Hatching and keeping different breeds of Quail.

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Anne W

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Someone has asked me if I would hatch a lot of quail eggs for her. She said I could have some of them if I like but just wondered ;
1) Can more than one breed be hatched at the same time i.e. do they all have the same incubation period?

2) Could I keep different breeds together in a cage?

3. Do some breeds live longer than others eg bobwhite?
 
Hi Anne,
I've incubated different species together,but,CPQ have the shortest incubation,16 days.Other varieties take longer,18 or 21 days.
Once hatched,they are better in separate brooder's because of the size difference,Tennesse Bob White's are ridiculously small as chicks,eventually growing into big quail,japanese and Italian are much bigger than CPQ.
Basically,the small ones will be pecked and worried by the larger birds.
 
yes - I did wonder about that Lydia. I suppose if they are different incubation times you could start off the bobwhites earlier and add the others could you? then separate them in the brooder as you say.
 
Hi
I have hatched cpq's bob whites and californian quail all in the same incubator. I just put them in in stages so they would all hatch together. I put them all in the same brooder but as they grew the cpq needed to be on there own as were to small to mix. I bred jap quail a few years ago but wouldn't mix them as have found them to be rather agressive.
Good luck with them what ever you choose.
 
Thanks stepyone - sounds a good way to do it - haven't seen bobwhites - what are they like to keep? Which do you think were the tamest breed?
 
I've also been told that Japanese are more aggresive,good thinking Anne and Stepyone at putting the eggs in the incubator in stages.
I personally wouldn't keep different breeds, once adult in the same cage.Some of the coturnix varieties can interbreed(think Jap and Italians)and some of the other varieties,Gambles,Californian etc need to perch and are a lot bigger.
There are quite few different varieties of Bob Whites,but,CPQ weigh in at 4ozs,where's the larger varieties like Jumbo Japanese,some Bob Whites can weigh in at 16ozs,so 4x the size.
I think the Mountain Varieties are even heavier.
 
Never realised there were so many different quails Lydia - I just fancied some largish ones but they must be tameable - I don't really need any you know - I've got enough going on - but that's how it gets you isn't it :lol:
 
hi
if you are looking for tame birds quail may not be for you. depends how tame you want them. don't think you will get quail to be happy to be picked up and handled but my jap's used to come and eat out of my hand. I have a bob white hen that will come to me for meal worms . I just bought some red bob whites from newark bird show and they went mental when I went in with them but are starting to calm down.1 of them even comes quite close to me if I sit in with them now. the cpq don't really take any notice of me and potter around under my feet and my cali's won't come near me. I keep my quail together but they are in an aviary and don't take much notice of each other. I would only keep one breed in a cage though as if confined I think they would fight.
 
There are loads Anne,and,I've only got a little experience with CPQ,I've found my males more tame/cope with me better than my hens do.
I've not yet got any of the bigger breeds,have tried hatching californian,gambles,italian and japanese.They have all candled clear.So am thinking of buying some adult Italian.
I would suggest getting in touch with Midland Quail, www.midlandquails.co.uk/ they are lovely people.Very helpfull,keep large quail of different breeds.Since I saw you,I collected some CPQ from her,and they are far tamer than my others.Even the few I hatched out.
 
Thankyou both - good food for thought - will hatch out my chucks and then decide. Amazing the different ideas that go round our heads :roll: :lol:
 
I know exactly what you mean Anne.With a lot of birds,ones that live in an aviary are not as tame as ones kept in cages indoors.Budgies,finches,canaries and parrots are often an example of this.
It could be true with quail as well.I haven't tried it,but,some of the more scatty ones might well be diffent and more tame if not kept in an aviary.
I would contact the lady at midland quail,I think her name is Tania,she is in a good position to offer advice,and,if there is a breed you fancy keeping, be able to book them with her.
She has young children,similar age to your amazing nephew.Her children handle the quail and her quail are hand tame and friendly.
 
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