Quail! I want to give them the best life possible.

[Lemon88]

It has been a year now since I hatched out my coturnix quail. Hatching was one of the best experiences ever. They were so cute and lovely. 11 out of 12 birds hatched, but I sadly lost two chicks that were born with deformed eggs. I worry that was my fault, and it was very hard because I was very attached. I ended up with 5 roosters (is that the proper term for male quail?) and 4 hens. Unfortunately 3 of the hens died suddenly. I separated one of the roos and he and the hen became very close and were incredibly tame. They would love to be held, would sit on my shoulder or follow me around the yard and garden. I lost each to my dog and a raccoon, it was very hard as they were no different to me than one of my dogs. Now I have just 4 males. They are currently in a rabbit hutch with a run that is on the ground, though their space gets muddy very fast. I know this is NOT and ideal setup, as they should each have many hens. I'd like to get more, but I worry about introducing sick birds and hatching would make no sense because I would end up with more roosters! I am also unsure if their current way of housing is the best. I want them to have fresh grass, not muck and more space than they have currently. I also did not spend as much time with these four, so they are not as tame. Is there still hope for taming them, even a year later? One of them is rather tame, but the others get very stressed when held. One is constantly opening a wound on his beak despite my putting ointment on the wound. The other has recently started getting sores at the end of the bones of his wings. This is really upsetting to see, there is obviously something I am doing wrong. I have lots of knowledge about parrots, but quail are a whole different challenge. What sort of housing do you guys use/reccomend? What would be the best for my babies to be happiest. I want to improve their quality of life as much as possible. <3 there is so much to learn with raising quail, I suppose you never stop learning.

 

[Quailobsessed]

I understand the male problem you're going through. I have most of my japanese (coturnix) quails in pairs or one male to several females. But I have two extra males (I bought them as females) together in an aviary. I would separate them but that would mean giving them less space and they get along so well anyway, they'd probably be upset to be separated.

For housing I have either aviaries or enclosures that I've built out of what I have available. Either way, I give them a solid floor and like to raise on the ground. I put straw in the enclosures when it's muddy.

Most of my japs, I got as adults and I've still been able to tame them. Two are tame enough to free range as long as they're under close supervision. I just spend time around them and and they seem to get the idea that I'm the food-giver so they become pretty tame.

 

[Lemon88]

They seem to be getting along very well now. No missing feathers, I've never seen them fight, and they are always 'cuddling' with each other (maybe just because it's cold, but its sweet). Though in the summer they crow NON STOP. Is that because they are calling for hens? I haven't heard them crow once all fall/winter. I am thinking of a nice natural aviary setup for them or an enclosed garden.

 

[Quailobsessed]

My quails crow more when there's more males around.

 

[Lemon88]

I'm really interested in celadon quail, but would that just cause more of a problem because I'd have to hatch to get them and end up with even more males further complicating the ratio? I am terrified of rehoming them and them becoming someone's dinner!

 

[mixedUPturk]

Sweetheart i am sorry but there will always be too many males. I love some of my birds like pets, but i also detach myself from the extra males that i hatch on purpose because there just arent enough homes for all those 'cockbirds' is the correct game bird terminology. Roo's is commonly accepted on here.

I give them a good life and a quick finish. I always treat them with extra respect and dignity if i know theyre destined for freezer camp. I learned how to do this because i understand if im going to hatch there will jus be too many extra males. Im setting 150 quail eggs tonight.

 

[Lemon88]

Sweetheart i am sorry but there will always be too many males. I love some of my birds like pets, but i also detach myself from the extra males that i hatch on purpose because there just arent enough homes for all those 'cockbirds' is the correct game bird terminology. Roo's is commonly accepted on here.

I give them a good life and a quick finish. I always treat them with extra respect and dignity if i know theyre destined for freezer camp. I learned how to do this because i understand if im going to hatch there will jus be too many extra males. Im setting 150 quail eggs tonight.

I really respect people who raise their own meat animals, but I could never kill an animal myself so I don't eat meat. I suppose it's just a fact of raising quail but I feel terrible raising them just for them to become food lol they're like my little babies.

 

[mixedUPturk]

About setups. I have 7 setups. I like to put them on the ground and i like to give them fresh grass, hay and pine shavings. They love their dust baths and i have to refill them constantly. I have so many setups because i have 60ish birds over winter i live in southern LA so its always humid and rains often. I have to move the cages on the ground like a tractor to keep them on fresh grass. I have wood across half the bottom of my wire bottom cages and it stays mostly clean by the birds dust bathing in the bath sitting on it.

@Kiki does cardboard boxes filled with dirt across the whole bottom of all her wire bottom cages and loves that setup.

 

[mixedUPturk]

I really respect people who raise their own meat animals, but I could never kill an animal myself so I don't eat meat. I suppose it's just a fact of raising quail but I feel terrible raising them just for them to become food lol they're like my little babies.

I understand that attachment and like i said i have to purposely distance myself from them. Maybe you can set up four cages and buy more definite hens only. If youd pay the prices $$$ and put forth the enclosure work anythings possible if you throw enough will power at it.

 

[Lemon88]

Update: today I decided to go Lowes and pick up the materials to make a new and improved quail mansion! I decided to make a 'quail garden'. Basically I am going to make a fully enclosed raised bed that I can fill with plants for them to hide in and eat. Ill also put in some leaf mulch and chips to make sure they don't get muddy. I'll make them some nice houses to hide/lay in and get some nice dust baths. The enclosure will be 6ft by 4ft, so it should be plenty of space for the birds I plan to have. I'll hopefully get it finished next weekend and be able to move my birdies in. I'd like to also make a quail tractor in the future as well. I won't be making it too tall, because their current enclosure is not very tall and I am worried about them flying up and injuring their heads.