starter questions... help!!

[cmtigger]

Thank you so much everyone! Everything has been very helpful. Any cooments on noise level. I am going to put them in the backyard like I said earlier....I don't want to attract attention. Any info on this would be great! My cage is almost complete, what a project! it has been fun tho. Has anyone kept there pen on grass for a long period of time... Wondering if it will kill the grass. thanks!

They aren't super loud, the males' crow sounds somewhat like a sneeze. The female's call is even quieter. I think that they are about as loud as my guinea pigs, but the crow carries farther.

I've kept chickens in a tractor on grass, and it did kill the grass. Even if you have a mesh floor, the extra nitrogen in the manure can kill grass.

 

[alwaysafarmboy]

Hi new2quail

Mine luv lettuce from the garden, I built some nest boxes for mine and within a couple of days they started laying in them. I put that felted paper litter as well as some shavings and they seem to like that just fine. Keeps the eggs cleaner too. If you don't gather them daily, which is what happened when I went on holidays the eggs where just fine and I think it helped trigger some to go broody if you wanted to try hatching the old fashioned way. Good luck I luv mine.

 

[new2quail]

Ok cool, thanks. I won't be breeding them, when I get them what kinds of questions should I ask the breeder? Also what should I look for when picking my chick? I am still not sure I will be able to tell male/females apart when they are young. Any suggestions? Tricks?

 

[gorabbitgo]

The breeder should be able to show you how to tell boys from girls. Questions to ask include the age of the birds you'll be buying, parentage if it's known, any known illnesses or problems in the flock, possible color morphs of the birds you're getting (some, like goldens, may be more prone to health problems), what the birds have been eating, and how they've been housed. Take a look at the breeder's setup if you have the opportunity.
As for chicks, look for bright, clear eyes, clean beaks and feathers, and intact feet. Quails that have been mishandled or poorly housed can lose toenails or even whole toes! Chicks should be active and shouldn't have feces caked onto their feet or around their vents. Poo stuck around the vent can be an indication of illness. Also look for dull scaly patches on the legs and areas of missing or tatty-looking feathers, as these can indicate overcrowding, poor diet, or mite infestation.

You might also want to consider bringing along a cardboard box with some holes punched in the sides and a soft towel inside when you go to pick out your chicks, just in case the breeder doesn't have a good travel-box handy!

 

[annapablo]

on the noise front - generally they are quiet, no noiser than normal garden birds. when they crow, they are a bit louder, but it lasts about 3 seconds and is pretty quiet too, it wouldn't disturb anyone. i live in london, uk, in a terrace house with a small 40 foot garden and they're fine!

 

[annapablo]

oh and here's info on sexing - which you can't do until about 5 weeks old i think
http://quails-in-essex.co.uk/sexing_coturnix.html