Announcement !

[Reeves1]

Let me guess, you thought I won the lottery or some such thing

Last year I had a California Valley Quail hen go broody. She hatched out 8 chicks & both parents took very good care of them.

Well 24 days ago she again went broody. Had a peek yesterday & it looked like maybe two eggs had piped. Looked today & a bunch were out & tearing around ! Wife counted 11. I didn't even try to count. They are fast, the size of Bumble Bees & wouldn't sit still !

For those that do not know, it is VERY RARE for ANY Quail species to hatch their own in captivity.
I've also had Bobwhites do this for me.

Proud of her !

[packhuntr]

Hey that sounds pretty cool. We used to raise all manner of birds when i was growing up, and it was a real cool thing to watch while growing up. But we didnt have that happen, and we had chuckars and quail. Good times!!!!!

keep a strain on er.

[Reeves1]

My Quail 'Home".
It is the "hutch" in the foreground. It is 10'x4'x2', divided down the center so each side is 20 sq. ft. Starting on the left is the house part, then where the plastic is (to keep rain out) is the food and water area. Next the grit & sand bath area.
The run is 12'x12' built into the inside of the L shaped run for my Amherst. I divided that as well, so each pair has 72 sq. ft. run on the grass/clover & weed area.
Inside the near side I planted Dwarf Mugo Pine in a group of three. At the right end are Red & Black Currant bushes. On the center up-right is a multi branch "look-out" .
In the far side are the Currants again, trio of Dwarf Cedars & "look-out" branchs again.
It is the far side pair that always hatch chicks. The near side hen is younger & has yet to go broody...and may never do so: some have it , some don't.
Note the odd tree I have added to the Amherst pen last week...
works as a display tree & roof support.

[Dick284]

Congrats Dad!

[TreeGuy]

Excellent work, Reeves! Good for you and your birds.

We used to raise rabbits and absolutly NEVER had any problem breeding them! lol

Tree

[thumper]

Nice set-up Derrick- the birds are obviously happy there!
A lot of planning & work in that.

And Congratulations ( X a dozen or so!)

Andrew

[Reeves1]

Thanks all !

Andy - does your "competitor" (Mike) ever visit this site ?
Maybe send him a link to this topic (if on speaking terms ).
Often think of the rogue !

[Reeves1]

We used to raise rabbits and absolutly NEVER had any problem breeding them!

Me too. But only let the male be with the female when I wanted ! Used to raise for meat. Very good meat as well, huh !
Used a Flemish Giant male & California Giant Doe(s) . Big, faster growing than the pure Flemish.

Funny , just thought about it (and in retrospect a bad thing on my part) when I got out of it a woman wanted my Rabbits, but no males , as she didn't want any young showing up. Prior to her showing up for them I thought I'd pull a fast one on her & put the male in with each Doe ! Never did hear from her, but I'm sure she has about 10,000 Rabbits by now

[Reeves1]

(moral of the story: Don't buy Rabbits from me )

[Reeves1]

OK, one more point....

I have a Reeves hen & an Amherst hen sitting. I will not let them hatch the chicks unless someone wants them. I'll candle the eggs in about a week & if by then no takers for the chicks (after well feathered out) then they will get tossed.

[TreeGuy]

Originally Posted by Reeves

(moral of the story: Don't buy Rabbits from me )

Stop that! I nearly choked beer out of my NOSE!

We raised the minuture bunnies. They were cool when they had the little ones. Once they grew fur, they were identcal replicas of their parents, but only the size of tea bags! One litter was about 12 plus!

Tree