- Mar 26, 2013
- 2
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Hi Everyone
I am new to the world of aviaries but now from my original 9 zebra finches I have close onto 50 finches and still breeding
I have 2 diamond back doves and 2 red diamond back doves.
A few months ago I added a pair of singing quail and my next birthday present was listed as an incubator since everything I have read on these secretive timid little birds led me to believe that they do not breed without assistance. Well - I don't need an incubator cos my pair have successfully hatched 4 little chicks and the female is presently again sitting on 6 eggs.
Unfortunately, although I had read that singing quail chicks are very small, I had no idea how small they would be. Basically fluff on legs and sadly the smallest of the four chicks managed to get under the door in the nesting area - this space was less than half inch high off the door frame - but that didn't stop them all go bums up and heads down in panic mode when I walked into the nesting area and I never realised one had actually managed to get under the door. Even if I had I know that I would not have been able to find it.... they naturally freeze when disturbed and would have blended into the flower beds easily.
Needless to say all such areas are now sealed.
I believe I have been successful because of the habitat I have provided for my birds. I have a large 4m diameter octagonal open area aviary with a separate 2.5 x 3.5m nesting area.
Around the outside area (which has an apexed roof on it to protect the birds from weather conditions) I have put in flower boxes with grasses, ferns and palms. This provides shelter for the baby finches when they emerge from the nest and has also given the quail a secret hideaway all around the aviary.
Believe me, I have to look hard and long to find them since they are so well camouflaged.
I have a few questions to those of you out there who have successfully bred singing quail:
a) how old are the chicks when they obtain their distinctive orange facial markings to identify male and female?
b) will the male fight another male (whether it be a sibling or a new blood introduction (like roosters do)?
c) will the male breed with his own siblings?
d) Should I remove the chicks once they have reached adolescence?
Any other advice anyone can give me will assist. I am very pleased that my pair are breeding, but I can foresee major problems if they continue doing so and any of the above queries are detrimental to the pair or the flock as a whole.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon ....
theauberts9
I am new to the world of aviaries but now from my original 9 zebra finches I have close onto 50 finches and still breeding
I have 2 diamond back doves and 2 red diamond back doves.A few months ago I added a pair of singing quail and my next birthday present was listed as an incubator since everything I have read on these secretive timid little birds led me to believe that they do not breed without assistance. Well - I don't need an incubator cos my pair have successfully hatched 4 little chicks and the female is presently again sitting on 6 eggs.
Unfortunately, although I had read that singing quail chicks are very small, I had no idea how small they would be. Basically fluff on legs and sadly the smallest of the four chicks managed to get under the door in the nesting area - this space was less than half inch high off the door frame - but that didn't stop them all go bums up and heads down in panic mode when I walked into the nesting area and I never realised one had actually managed to get under the door. Even if I had I know that I would not have been able to find it.... they naturally freeze when disturbed and would have blended into the flower beds easily.
Needless to say all such areas are now sealed.
I believe I have been successful because of the habitat I have provided for my birds. I have a large 4m diameter octagonal open area aviary with a separate 2.5 x 3.5m nesting area.
Around the outside area (which has an apexed roof on it to protect the birds from weather conditions) I have put in flower boxes with grasses, ferns and palms. This provides shelter for the baby finches when they emerge from the nest and has also given the quail a secret hideaway all around the aviary.
Believe me, I have to look hard and long to find them since they are so well camouflaged.
I have a few questions to those of you out there who have successfully bred singing quail:
a) how old are the chicks when they obtain their distinctive orange facial markings to identify male and female?
b) will the male fight another male (whether it be a sibling or a new blood introduction (like roosters do)?
c) will the male breed with his own siblings?
d) Should I remove the chicks once they have reached adolescence?
Any other advice anyone can give me will assist. I am very pleased that my pair are breeding, but I can foresee major problems if they continue doing so and any of the above queries are detrimental to the pair or the flock as a whole.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon ....
theauberts9
