Hello everyone,
Intro:
Whenever I google questions about pigeons, doves, chickens and or fowl I usually end up reading a thread on this website. I've learned a lot from this place and I've finally decided to make an account and join your community. I currently live New York and have four birds (2 pigeons, 1 ringneck dove and 1 diamond dove) and two dogs. I love animals and have had tons of different types of pets my whole life. I am fortunate enough to know some people who own chickens, ducks, pheasants and peafowl but unfortunately I do not live in a town that is zoned to own any of those animals on my own property. I hope some day when I have my own place I can have a trio of buff orpingtons but for the moment even hens are a little to loud to keep them from going unnoticed.
The Purpose of This Thread:
Anyway, to get to the point I was wondering if I could keep one or two quails inside my home or quietly in my backyard. I love my pigeons and doves but would love to get some sort of fowl. The bird doesn't have to necessarily be a quail but I've already looked into all other game birds / fowl / poultry and it seems none are quiet enough to consider keeping except quails. Along with not being loud I would also love a bird that I can hold or gently pet. One might say "well sounds like the best indoor bird for you is a parrot or a dove", I love my ringneck dove Amelia and she enjoys being held and pet and is an amazing pet all around but I would love another type of non-parrot bird. I figured two or three quail would allow me the peace of mind that they have each other for company when I am not around, not be overly loud and be relatively low maintenance. As for the particular breed of quail, I don't know which best suits the qualities I am after. I know button quails are quiet and often kept as pets but I can't imagine them being very tame. My diamond dove is of a similar size and is absolutely 100% not tame (although I got her as an adult).
Conclusion - Start Here if you're impatient
(The Important Part)
Can Quail be kept indoors? My room has an avian bulb for my doves. Are they obnoxiously loud? I've seen videos on youtube of males calling (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T3KU93FxP4) and I don't think I could tolerate that sound more than once or twice a year in my room. Button quail males seem much less annoying in small numbers (
) but then again I have to trust how well the camera picks up the audio and how frequently they make that noise is also a factor. My dove Amelia who I refer to as a girl is actually a guy, she bow coo's all day long (
) and it doesn't bother me at all, I don't even notice it. Those links and a few others online are all I know about when it come to quail noises, are females significantly quieter? Are both genders usually rather quiet year round except mating season? If I kept them outside would they have to remain in a aviary like my pigeons to keep from flying away? I know quails tend to stay on the ground but I've read that they can fly and have been known to leave unless their wings are clipped.
All feedback is welcome! If you know of a non-parrot alternative bird that is not very loud and can be interacted with I am all ears (eyes)!
Thanks,
Eric
P.S. Once a specific breed / type of bird is selected I will probably follow up with "how do I obtain this bird?"
Intro:
Whenever I google questions about pigeons, doves, chickens and or fowl I usually end up reading a thread on this website. I've learned a lot from this place and I've finally decided to make an account and join your community. I currently live New York and have four birds (2 pigeons, 1 ringneck dove and 1 diamond dove) and two dogs. I love animals and have had tons of different types of pets my whole life. I am fortunate enough to know some people who own chickens, ducks, pheasants and peafowl but unfortunately I do not live in a town that is zoned to own any of those animals on my own property. I hope some day when I have my own place I can have a trio of buff orpingtons but for the moment even hens are a little to loud to keep them from going unnoticed.
The Purpose of This Thread:
Anyway, to get to the point I was wondering if I could keep one or two quails inside my home or quietly in my backyard. I love my pigeons and doves but would love to get some sort of fowl. The bird doesn't have to necessarily be a quail but I've already looked into all other game birds / fowl / poultry and it seems none are quiet enough to consider keeping except quails. Along with not being loud I would also love a bird that I can hold or gently pet. One might say "well sounds like the best indoor bird for you is a parrot or a dove", I love my ringneck dove Amelia and she enjoys being held and pet and is an amazing pet all around but I would love another type of non-parrot bird. I figured two or three quail would allow me the peace of mind that they have each other for company when I am not around, not be overly loud and be relatively low maintenance. As for the particular breed of quail, I don't know which best suits the qualities I am after. I know button quails are quiet and often kept as pets but I can't imagine them being very tame. My diamond dove is of a similar size and is absolutely 100% not tame (although I got her as an adult).
Conclusion - Start Here if you're impatient
(The Important Part)
Can Quail be kept indoors? My room has an avian bulb for my doves. Are they obnoxiously loud? I've seen videos on youtube of males calling (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T3KU93FxP4) and I don't think I could tolerate that sound more than once or twice a year in my room. Button quail males seem much less annoying in small numbers (
All feedback is welcome! If you know of a non-parrot alternative bird that is not very loud and can be interacted with I am all ears (eyes)!
Thanks,
Eric
P.S. Once a specific breed / type of bird is selected I will probably follow up with "how do I obtain this bird?"