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 Shall we club together and buy ourselves a small holding Claire? I think, Clare, that financially you and I are similarly non blessed so it would indeed be a very small holding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I like that - 'non-blessed', great term to describe my finances! What's your place worth *gets calculator out*... no, don't answer that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I like that - 'non-blessed', great term to describe my finances! What's your place worth *gets calculator out*... no, don't answer that one! Not enough to buy half a smallholding, that's for sure! Cheap Victorian terrace, bottom of the housing food chain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Sounds a bit like mine then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Sounds a bit like mine then Oh well, we can dream At least you get a half decent sized garden with an old terrace, so half a dream is possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I can just see us in our respective (smallish) plots, dreaming of a smallholding! You'll have to come and visit next time you're on the M40 Claire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 (edited) My goodness - I seem to have missed all this I did notice someone on another forum had spotted this and emailed me. They have many years of breeding quail - all sorts - and it caused quite a topic of conversation on there. Rest assured they confirmed that my quail are all Japanese. NOT that it matters - but I will still take the word of a very experienced breeder of long standing who had all sorts of quail breeds and species for me to choose from. It is also something that crops up time after time they said - and it is thought the confusion arose when in the USA they decided to call one colour of Japanese quail (the colour of my male bird - dark) Japanese Quail and the Golden and pale colour of the species Italian to avoid confusion LOL I wanted quail for a long time before I finally got mine - and after a lot of careful though and masses of research. I think animals are far too precious to just 'jump in' and get them - as a lot of them are 'cheap' to buy so it is an easy option. Anyway the reason I came on here is to show you this latest news http://kooringa.com/?p=5936 Here are some of the things quail can safely eat as well as quail mix or crushed chicken pellets (crumbs, growers, or layers) Cucumber- Just cut a chunk of put it in there pen and with in minutes its all gone, the only part the quails will not eat it the skin, you can cut the skin off if you wish before serving cucumber. You can give them this no more than 2-3 times a week. Boiled Egg- You can use there eggs just hard boil a couple and crush the hole thing in a bowl shells aswell. Wait until egg mix cooled down then feed this back to your birds. They should love it. Meal Worms- You can use normal meal worms for japanese quail but when feeding them to chinese quail cut them in half or buy Mini meal worm because this will be more easy for them to eat, you can feed a few of these every day 3 for each hen. Remember the cock bird will not eat these. waxworm Apple slices Dandelion Leaves fresh mowed grass grapes strawberries sunflower seed hearts fresh sprouted Mung beans Finch seed beetroot leaves wild blackberries brown bread crusts Peeled chunks of courgette courgette leaves crunchy nut cornflakes grains of cooked rice daddylong legs. spinach leaves cress leaves midgies I was also told that they love oranges too! Mine love mint, and chard - oh and meal worms - so sweet - the male doesn't like them and gives them to the hens. And soft as I am, I have sowed grass seed into pots and they will get a pot of grass as often as they would like. I would not really like to give them freshly mown grass cuttings - as they are not good for chickens - so wouldn't want to give them to my newbies. My quail love to run around in their aviary, sunbath and do all the things that the chicken do. And yes, I am hooked, and am now looking into getting Jumbo quail. Edited February 9, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Fascinating stuff Dilly. I love your blog. Lovely pics too.....and how delightful to see that little egg nestling there. I felt sure that you and the breeder would be right about them being Japanese.........not that it matters, as you say. Are you going to breed some more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I rather expected mine to be like Zebedee on Magic Roundabout - but they aren't and they don't 'jump' maybe its because I live in a quiet area - I really don't know. They love being stroked - well mine do and I do it several times a day. So far - but it is early days - they haven't tried to escape - keeping fingers firmly crossed. My aviary door isn't very big and my body does block it though Thanks for all the positive replies. I am thinking of breeding them - but will take things slowly before I do. As these (Japanese) quail eggs are really hard - I was told that it would be possible for one of my small bantams - like the Rosecomb or Modern Game would be able to hatch them - I might try it as an experiment - but I know that it might not work. I have the offer of a second hand automatic incubator so I just might. As (I was told) that quail usually live on average 2 - 2.5yrs then it would make sense to breed some to replace my stock. Lots to think about - but for now I am just enjoying them as pets, rather than a source of food or income. Amazing to see so much interest - I never realised they were so popular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I am also about to venture into Jumbo quail, I take it you won't be breeding them for meat though Dilly? I'm off to pick up a new batch of quail tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 No comment - yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I put quail eggs under Claret's bantam Lily last year - I think even she was too heavy and the eggs cracked and then she ate them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Yes I heard. But I might try with my Rosecomb - just once - as she is about the size of a pigeon or smaller. What species quail do you have? Have you had them long? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I think Lesley has 1 Japanese and 4 Italians. Or we can call them all Japanese if you like! She bought them from me last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 As far as I'm concerned.... they're all brown ones.... and they're lovely ....... PS. different shades of brown that is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Martin call the goldens it makes it easier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suz'sQ Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I put quail eggs under Claret's bantam Lily last year - I think even she was too heavy and the eggs cracked and then she ate them! I haven't tried incubating Quail using a broody bantam and was thinking of trying some Jap's under my mini silkie (thought it would be nice to see chicks interact with a mummy rather than a brooder lamp), but have been told its really not a good idea - newly hatched quail are tiny little nutters with suicidal tendencies who will drive even the best broody to distraction. The tiny dynamos are more than often killed by the frustrated broody. Suz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Gosh...I am finding this quail keeping more and more interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Well an incubator it is then - I just happen to have my eye on a second hand one which I have been advised by a third party that it is a good price Watch this space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Oooo, will you have chickies when we're up at Easter then???? You will have to check my pockets when I leave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Erm - might do. I depends. The incubator won't be available until after February 20th, and someone is going to send me eggs as soon as I want them. (But for goodness sake don't tell my husband). So I might just - with a bit of luck. (I am going to hide everything in my studio - so it will be to late once he finds out). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 you sneaky monkey! Not that I'd ever do anything like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 More surprises to day from the Quail - see my blog below. I am well and truly hooked now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 ps the different shades of eggs dont seem to mean anything. I was hoping that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
