Thinking about accepting Coturnix hatching eggs, but I have chickens

[Quail Jailer]

Hey WFW,


I dunno, never seen a bantam duck, is a wood duck a bantam?

That brought to mind my real question, can Wood Ducks be raised in captivity?

And is it legal? They're my favorite duck the Males are SO pretty,

they raise their young in the trees down at my pond.

 

[WaterfowlWierdo]

Hey WFW,


I dunno, never seen a bantam duck, is a wood duck a bantam?

That brought to mind my real question, can Wood Ducks be raised in captivity?

And is it legal? They're my favorite duck the Males are SO pretty,

they raise their young in the trees down at my pond.

Yes wood ducks are bantam and they can be raised in captivity....but check with your local laws, because in some areas you will need a permit

 

[Quail Jailer]

I probably got too excited thinking about it...I'll probably just stick to the ones nature has lent.

What with the quail, farming and I'm co owner of an equipment repair shop where i'm expected to

make some kind of appearance 5 days a week. its like juggling a bowling ball, a basketball and a

porcupine. And some days you might toss in a baby rattler for my wife's sake.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

...
On another note, everyone says to use broody bantams and in all the years I've done this no one has showed me chicks that hatched under one. Not once. I have twice seen coturnix that miraculously incubated their own eggs, but have never seen a successful bantam hatch. Not saying it doesn't happen, where there is so much smoke there has to be some fire, but I don't think the hatch rate is worth the effort and potential risks. Just my opinion. 

Hmmm..That got me to thinking. I have some extra quail eggs right now and a broody bantam hen. I don't need to hatch any more chickens, may as well give her the quail eggs and see what happens.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I can show you because I just did it. After reading this thread I set 30 eggs under a bantam hen, and today I peeked under the hen and and noticed about half dozen quail chicks under her. Didn't want to disturb them so no hatch rate stats yet.

 

[Quail Jailer]

(the "I told ya so" dance)

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I'll start a separate thread w/picts about it after I see what happens. It's no great surprise that I was able to hatch a few but I intend to let the chicken hen & her cock brood & raise them also. I don't feel like setting up another brooder & cage for just a handful of chicks.

 

[Quail Jailer]

Cool, shoot some video if you can. I had told dc that I had seen it done, so I was already sure it would work.
But watching that outfit is the best part, its hilarious because the babies look like a school of roaches chasing after her.
The hen I had seen with quail brood, seemed like she just didn't know what to make of her "tiny children" but she dutifully soldiered on.