Some Quail Questions

[pecksandkisses]

I do know someone who was selling quail chicks near me but they were brown (Wild Type I think they are called). I really like the Texas A & M birds but I can only find hatching eggs. I need an automatic turning incubator if I go that route as it's not possible for me to hand turn them. I would love to have a quality incubator but I am not sure how many birds I will be hatching and how often I will be hatching them.

I think in your case, it'll be a safer bet to buy them as chicks, but I am curious as to how you aren't able to hand turn them. Initially I had an automatic turner, but the eggs kept slipping out because it wasn't meant for quail eggs. I ended up turning them in the morning, in the afternoon (around 3:30pm) and before I went to sleep. Three times a day worked for me, and everything turned out fine.

 

[EarthView]

Oh, I suppose I didn't do very much research on hand turning. I am in school from 8 am to 3:20 (I get home around 4 because I walk). I probably would be able to do it. Buying them as chicks would probably be better.
-Max

 

[feedman77]

Quick turn tip if you have a tabletop incubator. Put a book or 2x4 under 1 side of the incubator. The remove it leave level. Then place under the other side of the incubator. Turns them by rocking the entire incubator. You also dont have to open it or touch the eggs several times a day.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Hand turning is a bit of a commitment but definitely doable it if you're trying to keep your incubation costs down. 3 times a day is fine, 5 is better.

I agree that I think you should get about 6 hens and 1 roo. That'll give you 4-5 eggs a day, the equivalent of about 1 chicken egg. They pile up fast so if it's just for a household of 2-3 that'll be plenty to start with and you can always hatch your own later

Lonely males are LOUD, so you'll want to have a plan for rehoming or eating them if you do hatch your own. You will get about 50/50 although for some reason it's also common to end up with lots of extra boys, and less so for hens >.>

 

[pecksandkisses]

Make sure if you do touch the eggs that your hands are squeaky-clean. The oils from your skin may be harmful.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Actually, you have multiple 24"x24" cages? I might do one male and three females each in two of them. 7 birds in one of those would be a bit squishy

 

[EarthView]

Yep, I have a stack of three cages and a fourth that is separate from the stack. I'd like to give them a little room but I think I'm picturing the quail as bigger than they actually are. I haven't done a bunch of research on this but is there any way to sex day old chicks?

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Yep, I have a stack of three cages and a fourth that is separate from the stack. I'd like to give them a little room but I think I'm picturing the quail as bigger than they actually are. I haven't done a bunch of research on this but is there any way to sex day old chicks?

Think large feathery softball. Not too big. 1 square foot per bird is about perfect. I vote populate two fully, save the others for more birds later (because there will be, they're an addiction).

Certain colors you can sex as chicks, but unfortunately not the regular wild type. Takes about 3 weeks for those.

 

[pecksandkisses]

Yep, I have a stack of three cages and a fourth that is separate from the stack. I'd like to give them a little room but I think I'm picturing the quail as bigger than they actually are. I haven't done a bunch of research on this but is there any way to sex day old chicks?

You can always vent-sex them, but that's pretty advanced I think. I don't really know. From my knowledge, if you get quail that you can sex as adults, you should be fine up until you can actually sex them. At that point they are mature can could probably be culled. You could look up vent sexing on YouTube and see if that helps.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

You can always vent-sex them, but that's pretty advanced I think. I don't really know. From my knowledge, if you get quail that you can sex as adults, you should be fine up until you can actually sex them. At that point they are mature can could probably be culled. You could look up vent sexing on YouTube and see if that helps.

It's true, you can *theoretically* vent sex them as chicks, I just have tried and have never gotten even a 50% success rate It definitely takes an experienced eye.