Solitary California Quail Chick

[brightside farm]

Hello all!

** Posted previously as part of our new member intro post and was directed to this forum so we are reposting here **

Recently we have adopted a few California valley quail who are laying like crazy but refuse to sit their eggs. We incubated several abandoned eggs for the first time, but despite our best efforts only one hatched. Now our one little chick is alone . We are currently considering introducing our chick to one of our females (see picture). The lonely chick is very eager but the female is seemingly indifferent at the moment. We are fairly new to owning quail and very new to raising them, so anyone with advice or experience with a lone quail chick or introducing a chick to a potential mum please chime in!

Looking forward to hearing from you all,

Brightside Farm

 

[Hiram Means]

Unless the mom is broody I wouldn't introduce. But maybe California quail are different. I just have coturnix and buttons.

But I've raised a pheasant alone before. Give it a stuffed animal or duster to cuddle with, and some human attention. But like I said California may be different.

 

[Hiram Means]

https://backyardhobbyfarm.home.blog...-how-to-deal-with-a-chick-that-hatched-alone/

Here's a post I wrote on it!

 

[maadroj]

I have California quail. Our birds have not raised their own chicks, but we hatched two to raise as pets last spring and monitored supervised visitation of the chicks in the aviary. The adults made no move to hurt or threaten young chicks. They looked bewildered and circled them or tried to inconspicuously observe, and would yield to the little chick if it wanted the food bowl all to herself. If you want to try introducing them, watch and see how it goes. I don't know if an adult will adopt the chick, but unless the birds are stressed, I don't think it would try to hurt it. I've read that in the wild, both males and females care for chicks, and often coveys will care for all the chicks together (if they're in a large group. They do break up into pairs or trios for mating). Good luck!

 

[brightside farm]

https://backyardhobbyfarm.home.blog...-how-to-deal-with-a-chick-that-hatched-alone/

Here's a post I wrote on it!

Ok great! Very helpful to read thank you for this. We have since swapped the first female (very flighty) with a different female who looks to be the most interested in nesting so we are still holding out some hope. We think even just having her nearby is comfort to a degree, along with a pair of fuzzy socks and a mirror.

 

[brightside farm]

I have California quail. Our birds have not raised their own chicks, but we hatched two to raise as pets last spring and monitored supervised visitation of the chicks in the aviary. The adults made no move to hurt or threaten young chicks. They looked bewildered and circled them or tried to inconspicuously observe, and would yield to the little chick if it wanted the food bowl all to herself. If you want to try introducing them, watch and see how it goes. I don't know if an adult will adopt the chick, but unless the birds are stressed, I don't think it would try to hurt it. I've read that in the wild, both males and females care for chicks, and often coveys will care for all the chicks together (if they're in a large group. They do break up into pairs or trios for mating). Good luck!

Raised as pets! How cute. How did the pets turn out? Our birds right now want nothing to do with us, but little lonesome chick loves to be held just for the company. Would be curious to know how old your chicks were when you tried these supervised visits (our little guy is still barley one week). Thanks so much for the quail knowledge! Will have updates in future if we eventually remove the divider screen.

 

[maadroj]

They grow up so fast. I don't remember how old they were when we first let them explore. Probably about a week old.

 

[Hiram Means]

Ok great! Very helpful to read thank you for this. We have since swapped the first female (very flighty) with a different female who looks to be the most interested in nesting so we are still holding out some hope. We think even just having her nearby is comfort to a degree, along with a pair of fuzzy socks and a mirror.

Great! Glad if I was any help!