Hi, I will soon be ordering around 30 coturnix quail eggs. But I have never had quail so any help would be nice like cage plans ideas pictures and general ionfo and what good foods to feed them and where to get it, thanks, Thomas
Quail help +_+
gamebird starter is what ya need to start with u can get it at feedstore or tractor supply store. they need extra protein cause of how fast they grow if they don't have enough in their diet it could cause them to cripple or die if i remember right. gamebird feed is 24% protein if i remember right they need 30-32 if i remember right. when we hatched out hundreds of them last year we bought soybean meal to mix with it to up the protein. i'd have to ask dh what the ratio is. also meal worms for treats help too.
at 4 weeks old they switch to gamebird feed. which is also the maturity for breeding. to sex them push behind the vent and if it's a boy what looks like shaveing cream will come out girls there is nothing. boys will make the girls bald in mateing season so don't freak out if that happens. but boys will fight to the death if there is not enough hens or enough space for them. if it happens they need seperated asap. i've had to seperate some that just could not get along and it's not pretty. if a boy is not dominant and another male kicks his bum in a fight the whole flock in with him basically will disown him and the hens will follow only the dominates lead or they all will tear into him till they kill him.
we kept some in breeder pens with roll out bottoms to collect eggs and some outside with flight pens. keep the ratio 1 boy to 3-10 girls or they WILL fight they are VERY teritorial. keep tops of cages a little high cause if startled they will jump straight up and can nock themselves out or make their heads bleed if top is not high enough. make sure it has some give to it just incase at least 18" high.
for space of coop and run, if regulars u need half a sq ft per bird and jumbos 1sq ft per bird and that is coop and run space combined. they don't need nests they will not set or hatch their own. bedding just use pine shaveings.
they are very wasteful with feed and messy. we made homemade feeders out of 24oz. pop bottles so they couldn't throw it all over. then for waterers we used quart sized self waterers with quail bases if ya have to use a chick base add marbles or pebbles cause they will drown in them. also one trick i learned is to add apple cyder vinigar to there waterer everyday it cuts down on the amonia smell and bacteria to make healthier birds.
hope this helps if ya need more info just ask,
silkie
SC, you are just chock FULKL of good info!
yeah when i'm not haveing a blonde moment which happens quite often,lol. i'm glad i can help u all when ya need it. after all it's what friends r for. sides i love talking chookies with ya all,lol.
They sound scary--little and scary:0)
yeah, like you nankins aren't little? little and cute!
Cute and scary aren't mutually incompatible---they move so fast it looks like film sped up. But I haven't head that they are terribly territorial--they like to stay together for safety. Funny little birds.