Thinking about getting some quail, just a few questions.

[eggsrcool]

I'm considering getting some quail, and I have a few questions.

1) Are they difficult to look after, what breed is best for beginners?

2) Is an old dove cot http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1283/1353831613_cce3278675.jpg?v=0 similar to this o.k for housing? If so I will only be using the top part as the house.

3) What numbers should they be kept in, for good fertility?

4) How much room do they need? What can I use as a coop? I was thinking about a net a bit like this http://www.thecompanyshed.co.nz/store/images/easy_net_closed.jpg , but a little larger, would it be o.k?

Thank you!

 

[monarc23]

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[eggsrcool]

Thanks! If I place the net where they could potentially live, inside the hen garden, would that give protection as the chickens have chicken wire around their run to stop predators from getting in. How tall and wide is the average coturnix?

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
they'd be *safer* for sure, but if you're meaning chicken wire with the roundish holes then even your chickens aren't exactly safe in there, minks and other little predators will make quick work of that. If you've been safe so far from that then wonderful!!! I'd deffinatly hint at reccomending hardware cloth later on (atleast on the lower half) if you can

But yes that'd be a good idea as long as you rhens arent sitting on their enclosure and pooing down through

 

[eggsrcool]

Lol. Also, what should I feed them on? Do I have to get quail feed, or is chicken feed sufficient?

 

[monarc23]

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If you have to feed chicken feed, i'd reccomend chick feed, and nonmedicated if you can (if not people use it with no problems others have had problems normally dealing with thrive-ability). ANYWHO, yeppers you can use it, but if you CAN it's best to get the highest protien nonmedicated game bird feed you can get which is NOT always easy. So if chick starter is easiest for you then go for it! However i reccomend buying a bag of cheap cat food and crushing it up and putting it in thier feed as well that up of protien will be benfiitial to their growth and egg laying ability in the future

Protien should be around 20+ % Your chick feed i assume is above that, and if so great, but i still reccomend supplimentation of cat food, boiled egg (esp the yolk) and mealworms if you can

They will LOVE you for it. My quails eat egg yolk and mealworms right from my hands

 

[eggsrcool]

Thank you for your help!

 

[monarc23]

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welcome welcome anything i can do to help make coturnix more loved

hehe