Updates on my Quail.

[Wolf-Kim]

The drink cups I ordered from Cutler supply came in today. We grabbed one and headed off to Home Depot to get the rest of our supplies.

We were making good time getting the system together, all we have to do now is wait for the glue to dry and then hang the water reservoir(5 gallon bucket). Then we should be set to go! We are actually going to rig four cages with the automatic waterers.

While we were out there I heard a couple "chortles" coming from the quail and I'm assuming those may be the "crows" I keep reading about. I'm about to look for some online audio on that to check and make sure. They grow up so fast, we'll be getting eggs in just the next few weeks. Quail truly are amazing little things. Very economical and I can see why!

I'll get pictures sometimes this week. It ended up raining on us on and off today. I was going to get pictures of my chickens, but now their run is muddy and so are they from playing in the puddles and mud.

-Kim

 

[First To Hatch]

Yea thats the call that the males make lol.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Sounded something like a turkey strangling a songbird. I tried to imitate it for Adam and he laughed at me because I made a fool of myself. LOL

-Kim

 

[Omniskies]

I think quail can be sexed at a week or two old by that call. I've separated out my chicks each time I see one calling. It's not a very good way to sex a few hundred chicks unless you don't mind staring at quail for hours on end, but it's at least a start to get those extra males out of the way so I know how many maybe-females I have.

I'm still loving my quail. I have another batch that has been hatching. I think I lost the eggs in one incubator, though. I caught the temperature at 107. I need to move these incubators into the basement where it is more humid and the temperature is more stable.

I'd love to see pictures when you have them

 

[First To Hatch]

mine didnt start making those calls till like 4 weeks old

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Yeah, I was able to find some audio of a quail crow and that is what I heard twice today while out there. It is the first time I've heard them make that noise and they are 4-5 weeks old. I'll have to sit out there sometime soon with my color zipties to ID male vs. female.

-Kim

 

[Omniskies]

Before they make the proper call a few will stand straight up in the brooder and make a baby call of sorts. I've been marking those as males and seeing how accurate it is in a few weeks. If you have any chicks right now grab a book and sit down by them. If you hear one calling out or making any sort of loudish noise then mark him and see what he turns into.

 

[Ace_king_brahma]

LOL...to be honest when I heard the crow for the first time I thought it was like someone was throttling the little the guy!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
That's exactly what I thought it sounded like!

-Kim

 

[Mrs MIA]

It sounds like someone doing a cat-whistle (cat-call?) while gargling...

You can sex the coturnix at 3 weeks by their chest colors. The males are decidedly rusty while the females are mostly speckled. But the crow is a sure sign of a male.

Wow... you work fast! I think you're going to love the cup waterers. For the first few days I poke at it with my finger to fill it up so they get the idea that's where the water's coming from, then after that they're just fine.