The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: CameronS on July 03, 2013, 03:32:50 pm
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Found these in a box at the side of the road - no idea what they are look like some breed of qail to me? anyone got any ideas as to what they are and what i should keep them in?
pretty strong fliers
fully feathered
making peeping/whistely sounds
http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m543/turn-life-upside-down/DSC_0284_zps2d9dd962.jpg?t=1372775210 (http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m543/turn-life-upside-down/DSC_0284_zps2d9dd962.jpg?t=1372775210)
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Beautiful, they do look like quail. They are exceptionally good fliers and do a bouncing thing if penned up at all. They hate being too constrained. Big pen, high ceiling, hidey hole bedding such as a part buried plant pot on it's side. Make sure base of pen can't be dug into by rats etc. If a rat can get in they can get out. Lost ours that way.
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No idea but they're very cute :)
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If they are quail and you don't want them let me know. I've been thinking of getting quail for a while, just not got round to it. Got a six foot high square mesh dog run inside and out netted on top, with a pophole between to close off at night. How many are there?
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there is only two of them
here is what i've done so far! it's just a dog cage with limited time and resources, best i can do for now.
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Pm'd you Doganjo
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I wonder if someone has lost them. They seem quite young?
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we use to keep quails in rabbit hutches with great success. they taste delicious.
we also use to have them in an outdoor avairy but eventually they all escaped. the extra height gave them more power to fly up so they use to cut their heads on the wire roof. netting is safer apparently.
very strange to find them abandoned.
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:wave: Look like Japanese laying quail.
If your crate is outside, watch them tonight as rats will get in through the holes as they look quite large or stoat,cat etc will pull at them through there.
New arrivals, Doganjo ??? ?? ;D
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How big are they?
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Just found this - you can tell I'm excited can't you? :innocent:
Japanese quail can be sexed as early as three weeks of age, based on the feather color which is distinct for the male and female of the species. When matured, the Japanese males weigh in the range of 100-140 grams (4-5 oz.), and they reach sexual maturity at 5 to 6 weeks of age. The plumage color on the throat and breast will be cinnamon or rusty brown. When males are sexually matured, a large glandular or bulbous structure appears above the cloacal opening. If this gland is pressed, it will produce a foamy secretion. Males generally live longer than females. Males crow and their sound has been described as "Ko-turn-neex". Adult Japanese quail females are generally larger than the males and weigh in the range of 120-160 grams (4.5-6 oz.). Through proper selection, heavier birds can be produced for meat. The females can be easily identified by their slightly whiter plumage under the throat and upper breast, different from the characteristically black stippled feathers of the male. In this area, the feathers of the female quail are longer and more pointed than those of the male birds.
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What's the betting they're both male and that's why they've been dumped?
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Japanese quail come in many colours. The "wild" coloured quail can be sexed by plummage colour but not so with the other colours. Can't tell from the pictures very easily but the lighter bird looks like what would be described as a "fawn". Can't see the other well enough.
The males do produce foam balls at this time of year and also "crow".
:fc: that they are girlies ;D
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Strange colour for quail. There are a few breeders in the UK who could advise if they really are quail.
If you could record the male's call and put it on youtube I could tell, though :)
Has one of them laid yet? If there's any foam on the pooh it's of[size=78%] a mature male.[/size]
If they're not lost, they might be stolen... :thinking:
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I looked at the photos and they are not like the quail I have seen other people keep, my daughter had some as my son in laws family always kept quail, my daughters did not survive they are escape artists...and fast!!! Anyway, glad they have found a home, the foam egg sounds like the stuff I bought for filling gaps!! ;)
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If they're not lost, they might be stolen...
Not by mee! i swear! haha!!
Phoned the police - nobody hsd reported and quail lost/stolen and if they (police) heard anything they would contact me - if there was no reports by 10pm they are legally mine.
They both seem to be making a whistely peep - noting defining as a crow as yet.
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Happygolucky, the foam is very light and airy and is mostly seen on top of a male's pooh, though can be without pooh - not quite the right material for filling gaps ;) It's bright white and unmistakable.
CameronS, so you're now the proud owner of a pair of birds? If one is a quail cockerel you'll hear him crow - and they start just as early in the morning as chicken cockerels! ;D Not as loud, though ;)
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:wave: :fc: well at least they have a home and I do have filler
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Japanese quail come in lots of different colours. Same species just different colours and all lay exactly the same. There is the "wild" colour that most people will be aware of but they also come in fawn, white, platinum, cream,range, dark chestnut and tuxedo. Only the "wild" are easily sexed by plummage.
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Ith, any guesses as to age? Cameron says they are about 3 inches high
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I keep quail that are super easy to sex by their colour. :) There are many other breeds than the japanese one and the names are often mixed up.
Fully feathered yet only 3 inches high? Is that the body only? My Italian/ golden quail are some of the smallest breeds around and as adults their bodies alone are already bigger than that.
Try Quail Farm in Wales to see if they can confirm the species. Or you could just say "what the heck" and put them in an aviary and enjoy ;) I take it they are officially yours now?
My quail lay like mad, btw, and their hormones are in constant overdrive ;D
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they are cpq Chinese painted quail
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they are cpq Chinese painted quail
What size will they grow to and if they are about 3 inches high now, how old are they? Just found this, they only grow to 4.5 to 5 inches, the smallest of the quail family and known as 'button' quail - http://chinesepaintedquail.co.uk/ (http://chinesepaintedquail.co.uk/)
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Strange that you keep on finding birds, Cameron - maybe someone left them near your house as they know you would look after them? At first glance I thought the beak looks rather like of a young predator, maybe sparrowhawk? If you suspect this might be true you could contact a ranger...good luck! :&>
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I sent the picture to a Chines Painted website and they confirmed that they are CPQ hens, a red breasted and a cinnamon. I've also been offered a Japanese yellow, and if Cameron or anyone else can give me his post code I'll pick his up on Monday afternoon. Their new home is all ready for them, and I have orders for eggs already! I will need teensy egg boxes so if anyone knows where I can get them please tell me - soon :excited: :excited:
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wow, Annie, you are good! maybe you can make wee nesting boxes? Thinking of ice cream tubs :&>
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http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Egg_Boxes_and_Labels.html (http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Egg_Boxes_and_Labels.html)
my daughter used to love boiled quails eggs for breakfast. :yum: