Martin B Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 what on earth do quail eat? How often do they lay & what do the eggs taste like - are they strong tasting? DO you have to provide nesting boxes like you do for chickens? DO they go bed at dusk, need rooting bars & a run? Can you mix male & female? Adult quail eat Layers Pellets just like chickens and chicks eat chick crumb. In the spring and summer quail should lay every day, sometimes you might get 2 per day per hen! Quail eggs are delicious (my opinion, not fact), not particually strong tasting, great in salads. Nesting boxes are not needed as they lay their eggs all over the place, however they love shavings to dustbathe in. Quail do not need roosting bars although they may 'roost' on conifer branches if they are provided but they will most likely just hide under them for shade. The Quail do not go to bed at dusk, they will stay out most hours, no matter what the weather. You can give them a run, yes. What Dilly has is great, but I keep my quail in large 'enrinched' rabbit hutches, basically large rabbit hutches with bathing substrates, cd's and bits of greens from time to time. You can mix male and female, preferably in a ratio of 1:5. If there are too many males they may fight. Mixing males and females together will ultimately lead in fertile eggs which you could potentially incubate for new stock or sell on ebay! I'm sure somebody will come along and correct me. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 (edited) what on earth do quail eat? How often do they lay & what do the eggs taste like - are they strong tasting? DO you have to provide nesting boxes like you do for chickens? DO they go bed at dusk, need rooting bars & a run? Can you mix male & female?Sorry, but I'm planning something here! Emma.x Can I answer these questions, even though I don't have quail? what on earth do quail eat? Quail eat crushed layers pelets or mash. How often do they lay & what do the eggs taste like - are they strong tasting Depends on the breed, Italians/Japanese lay up to 300 eggs per year, some are seasonal layers and only lay from about April-May. But if you provide extra light they will lay more. No idea what they tast like I've never tried one . DO you have to provide nesting boxes like you do for chickens? You can provide nesting boxes if you want, but its up to them if they use it They like quiet secure places to lay. Most people use a clay plant pot lying on its side filled with straw. DO they go bed at dusk, need rooting bars & a run? Nope they don't go to bed at dusk But you could use food bribes to get them in there or use a light that they would be attracted to. Some people house them in rabbit hutches, but I think its nice for them to have a small run as well. As for roosting bars, they like to snuggle up in hay or hemcore. Some are ground dwellers, some are more flighty and like to roost up high, it depends on the breed. Can you mix male & female? Yes you can mix male and female, but if there is too many males and not enough females then they will fight till death, so there needs to be plenty of females to "share". xx Edited February 7, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 My answers were specifically for the Japanese and Italians that I have kept, I did not include any information regards other species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Why oh why do I not check to make sure someone hasn't posted before me with the same answers? . Oh well, you can have two copies. The problem is I'm such a slow typer, it taken me like 15 mins to type that out . xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Just to add you can have more than one male living together as long as there enough females to keep them occupied (theses men!! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 thanks both of you! So, if I keep some in a hutch - can I keep them indoors in bad weather - indoor hutch type thing? Can a use Hemcore / aubiose as bedding. Oh & can they get lice & mites like hens can? One last thing....do they make any sort of little / loud noises? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Just to add you can have more than one male living together as long as there enough females to keep them occupied (theses men!! ) REALLY! I didn't know that! That would make life so much easier, so could you have about 12 females and 2 males? Or would you need more females? Off to edit my answers, so theres no confusion.... xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I heard they bite each others heads off & are cannibals? Is this true & if so, what could I do to prevent it? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I think they only do this if they are overcrowded Emma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 phew - thank god, otherwise I'd have to call them Hannibal & lectur!!!! