Wanting to know about bobwhite quail!!!

[TwoCrows]

Quote: I am HORRIBLY dyslexic and constantly have to read and reread what I type because I have been known to write things backwards a lot! LOL
I do a spell check and always "preview" my response atleast 3 times before I hit the submit button.

I had a few minutes at work this morning, so I started to read this thread from the beginning and I noticed that the request was for replies for anyone who has raised bobwhites. At that point, I was going to stop reading and get back to work, but I almost lost my coffee while reading the first response, then as I read on, I saw that DC responded, so I logged off and got back to work knowing this thread was in good hands.

I've ordered 2 dozen Bobwhite eggs and should be getting them in March, so I'm trying to read up on Bobs so I can make new checklists for hatching / brooding / raising bobwhites.
James
Well James, I will welcome you into the world of Bobs! I think you will really enjoy these birds once you get into it. Make sure to work with the babies so they are more tame when they grow into adults. The babies may not like to be held or handled, but do it anyway. You will be surprised as when they reach about 6 or 8 weeks old, they will all of a sudden act bonded with you more than they would had you not worked with them. This will also make them easier to handle. Bobs stress very easily when handled if they are not tame and can almost go into shock due to fear. But by taming them down, they "deal" with the handling so much better. Keep us posted on your new adventure!!

 

[James the Bald]

I will. I also think it is interesting... a year ago, I wouldn't have even considered opening a thread with "bobwhite" in the title (since I knew very little about them), wheras now I'm searching for the bobwhite threads. I'm just glad that I found this site way back when I did, because not even knowing what a Coturnix was, I would have started with the Bobwhites only to get disappointed and end before I ever got started.
I'm considering putting my bobwhite cages in a totally separate location from my A&Ms, where they will get direct sunlight.
James

 

[TwoCrows]

I will. I also think it is interesting... a year ago, I wouldn't have even considered opening a thread with "bobwhite" in the title (since I knew very little about them), wheras now I'm searching for the bobwhite threads. I'm just glad that I found this site way back when I did, because not even knowing what a Coturnix was, I would have started with the Bobwhites only to get disappointed and end before I ever got started.
I'm considering putting my bobwhite cages in a totally separate location from my A&Ms, where they will get direct sunlight.
James

The thing that makes Bobs so difficult to raise and keep is that they stress so easily. This is the area of "detail" that needs to be addressed for successful Bob keeping. Unlike Coturnix quail that have been around humans for many hundreds of years, Bobs have only recently come on the scene in large quantities. So they are still very wild. This is why they need more space, are kept in pairs, mate for life, and can be basket cases in a stressful environment. But if you keep them right, provide them a quiet place to exist with as much natural things in their environment, then they thrive. The reason Bobs are catagorized as aggressive is because they do not tolerate small spaces. It stresses them out. And some never get over it. I have a male that stresses in a 100 square foot space and will bite the toes of his mate when he gets stressed. They can be quite hyper and are not yet used to close quarters and humans. So do all you can to keep them quiet and they will produce greatly for you. They do calm down over time. My birds never flush, they don't run from me, they eat from my hands, they "tolerate" handling and are quite laid back.

And on this note of handling, be very careful when handling Bobs. They can injure themselves trying to escape your hands. I injured a couple of females early on not holding them properly. Never hold them against your body, letting their legs and feet pressing against you as they want to push of and away. They will push hard enough to sprain their legs. They are sure you are going to eat them and get hurt very easily. So when you grab them grab them by the entire body, avoiding the feet and keep their feet away from your body.

And when you use lighting on them, in or out of the brooder, use infra-red lighting only. No white and red bulbs are not neccesarily infra- red. Infra-red allows them to sleep. And without enough sleep, they get stressed.

If you want to hear the beautiful call of the male Bobwhite, you will have to keep them without a mate. A mated male will NEVER call. Even if she is in another cage, he will never call. This call is to attract a mate. They mate for life and will stick with this mate until the other dies.

Good luck James! Keep us posted on your Bob adventures. I am always thrilled to hear from others that keep Bobs as well.