Question about Gambel's (they're pipping now!)

[rachel]

So... I wasn't expecting to get these gambel's eggs. I put 5 in the incubator with some duck eggs that I already had in there. Today is only day 20, two have pipped. I really wasn't expecting these to hatch since the humidity was a little higher than what's ideal for quail and I didn't even know if these eggs were any good. If I do get some to actually hatch, I assume that brooding them is the same as the coturnix, but I'm wondering what the best housing is for them. They're native here, so I see that they spend a lot of time perching and moving around. I wouldn't feel right about keeping them in 1 sq foot per bird space. In the extreme that all 5 hatch, what would be the best space for them? Also, since they are native here, if I wanted to release them as adults, is there a responsible way to do that, or since I'm hatching/raising them, will they not do well in the wild?

Normally I would have been more responsible about having appropriate habitat ready when going into a new bird, but like I said I wasn't expecting the eggs, and certainly not expecting a hatch. Any help would be great, thanks!

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
If you plan to release them you will want to raise them as wild as possible first which means a flight pen in the type of area they'd live in in the wild (by adding things like bushes and trees and such to make it like wild for them) and dont mess with them much.

The other responcible thing to do is to call your wildlife authorities and find out if you need a permit to release them, either way they will be able to advise you on the best methods of release when is the best time in their age etc.

Good luck!

 

[rachel]

I have a neighbor who volunteers for a bird rescue, I know they get gambel's pretty frequently. I think I'm going to ask her about them. I'm a bit nervous about approaching wildlife authorities since the person who gave the eggs to me "rescued" them herself and I don't have a permit (which you are supposed to have for them in AZ). I really just want what's best for the birds. I'd LOVE to keep them, but my gut tells me they'd be unhappy in a smaller pen. Someone please tell me I'm wrong!!! (or at least an idea of what good housing would be, I saw someone on here keeps 8 or so in an 8X8X24 pen and I think I've seen others that keep them in more of a coturnix style housing)

 

[rachel]

One has hatched! Hopefully there will be some little quail buddies coming soon. I have a pen that's 4X8 but it's only about 42" tall, this seems like it would be too small for a flight type pen. I do have plenty of native brush though.

 

[rachel]

Well, 24 hours later the second one hatched and within the following 2 hours the remaining 3 hatched. One of them waited over 48 hours from pip to zip. 100% hatch, yay! Anyone know how long it will be before they can be sexed?

 

[cawooduck]

That 4 x 8 pen should be just fine for the 5 gambels. Just put some branches in there for them to perch on, some sand in a pan of some sort to dust with, some food and water and shade and they will be fine!! Congrats on the babies!!............Jason