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 thanks both of you! So, if I keep some in a hutch - can I keep them indoors in bad weather - indoor hutch type thing? Can a use Hemcore / aubiose as bedding. Oh & can they get lice & mites like hens can?One last thing....do they make any sort of little / loud noises? Emma.x Yes a hutch would be good, depending on how many you want to keep in there. And yes you can keep them inside in cold weather. Hemcore/aubiose would be fine, although if its particualy cold, I think they would like some hay to snuggle in. Yes they can get lice/mites and worms, basicaly anything chickens can get , and can have the same treatments as chooks. They can be cannibals if they are bored, or over crowded or if there are too many males in one group. You could hang up CD's and greens to prevent this, and make sure they have plenty to do, such as dustbaths, logs, perches, plenty of room, just like chooks really. They do make noise, like a garden bird does, little chirping noises. Cockerels are a bit louder, but no where near as loud as a chook cockerel. Hold on, I'll try and find some videos.... xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 and chicks are very noisey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Just to add you can have more than one male living together as long as there enough females to keep them occupied (theses men!! ) REALLY! I didn't know that! That would make life so much easier, so could you have about 12 females and 2 males? Or would you need more females? Off to edit my answers, so theres no confusion.... xx Two males to about 10/12 females would be perfect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Yay, thank you bronze . Emma here are some videos for you. Love this one In this one, don't listen to it with the speakers on really loud, it'll give you a fright This is what a "standard" male would sound like xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suz'sQ Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I heard they bite each others heads off & are cannibals? Is this true & if so, what could I do to prevent it? Emma.x Japanese quail aggression seem to be hugely exaggerated. I've only had 1 fight in a year of breeding, it resulted in one male having a nasty head injury, but that quail went on to make a full recovery (photos of injury and healing progress on my forum) Once the quail 'Spike' had recovered he was added back into the breeding pen where is lives happily with the quail that attacked him, in fact he is now the dominant quail of that group. However if quail are bored or stressed or are in poor environment they may start feather or toe pecking, unfortunately if they draw blood they seem to be attracted to it, making the injury worse or even causing death - I think this is what people confuse this behaviour for aggression. Quail are not naturally cannibalistic but this will occur in quail and other poultry in poor living conditions, such as over crowding or quail housed with sick or dying amongst the group (but this would happen in the wild). Please don't let all the hysteria that surrounds quail keeping put you off, they make wonderful, funny little pets. Suz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I heard they bite each others heads off & are cannibals? Is this true & if so, what could I do to prevent it? All birds can be canabalistic, and I have had several experience of 'biting their heads off' and Lesley has seen some of the damage these little things can do to each other, but it is very rare, just make sure they have plenty of space! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 and chicks are very noisey Tell me about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Just to add you can have more than one male living together as long as there enough females to keep them occupied (theses men!! ) REALLY! I didn't know that! That would make life so much easier, so could you have about 12 females and 2 males? Or would you need more females? Off to edit my answers, so theres no confusion.... xx Two males to about 10/12 females would be perfect Yep, that would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 An old friend of mine keeps quail and I spent some time talking to her before I decided against getting any just yet. Her's live in long, low aviaries with lots of running space (that's what they like to do best), plenty of ground plants and cover. She has found that they are great escapologists and recomends a double door entry system so that you can get into clean them out without the little monkeys escaping. She recommend the male/female ratio fo 1:5 and hers always seem very happy and healthy. They are in strict breeding groups as she also breeds to sell the birds for new bloodlines. One day I will do it, but for now, I just don't have the time/space/money, Oh, and Rosie loves the eggs hard boiled in her packed lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Fantastic set up you have there Dilly! Looks really good. They are cute aren't they? You can't beat boiled quails eggs. I pickled them for part of my Dad's Christmas pressie. They look great in a large jar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 We had them as a starter for Christmas lunch - salmon and prawns marinated in lime, soy sauce, honey and ginger, then poached. With a salad and soft poached quails eggs - t'was divine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I had bobwhites briefly, and I managed to lose two of them in the three months or so I had them. But they never fought and were lovely and quiet. And cute. I just prefer my pets a bit more hands on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I like the way that they boink about like little spring loaded chickies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I wish I hadn't read this now, I want some quail, and they sell them in the pet shop where I buy my pellets and mash. They look like little humbugs, they are really, really cute I am now wondering how many chickens, quail and veggies I can actually fit in my garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I wish I hadn't read this now, I want some quail, and they sell them in the pet shop where I buy my pellets and mash. They look like little humbugs, they are really, really cute I am now wondering how many chickens, quail and veggies I can actually fit in my garden Shall we club together and buy ourselves a small holding Claire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
