chicken bark Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 (edited) Well today I decided to move a rabbit hutch into my WIR - this ended up needing a panel removing so I could get it in. It was good that I did do this because I also found some Quail for sale locally. So what was a 'love to have' this morning has become 'I have' tonight! At the moment I'm not really sure what I have. The lady had put them into boxes already when I got there so I didn't get to see them in daylight. So tomorrow will be an interesting morning when I actually find out what I have bought. They should be Japanese Quail - there are 2 white, 2 brown (1 of which is a male) and two extra younger unsexed ones (so probably boys then ). I've thought about getting them for a while and done some research but that all went out of the window as it seems to have been a rush to get a house ready and collect them. From finding them to getting them took about 3 hours. Wish me luck for good news in the morning. I'm hoping all will be well and I can spend a more relaxing time getting to know them. Edited July 30, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quailtastic Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 brilliant! Quail are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 good luck! just be very careful with your two unsexed ones that might be boys. male quail will fight to the death, I have spent longer than I care to think about dealing with bloodied and battered quail boys. any chance the lady will swop them for 2 definite females? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share Posted July 30, 2011 Well this morning I had a better look at them. I am confused to say the least. I still have 6 and the colours are as expected. One of the white females is either actually a boy or is just asserting herself as top bod. She also has hurt her eye and it is swollen a bit but no blood. Not surprising considering her behaviour - so I'll keep a watch on her. I have one brown female who has a speckled chest and the obligatory bald patch on the back of her head. The male looks beautiful although he has a speckled chest too and I thought they were supposed to be plain? I guess it depends on what colour Japanese Quail I have and whether they are heinz 57? The two younger ones keep boinking and I have no idea what sex they are. The seller said they were 5 weeks old so any sexing tips as coloured chest would imply female but as said before the male looks the same too. I know I have 4 that are six months old and 2 that are five weeks old. I know that fertility drops after 8 months and they only live a couple of years. As they are my first I'm not so worried about incubating eggs - I got them to get to know Quail and eat their eggs. I shall try and get photos later although I have already discovered the way my hutch doors open is not the best for containing flighty Quail. At least if they escaped the hutch they would be contained by the WIR. Beach chick the seller wouldn't swap them but I didn't pay much so I'm not worried. Thanks for your good wishes. Today I'm going to find some things to put in their hutch they can hide behind etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share Posted July 30, 2011 Here are the photos. These are the older ones. and here is a couple of photos of the unsexed ones - any ideas? I have since added a large terracotta plant pot into their run. It was broken on one side so lays down on its side and gives them somewhere to hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francesca88 Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 I would guess that the larger one at the front is a hen and the other a cock! Having said that, though, I have a Japanese hen who has a brown chest and lays me an egg everyday, and who is currently sitting on fifteen eggs! So colour sexing isn't always 100% accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share Posted July 31, 2011 Someone has said I should be able to vent sex them in about a week. I have had a look already and they both look like girls so I guess I have to wait until they are fully mature. There's going to be a lot of drumming fingers this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share Posted July 31, 2011 I would guess that the larger one at the front is a hen and the other a cock! Having said that, though, I have a Japanese hen who has a brown chest and lays me an egg everyday, and who is currently sitting on fifteen eggs! So colour sexing isn't always 100% accurate. You have a Quail that has gone broody? That's rare isn't it? Well done and good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francesca88 Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 I would guess that the larger one at the front is a hen and the other a cock! Having said that, though, I have a Japanese hen who has a brown chest and lays me an egg everyday, and who is currently sitting on fifteen eggs! So colour sexing isn't always 100% accurate. You have a Quail that has gone broody? That's rare isn't it? Well done and good luck. Yes I have - and I know!! I wasn't expecting her to stick at it, but I think she's only got around five days left to go, so fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share Posted July 31, 2011 Good luck with it. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I got an egg today. Now as it is possibly fertile do I save them and incubate them or eat them. Decisions decisions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
