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Post by plowboy51 on Nov 2, 2011 18:04:08 GMT -5
I'm interested in trying to start some Quail on my farm. Is it possible to take pen raised birds and release them? I have nearly a mile of CRP ground along a creek. If left unmowed do they have any chance of surviving the winter? Has anyone tried this? I'm in north central Indiana. There might also be some predator pressure due to an occasional coyote in the area. Other then the CRP there is very little cover through the winter.
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Post by duff on Nov 2, 2011 19:32:18 GMT -5
I know a guy that buys 1 day old chicks and raises them in a johny house, he has several acres in CRP. If he gets serious about it he can raise 2 batches of about 50 birds each batchbut typically gets only one batch. He told me he has some year to year survival but they don't stick around his place. His neighbors however brag about their coveys!
I think adult pen raised birds would not survive very well. I have looked into it as well.
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Post by hornharvester on Nov 2, 2011 23:43:34 GMT -5
From what Ive read and my own experiences tame quail dont survive very long. My neighbor has released many quail on my property and by the end of the summer I dont hear any. I often find quail feathers when they been killed by hawks. I also read that releasing tame quail will harm the wild population because the tame quail will spread diseases into the wild population. Up here in NE Indiana I have not seen a wild covey of quail since the blizzard of "78".
I run dogs a lot and spend many hours in the field every year and Im sad to say our wild game bird population here in NE Indiana is pretty much non existent. h.h.
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Post by throbak on Nov 3, 2011 4:31:16 GMT -5
This is what worked for me. out of 125 acres I planted 40 acres WSG and 3000 shrubs , the shrubs are a KEY factor, I have and still,am trying to kill ALL fescue... I disc 1 to 3 acres for Ragweed and native forbs,,, I edge feathered in places between woods and wsg,, and dont pile anything leave it where it lays (dont worry about the predators you kill one coyote that opens the door for something worse as far as quail are concerned) I did all this the quail show up,, Habitat is the key ingrediant. Plus you manage for Quail every form of wildlife flora and fauna benifit
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Post by dadfsr on Nov 3, 2011 6:13:37 GMT -5
I've also asked before about this-then job changes/life changes hit in pretty short order  I'm still interested in trying to get some established also. Is there a source for day-old chicks? I know that a couple of people had posted pics/plans of "johnny-boxes/call back boxes" but I'm not finding them right away. I do know that all out war on the feral cat population would be declared if I would do this! |
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Post by duff on Nov 3, 2011 6:34:48 GMT -5
Let me check. I did look into this and found johnny boxes on-line but not handy at the time. Day old chicks can be found on Craigslist sometimes or you could buy fertalized eggs and an incubator. This guy had it all set up with one provider and was able to get his stock from a local guy he knew. See if you can contact the local QU people they might be able to hook you up with a breeder.
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Post by Boilermaker on Nov 3, 2011 7:06:40 GMT -5
We've released pen-raised birds many times on our farm. Like h.h. said we've seen w/in a couple of days piles of feathers; also true with the spreading diseases thing. better off to build better habitat and let the wild covey's populate on their own. Try your hardest to get rid of any feral cat as well! Also, if ya get the chance try and shoot every opossum or raccoon; they eat quail eggs.
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Post by stevein on Nov 4, 2011 8:09:25 GMT -5
I read an article way back in the 70's about getting quail reestablished. You planted some food and cover strips near your quail pen. Your pen had to be set-up as a call back pen. You got some healthy birds and released half of them every day. They would learn to forage and get along in the wild. Eventually they will pair off in the spring and mate. It was in F&S, Outdoor Life or Sports Afield I think. Sounds like it might work. I don't think there is a quick solution.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2011 9:27:42 GMT -5
After you have suitable habitat, then you stand a chance of getting pen raised quail started, but not just by turning them out. More complex than that.
If you hold the hens until they are bred, then establish call back nests for them, and let them you stand a fair chance of getting some survival
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Post by throbak on Nov 4, 2011 10:34:16 GMT -5
FORGET the pen raised birds , create the habitat and they will come... The only thing pen raised birds will do is Maybe call some wild birds, and if you have the habitat, they will stay ..
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2011 10:54:03 GMT -5
I don't buy it. Quail don't range far enough to find it. You can stock any animal if you do it right. Been done before with several species.
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Post by dadfsr on Nov 4, 2011 11:16:03 GMT -5
I've got the habitat-have had for years....we used to have several coveys of quail come through the grove of trees behind my house every day. But if there aren't any around for miles how the heck do they just magically appear???
This is one time I know that I have help Mother Nature with some restocking efforts.
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Post by throbak on Nov 4, 2011 18:41:47 GMT -5
timex show me the reports I dont think you will find them anywhere from a reputable source ... lets see it
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Post by plowboy51 on Nov 5, 2011 8:29:48 GMT -5
After I posted my question about starting Quail. I spoke with a gentleman that claims he started Quail by placing Quail eggs in the nests of free range chickens. And the hens started the Quail. Sounded a little far- fetched to me but I really have no idea. Anybody ever heard of that?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2011 10:01:55 GMT -5
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Post by plowboy51 on Nov 5, 2011 14:33:20 GMT -5
Hey timex, Thanks so much for the info. After reading up on it I think that might be the ticket.
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Post by duff on Nov 5, 2011 17:16:17 GMT -5
That's the same article I read and the technique my buddy uses to stock his quail. Habitat is important too. Let us know how it works for you if you get it done
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Post by throbak on Nov 5, 2011 17:51:13 GMT -5
Where are you guys getting your imfo the back of sports mags  in the classifieds have you ever seen Wes Burgers imfo on quail ?? or Rob Chapmans studies on quail . , anyone really interested in Quail should come to the Jefferson County IN. SWCD annual meeting .Rob will be Our Speaker On Quail and the Programs for the Birds (Quail) meet and talk to someone that there whole career has been quail ,,started in MO. and Purdue Has him now |
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Post by duff on Nov 6, 2011 8:47:15 GMT -5
Got the details on the date, time & place? If the timing is right I might be interested in driving over there.
I did some internet searches on quail and came up with some infoincluding the one timex posted. Not to mention first hand experience from a guy I used to work with. It seemed logical to me.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2011 9:08:53 GMT -5
The key is habitat, You have to establish it and maintain it. Natural grasses help but are not to only solution. We have gobs of quail on my club in Ky. and have idle fields that we burn on a rotating basis. Still the best habitat in the world will not make quail pop out of the sky on a given day.
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I'm still interested in trying to get some established also.
in the classifieds