What should I hatch?

[Britney]

My friend wants to barrow my incubator to hatch something. She lives in a neighborhood that will not allow chickens. I am thinking that she could have a pair of quails. Does anyone know anything about the kind of noise that they make? She needs a quiet type bird that could live in a large rabbit hutch. If that can't work for her can you advice me. I think that she could hatch ducks and let them swim in her pond. Do baby ducks need a mother or will another mother duck adopt the ducks. I am kind of unsure about what I should tell her because I have no experience with ducks. I have chickens and turkeys. Before she makes her final decision she will learn to care for the pet properly she really isn't the type to just not do the fight thing. I will also help her.

 

[CMV]

I think she needs to re-consider her plan for having outdoor poultry. If you live in an area where poultry is not allowed it is best not to get poultry. Get an indoor bird if she must have a bird.

Good luck.

Oh, and ducks can be loud. You would not be able to hide their presence for long.

 

[chickened]

Doves are pretty easy. Ducks might work just don't let her go overboard. I know folks that have ducks in the city, and muscovies are quiet.

 

[Ladybird CA]

Is she really sure that no poultry at all is allowed in her area? Most large cities allow up to 6 hens. Yes muscovy ducks are quiet although in many areas (Florida for sure) they are banned now so it might hard to acquire them. Ducklings don't need their mother, I think they would be ok as long as they have other poultry to be with.

You can listen to quail sounds on youtube. Coturnix and button quail hens are very quiet. Coturnix roosters make this funny whiplash sound, I had them in the city and could hear them outside my window but I wasn't sure if my neighbors could. I think the best option are button quail.

 

[chickened]

Why can you not have muscovies in Florida? I seen some in the swamp on a boat ride. Just curious.

 

[Britney]

I believe that it is because they breed with other ducks or other ducks breed with them. It is some kind of breeding issue I think.

 

[Britney]

Yes she is 100% sure that she can not have one single laying hen. She has an HOA. She is blaming me for her new desires to have poultry. I always give her eggs and her son likes to watch our chicks hatch, he would often lose track on time and one evening at 9:00 she came banging on my door to collect her child and low and behold they left together well after midnight. LOL Her husband ate his dinner alone and has been with each of my hatches so there you have our situation.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Can she have rabbits instead? Or maybe pigeons. There are breeds of pigeons that are intended to be meat birds and HOA's often don't count pigeons as poultry.

If she wants eggs, I think she is out of luck. Maybe she could get by with 2 female Moscovies, claiming them to be pets. They are quiet.

Or if she wants to hatch eggs, maybe she would like to have some budgies or cockatiels.

 

[Britney]

Oregon Blues, Where can I find cockateil eggs? I would love to hatch cockatiels?

 

[Micklemoose]

How much land does she have? Silkies are very quiet, although they lay very small eggs. If her yard is hidden from the neighbors I think it is conceivable she could keep silkies without anyone finding out.

I would definitely make sure her neighbors are ok with it first though. If not then it may be more trouble to her than it is worth unless she has alot of land and doesn't mind having a dedicated hidden part of her yard.