Sad, but I had to end it up.

[Sunshine Flock]

It sounds like you made a good decision. Sometimes slaughtering is the most loving, humane decision for them.

 

[Mitsos Lamprogiorgos]

Thank you all.

Quail can't be harmed by predators because it lives in locked cages.
Also, my coop was in a homestead area, about some miles away from my town.
My budgies are kept on my balcony and in my yard.
I will do the same with quail.

 

[CCUK]

Quail are lovely. I only have 4 left now. They are very easy to care for and the eggs are really good for you.

 

[Pugsabi]

Thank you all.

Quail can't be harmed by predators because it lives in locked cages.
Also, my coop was in a homestead area, about some miles away from my town.
My budgies are kept on my balcony and in my yard.
I will do the same with quail.

I also think you did the right thing. I hope raising quail goes better for you.

As for relocation of problem animals, do some of you think predators need a realtor to move in? You move one raccoon and the next one is probably there before you can drop the last one off. What could he have possible done, leave their heads on a pike as a warning to the ones that come after? When you decide to keep an animal you take responsibility for their well-being. If you can't/ or have someone humanely euthanize your animals, you shouldn't have animals.
Releasing your pets/livestock into the wild is NEVER the answer. There's countless reasons why that's a horrible idea. Chickens would probably just die within hours but other animals can sometimes thrive and destroy the habitat and wipe out native species. Florida is having a horrible time with Burmese pythons and other "pet" snakes that people release.

 

[Crow-ded house]

We thought about getting quail but you gotta buy like 100 eggs and we said no way so are currently trying to woo the wild quail and turkeys in our woods to stay closer. We have so far succeeded in getting a doe and her fawn to hang out by the fenced area lol. Good luck in your birding Thomas. Sooner or later all responsible pet/livestock people have to make that final decision. I never want to play God and decide that “today you die” but have had to do it. Heartbreaking? Yes. But I would hope that my plug gets pulled if it ever comes to that.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I adore quail. The eggs are super teeny, but it sounds like they constantly lay eggs, so maybe once a month you'll have enough to make an omelet.

My most favorite book ever is "That Quail, Robert" by Margaret Stanger.

And someone on BYC started a discussion about a strange looking chick he found under a hen in a nesting box, and then another one. It turns out a pair of quail got in there somehow during winter and stayed. The hen thought they were her babies, and so they all stayed together as a family.

He found hen and quail eggs in the box every day. I'm not sure how that story turned out, but it's so sweet and cute.

 

[Kiki]

I'm a animal lover too. I'll do my best to help a critter in need. However, I'm a hunter too. Have no problem killing my own food or getting rid of the predators trying to get at my animals.

I understand lots fo people on BYC have there chickens as pets, and just can't think of eating one of there chickens. I get that, and there nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is making the OP feel worse then he already does because you/others (not anyone in particular) don't agree with his choice.

Agreed.

 

[RNPAULIE69]

Well someone else taking bad care of them is better than slaughtering them.

being possibly neglected and miserable is better????

 

[Mitsos Lamprogiorgos]

being possibly neglected and miserable is better????

I wouldn't like to see my chickens eating bread with left pork and the left spaghetti.
And sorry, but chickens are both pets and products.
They can be pets, but when life throws lemons at us, we will make them products.
Big fish eats the small.

 

[BreanneRN]

I wouldn't like to see my chickens eating bread with left pork and the left spaghetti.
And sorry, but chickens are both pets and products.
They can be pets, but when life throws lemons at us, we will make them products.
Big fish eats the small.

Hmm, not quite sure what that analogy means exactly, but since you put the time and money and work into your chickens, I see no reason why you should give them away to someone else that would then reap what you sowed, so to speak, especially if you also have need of them and are hungry...