xScrunchee Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 (edited) I am now the proud owner of 6 beautiful Japanese quail hens (6-7 weeks old) I am shocked at how calm and friendly they are. I was expecting them to be a little bit jumpy and nervous-at least until they had settled in and got used to us. In fact they are so friendly that they will come and eat out of our hands, happily be stroked and don't mind being picked up at all. We are thrilled with them and they have had us in stitches with their antics I will post photo's as soon as I can Edited April 16, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Congratulations Glad they are settling in well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 Woo Hoo Just had our first quail egg already One of them does look a little bigger so I wonder if she is a little bit older?? I thought that they didn't come into lay until 8 weeks + Or can they start a bit earlier? Well done that quail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 Just a few pics of my new babies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Sounds like they're settled in already Well done on the too 7ish weeks should be POL - especially with all this sun we're getting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyjulian Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Ooh, they're lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Congratulations - they're lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 17, 2010 Author Share Posted April 17, 2010 Thank you everyone They have settled in nicely and seem really happy. They were eating layers mash before they came here but I was planning on giving them pellets. They are not used to the pellets so I am grinding them into powder/mash in the hope that if I grind them less each time, they will get used to eating them whole. Would this work do you think? Also, they are not used to a bunny drinking bottle so I have a bowl of water in there which needs changing about 3-4 times aday. Those of you who use bunny bottles with your quail-did they just learn to use them on their own and did you provide a water bowl too until they got the hang of it? Ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 I use bunny bottles with my quail. I introduced them to them by squeezing the bottles gently when they were looking at them. They soon caught on. The pellets being ground down should work ok. Are they eating the ground up pellets ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 17, 2010 Author Share Posted April 17, 2010 Yep they are going mad on the ground up pellets-in fact it is hard going keeping up with them as I am grinding them with a pestle and mortar I taught my chickens to use a bunny bottle the same way as you taught your quail-so I should have thought of that really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyjulian Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 I think my quail are a bit thick, no matter how much I showed them the bunny bottle & squeezed it, they didn't cotton on. I just ended up with a damp bit under the bottle. Ours use chick drinkers like these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 17, 2010 Author Share Posted April 17, 2010 Was just thinking of something I could get..... Y'know large versions of what budgies have. I'm sure I've seen them on Ebay Will go and have a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 18, 2010 Author Share Posted April 18, 2010 Well we seem to be getting somewhere with the water bottle. A couple of them pecked at the drip on the end as I was squeezing it so I am now hopeful that they will get the idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 18, 2010 Share Posted April 18, 2010 Was just thinking of something I could get.....Y'know large versions of what budgies have. I'm sure I've seen them on Ebay Will go and have a look I know exactly what you mean. You use a large lemonade bottle and attach it to the run. My next door neighbour uses one for her bantams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 18, 2010 Author Share Posted April 18, 2010 I know exactly what you mean. You use a large lemonade bottle and attach it to the run. My next door neighbour uses one for her bantams. Yeah that's the one and they have got them on Ebay so if they don't get the hang of the bunny bottle I will definitely get them one of those Another question-I have a spare Omlet Grub, do you think that the quail would be able to eat from it or do you think they are too small? Might give it a go and find out but just wondered if anyone on here uses a Grub for their quail?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted April 21, 2010 Author Share Posted April 21, 2010 Just a quick update- They can and are using the grub however I have to make sure that it is topped up and leaning forward a bit so that they can reach into it. I am going to order them a proper feeder today. They are also now eating the pellets without me crushing them up so that is a good thing and we are still getting one egg per day. Can't wait for the others to start laying as it's going to take a while to get a decent amount with only one producing As for the noise they make-they are certainly not loud at all. I can hear them sometimes if I am outside but if a starling starts singing nearby, it drowns them out. Also, their little warning call sounds like a grass hopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 As you are leaning the grub forward, maybe the old style grub would be better. they are the ones with the letal clips to hang on the run. They lean forward naturally and don't hold the feed as well as the new grubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
