![]() It can be upsetting to see that your quail are losing feathers. Quail also have lovely feathers that are great for arts and crafts projects, event décor, fly fishing, and pet toys. It is best to have dedicated coops for your chickens and for your quail.Quail are easy to breed and can provide a source of meat and eggs for the family or an income for a small business. Quail and chickens have different feed requirements as well. Since your quail are smaller, they can be easily bullied by a larger chicken. Chickens can potentially pass diseases to your quail. If you plan on raising both chickens and quail in your backyard flock, you want to keep them housed in separate areas. If you notice any illness with a bird, be sure to isolate your bird from the rest of your coop. Quail droppings can have a higher concentration of ammonia, so cleaning often is essential to prevent any respiratory illnesses in your flock. Be sure to offer your quail a place to dust bath. Clean the coop often, many quail coops have a litter tray making cleaning very easy. Healthīe sure your quail have the proper setup to reduce any chances for illness. Quail feed can be supplemented with sprouts and bugs as well as adding small grit free-choice. Turkey layer/breeder/all flock feed is a great option for adult quail. Adult Coturnix quail require feed containing 20%-22% protein and 2-3% calcium. Feed Requirementsīecause quail grow at a faster rate, they do require more protein in their feed. When brooding quail chicks, select waterers that have a smaller base, allowing the young quail to drink without falling into the water. Nipple waterers keep the bedding dry, reducing any extra moisture in the coop. ![]() Quail adapt very easily to a nipple waterer system, which is preferred by many who raise quail. When choosing a feeder, one with a grate over the top of the feed works well for preventing the quail from sitting in and soiling their feed. There are many different options for feeders and waterers for quail. You want to protect from aerial predators as well as rodents and even cats. Hardware cloth is highly suggested when building and adding predator protection to your coop. Predators can dig or even reach through fencing. It's important to have a predator-proofed enclosure for them. Predator Protectionĭue to their smaller size, quail can be easy prey. Female Coturnix will begin laying when sexually mature, around 6-8 weeks of age. Coturnix Quail will lay nearly every day of the year under the proper conditions. Lightingġ6 hours of light daily is needed for quail to lay eggs. You can truly have a covey of any size, but a general guideline is a 1 male for every 4 hens. Coturnix Quail are sexually mature by 6-8 weeks. As long as males are raised together since before sexual maturity, there is no issue with having multiple males together. A male is a roo or cock and a female is called a hen. Other colors are often diluted varieties of the Pharoah, Manchurian, and Pansy, so will follow the same basic rules for feather sexing.Ī "flock" of quail is called a covey. For other varieties, such as Golden Manchurian or Pansy, the males will have a bright red face and red feathers all around the back of their neck, also called a red mask. For Pharoah plumage varieties, the chest feathers of males are solid copper while females have lighter cream chest feathers with black speckles. Most Coturnix varieties are feather sexable by around three weeks of age. Anything in between is not a safe height. 4' plus is taller than they would typically fly. If your enclosure is taller than 10 inches, that allows them to reach a velocity that they will hit the roof and they will likely sustain a lethal injury. Quail startle easy and will fly straight up quickly. ![]() Your quail should be in a 4' or taller pen, or a small hutch no taller than 10 inches tall. The height of your quail enclosure is one of the most important factors. It is good to provide a nest box but with a mind of their own, quail will choose to lay their eggs wherever they would like! You can use pine shaving, straw, or even sand for bedding in your coop. A wire floor makes coop cleanup more manageable. To keep your coop extra clean, look for a coop with a wire floor and a tray underneath for collecting droppings. Overcrowding and boredom in your quail coop can lead to pecking or bullying. You want to allow at least 1 square foot of space per quail in your quail enclosure. Here are some tips to keep in mind for adult Coturnix Quail. Your Coturnix Quail will reach maturity at 6-8 weeks of age. Coturnix Quail is a great breed for beginners, easy to hatch, quick to mature, and an excellent dual-purpose bird. ![]() Raising Coturnix Quail is such a rewarding experience.
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