza, which is very deadly to quail.

You should avoid co-housing chickens and quail. If your main motivation for getting is to save them from the hunt, I'm not sure you'd be doing them a great service.

Can't comment on pheasants.

 

[JRNash]

Birds get sick. That's a fact. My original quail cage is in one of my chicken breeding pens. I don't have them loose. NOW But I have done it before with no problems.

 

[JRNash]

It pays to be informed. Just because myself and others haven't had any issues doesn't mean we won't at a future date.

 

[JRNash]

Someone on BYC posted a thread about wild Bobwhite that has moved into their chicken pen,think it was earlier today. Great picture of it eating with the chickens

 

[R2elk]

Hello!
My grandfather has been raising quail and pheasants for a long time now, and he's been hatching HUNDREDS of chicks in the past few months. He showed me the multiple brooders full of various chicks. Knowing his intentions to hunt them when they're grown, I can't help but feel the need to "pardon" a few of them, and I have just the room on my mini-farm to harbor them. We have a small structure inside of our chicken coop suitable for a brooder yet spacious enough for older fledglings that they can develop in. We also have a large connecting run shared with ducks, rabbits (at times), and chickens. Currently, the chicken coop is occupied by ten pullets of various ages and they seem accepting of new elements (adult ducks, new young chicks, and rabbits at times). I think integrating them when I get them will be a breeze.

My grandfather has Bobwhite quail, Georgia Giant quail, and Ringneck pheasant chicks available. The birds would not be for meat or eggs, but would be for pets mostly. I understand these species are more wild than tame, but I'm hoping to make the best of the offer and handpick the nicest chicks! Of the species listed, what would be the best for interacting with chickens and ducks and being reasonably comfortable with my presence? Which would imprint at hatch, if I were there for it? They'd also need to be relatively quiet, since we have neighbors. Also, please tell me if it is not a good idea at all.

Thanks for tuning in!

Before you do anything, check with your local G&F or Wildlife Management to find out whether or not you will need permits and what steps you will need to take to comply with the laws in your state. Most states require permits for the possession of game birds. Part of the requirement is that the birds be contained so that they cannot mix with the local wildlife. A lot of states do make an exception for Coturnix Quail but not all states make this exception.

 

[JRNash]

Exactly right. I have to have a game bird breeders permit 27$ a yr. I can see having it for the bobwhites. Also having to have it for ANY TYPE turkey or duck prompted a long winded ANGRY letter to my congressman