Pic's of the valley chick's

[Valley quail breeder]

Valley chicks

Daddy roo's

 

[canada-goose]

Very cute!

 

[IwannaBEaMERMAID]

i wants some SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bad!!!!!!!!!

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Those chicks look great man!!!

I got a dozen eggs due to hatch next monday, all look good so far.

Can you show some pics(or point me to where they are) of your breeding enclosures?

I recently put my breeders up on wire about 10" off the ground, and havent gotten an egg since.
I am currently making some tractor type enclosures so that the quail can go back on the ground, as I think the wire has them spooked.
The place where I got them keeps them on the ground in huge pens.

I have had my valley quail for about 3-4 weeks now, and only the first week when they were all in the same enclosure did I get eggs(the dozen incubating now).
About 2 weeks ago, I put them up on the wire.
Within the last week or so, the males started calling.

I am keeping them at a ratio of 1.4 male/female right now, but think maybe just 1.1 pairs is better?

I will say this tho, since theyve been in my breeding cages, they have calmed down tremendously.
But Id take the flightiness back in exchange for eggs . . .

 

[Valley quail breeder]

Quote:
Usually when you move valleys there very spazy birds anyway so might be awhile till they re adjust to there new surroundings. I keep mine 5' off the floor on wire & hand no problems with eggs I keep mine in a small colony seems to work out for them and some folage to hide in and perch on. heres a pic of one of the pens i use.

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Thanks for the pics and the advice!

I just finished the second of 2 cages I made.
They are 3' x 4' and about 2' high at the peak.
I basically made a smaller version of the "cattle panel" tractor that is so popular.
Open-bottom.



My camera is dead, lemme see if I can squeeze 1 last pic out of it . . .

Frame is 2x2, wire loop is the driveway-type panels, mesh is 1/2" ABS plastic, roof is that reed shade screen.
I need to put the doors on.

I think Ill have better luck with these birds back on the ground.
Maybe if I start my chicks out on raised wire Ill have better luck, but these breeders I have were prolly always on the ground.
I am prolly mistaking their calmness for stress . . .

 

[Valley quail breeder]

Here in North Carolina we have to many predators to put on the ground like that or use plastic mesh, snakes, foxes, coons, hawks, owls etc etc.

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Quote:
I totally get that.

However, my problems here in the city relate to keeping the quails in, and cheaply at that.

My JRT is always ready in case any overly-curious predatory animal decides to venture into the yard.

The ABS mesh would definately NOT keep out any predators, nor would the reed shading.
But each material, as a whole piece, is fairly strong, and its all tied in together; on the same token, each material shows its weakness when you pick or pull at a specific spot.


I tried 3 different housing ratios . . .

cage #1- 3' x 4' and 1 pair
cage #2- 3' x 4' and 1 male/3 female
cage #3- 3' x 7' and 2 male/8 female

Hopefully they will start laying eggs again and I can figure out which method works best for my birds.