Raising Quail to Release in the Woods?

[NikonD2xer]

My sister-in-law has fallen in love with quail and wants to see them running wild in the woods.

So she has this scheme to keep a breeding pair and raise their babies to be released in the woods near her dad's home, hoping that they can develop a population out there.

I raise Buff Orpingtons, so she's picking my brain about it, but i really know almost nothing about quail.

I'm pretty sure i've seen wild flocks, and i'm also sure that my buff orpingtons would probably not survive for five minutes if i did the same with their young.

Anyone have any insight? Will it work at all?

you should check with your state department of natural resouses or wildlife department about regulations about releasing quail. They should be able to answer all your questions and may even be able to point you in the right direction if they do have raise and release programs for native quail.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Thanks so much for the informative responses!

 

[ylly]

I have been using Bobwhites for training dogs for a coup,e of decades with some amazing results from birds not found. With 4 and 5 th generations from eggs I purchased Lake Cumberland. Some of the strains are not far off from F1 generations.. I think what she is asking for is opinions from not thought but from facts.

 

[Scgamebirds]

To release quail, most that do it flight condition the birds prior to release. This gives them the stamina to evade predators, plus the big flight cages brings out the wild in them. Also some put out feed stations for them to come to so that they have a back up feed source. One of the biggest reasons for decline in native populations of quail is there native food source have been replaced with our more modern idea of what should be growing. Check with fish and wildlife but you area is probably a native bobwhite area, but may have tx bluescale although I think you area is to wet.