Update on hatchlings

[Esc_Quaily]

My babies are now just over 3 weeks. They are all mostly feathered and getting quite big. I think out of the 7, 2 are female (they both have pink beaks and spots on their chests) They tend to stuck together. The other 5 have a non patterned bib and are always exploring.
I decided to re-introduce the dust bath because they were digging holes in the temporary coop to bathe in. Most of the birds scratch at the DL.
I found 28% protein feed!! I've stopped grinding up the chick food as they are bigger and have been managing with the chick crumb fine. I'm still adding a little ACV or multi-vitamins to their water once a day.

They are absolutely fascinating to watch. Some of the ?boys are quite keen to watch me watching them! They all sleep together and seem to be a happy brood.

So far I'm not regretting my decision to keep quail. The kids also love watching and interacting with the birds.

 

[Susan Skylark]

They are fun little guys, especially in the brooder, a friend showed me a video of her pea chicks and I wondered what was wrong with them, they just sat there while my quail are always on the go!

 

[Esc_Quaily]

They sure are fun @Susan Skylark. We spend so much time watching them do their thing. I love seeing them scratching and bathing in the DL.
They don't seem as dumb as people say. I helped the first born to drink by dipping the beak into water and tapping at the tiny crumbs of food and that wee guy helped the other 6 get the hang of it. Same as if I put something new in the brooder, they all go investigate. Fascinating birds.
They have such silky feathers. All the quail have beautiful markings and hints of colours amongst the soft yellow feathers, beautiful, beautiful birds. My profile bird is my sons. Looking like a Tux. The other chocolatey one was looking like a Rosetta but I noticed some white on her throat today.

Here's the heads up BYC I'll be flooding the photo gallery with pics of my fully feathered covey in a few weeks, begging for help with IDs.

 

[Esc_Quaily]

My babies are now 4 weeks old and have become all sorts of different colours. I hardly recognise them!! Thank goodness they wear leg bands. My beautiful bird in my profile picture has lost the gold glasses it was born with. We go through one more molt at 6 weeks, is that correct before they settle on their colour and markings?

I have a mixture of very round plump birds and some that are much more slender. Is this a case of some birds are eating more than others or is it that females are plumper than the males or what's going on?

 

[Nabiki]

My babies are now 4 weeks old and have become all sorts of different colours. I hardly recognise them!! Thank goodness they wear leg bands. My beautiful bird in my profile picture has lost the gold glasses it was born with. We go through one more molt at 6 weeks, is that correct before they settle on their colour and markings?

I have a mixture of very round plump birds and some that are much more slender. Is this a case of some birds are eating more than others or is it that females are plumper than the males or what's going on?

Your birds will change colour some with every moult. After six weeks, their basic colour will remain, but the patterns and shade will continue to change as they age.

The females do tend to be plumper than the males, but you should still make sure that they're all getting enough to eat. If you notice any that aren't getting enough to eat, you might try adding a second feeder. That way, if you have a bully, it won't be able to guard both feeders at once.

 

[Esc_Quaily]

Your birds will change colour some with every moult. After six weeks, their basic colour will remain, but the patterns and shade will continue to change as they age.

The females do tend to be plumper than the males, but you should still make sure that they're all getting enough to eat. If you notice any that aren't getting enough to eat, you might try adding a second feeder. That way, if you have a bully, it won't be able to guard both feeders at once.

Thanks for sharing this with me Nabiki. I didnt know they are always changing their patterns and shades. The brown birds are starting to look like peacocks. They have very small brown, orange and gold feathers. We're calling them pea-quail. Beautiful feathers. I can't wait to see their colours when they are outside in natural light.

We have 2 feeders in there. I do a quick head count whenever the feeders get topped up and everyone is at a feeder within seconds.

I've not noticed any bullying, no missing feathers or isolation of any of the birds so far. Its nice to see them all getting along at the moment

 

[Esc_Quaily]

Name that quail. Who have we got here? They are all Japanese but what types? Can anyone sex these beautiful birds for me please?

 

[Nabiki]

2, 5 & 8 are male. 4 & 7 are female. 1 & 6 are not feather sexable.

They are all coturnix, but as for colours, they keep changing the names, so I'll give you the names I know them as.
1 - rosetta or tibetan (if the feet were dark as a chick, it's tibetan)
2 & 5 look like Italians
4 - maybe pearl
6 - Rosetta pied (or tux)
7 - Italian
8 - Also Italian?

 

[Esc_Quaily]

Thanks @Nabiki. We also thought the same with the sexes. 1 & 6 will be sexable at 6 weeks?

Both brown birdies had black feet as chicks. 6 is still mostly black on the legs and feet and 1 has a mixture of pink and black legs and feet. 1 has a white patch under the chin (not shown in picture). I'll ask the lady I got the eggs from for an ID on those 2 little cuties.

The falbs (not pictured) are starting to turn grey and they look stunning. I've got my eye on some black and white chicks too.

@Susan Skylark can I get any exciting variations with the Italian males, the falb fee, pearl and whatever the brown birds are?

 

[Nabiki]

Thanks @Nabiki. We also thought the same with the sexes. 1 & 6 will be sexable at 6 weeks?

Both brown birdies had black feet as chicks. 6 is still mostly black on the legs and feet and 1 has a mixture of pink and black legs and feet. 1 has a white patch under the chin (not shown in picture). I'll ask the lady I got the eggs from for an ID on those 2 little cuties.

The falbs (not pictured) are starting to turn grey and they look stunning. I've got my eye on some black and white chicks too.

@Susan Skylark can I get any exciting variations with the Italian males, the falb fee, pearl and whatever the brown birds are?

Unfortunately, 1 & 6 are not feather sexable at all. You will need to vent sex or wait until they crow or lay.