Sunday, April 6, 2008

Quail chicks update

The quail hatched on March 26, making them about ten days old today. Here are two photos comparing them.

This is a photo taken on their hatchday. They were tiny, cuddly and downright cute.


Here are the same chicks on their tenth day. Look at the feathers! When we took the photos today, four of them jumped out of the brooder after I removed the lid and actually flew a few feet! They were not easy to catch, but we successfully got all of the vagabonds back into captivity. With all of the owls hooting around, Bishop the barn cat, Kestrels hovering around and other assorted hunters, I think the quail are content to be held captive. I will soon be able to distinguish between males and females. Males have a orange tint to their chest and the females remain white.


The females will lay eggs at seven weeks. They must be teenager quail right now.

22 comments:

sandy said...

Oh thanks Don! And Ruth for the photos!!

They are so darn cute.

sandy

Don said...

Sandy: They are definitely cute. I'm so glad I live with someone who has an eye for the camera.

Anonymous said...

They lay eggs at 7 weeks? Wow! That's amazing! They are absolutely wonderful. Just look at those sweet little faces. Thanks for the update!

Don said...

Amy: They are interesting little dudes. They have to be kept in a quail hutch as they can fly!

Ruth said...

I TOLD you they were monsters.

Unknown said...

one is looking at me!! it's like they have the same heads, but huge bodies. i wish i could meet them in their teenage years! er...i mean, days.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Wow... I never would have imagined that they would be capable of laying eggs at that young age... They grow up fast.
Great to see that you are able to bring your old barn back to life and use it again ... liked to see the play by play and those little helpers...

Paula said...

I have so enjoyed your blog and especially the posts on your little quail, Don...Hubby and I once entertained the idea of raising some ourselves. I'm amazed at how closely they resemble some breeds of bantams!
Thanks for stopping by my place...I'll be back to see how your chicks from MucMurray are doing. I hope you post plenty of pictures of those, too!

Ginnie Hart said...

These are just way too cute, Don!!!!

laura said...

Great pictures--they're soul-lifting: the perfect antidote to the news and other such consuming, soul-dampening influences.
Ditto the barn renovation, and Paul, Eli and Lydia's hands in it! I love to see a girl with a big smile and a wheelbarrow! ;-)

chickengirl said...

They grow as fast as chicks! But they're still adorable, even at this stage. Have you received your chicks from McMurray yet? Thanks for keeping us all posted!!

Don said...

Ruth: They are spazzy little guys, that's for sure! One of these days, they'll escape and then they'll be monsters!

LesleyAnne: I saw that one too, I was wondering who he was looking at?! One of them dyed her feathers
bright pink! I wonder about that teenager....

Gwen: WhenI look at all the things the barn needs, I get overwhelmed! One thing at a time!

Paula: Hey Paula, thanks for stopping by. I enjoy your blog too. Ruth took a bunch of photos today, and I may post them tonight.

Ginnie: They are cute. I hope I have lots of girls!

Laura: I feel the same way when I browse at your art gallery/blog site! Lydia is a talented artist herself! (as well as a good wheel barrower.

Chickengirl: It's fun to see the differences and similarities in the different poultry creatures!

chickengirl said...

Once we saw some turkey babies (not sure what they're called), and we had no idea what in the world they were! They were strange looking....

Don said...

Chickengirl: I looked around and all I can see is that they are called Turkey chicks!

Mrs. SwedeHart said...

I'm already crazy about each one... they all have the sweetest chickenalities. How ever will you decide which ones to eat?

Don said...

Swedehart: They are quite docile! When I change their foods, etc., they just hang around and let me pick them up. Their wings are powerful! I have never raised quail before, but from what I am reading, I probably don't want very many boys, if any.

chickengirl said...

I just wasn't sure, because ducks are 'ducklings', and guineas are 'keets', so.... Are quail called 'chicks', too?

Don said...

Chickengirl: I believe they are chicks. It's interesting to see what we call different animals or groups of animals: murder of crows, crash of rhinos, etc.

chickengirl said...

It's also funny that children and young goats are both kids, and other things like that!

Don said...

mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy, a kid'll eat ivy too, wouldn't you?

Say that really fast and it doesn't make a lot os sense.

freefalling said...

Can chickens fly too?
If they lay eggs at seven weeks, how long do they live?

Don said...

Araratdailyphoto: Apparently some chickens can fly, but most can only go a short distance. THe quail, however can fly and this particular breed actaully migrates over the Mediteranean Sea. The quail live for about five years, chickens much longer.

Are you getting chickens?