Quails

[NOI7]

I want to move my singing quails out of the aivary and release them in my garden. How can I ensure that they will not fly away? I was thinking of cutting the feathers on one wing, but they will grow back. Is there a solution or is it a bad idea? I do not have a problem with cats as the garden is fully enclosed.

[Craig52]

I want to move my singing quails out of the aivary and release them in my garden. How can I ensure that they will not fly away? I was thinking of cutting the feathers on one wing, but they will grow back. Is there a solution or is it a bad idea? I do not have a problem with cats as the garden is fully enclosed.

Andre,what are singing quail? Why do want to release them out of the aviary and if you think they will fly away after feathers grow back then a cat could certainly get in the garden or any other predator such as a hawk. Craig

[Spitfire]

By fully enclosed, do you mean there is a net over the whole garden, if not CATS WILL get in. Cats are the main downfall to Quail in the wild.
If you want to enjoy your quail, leave them in an aviary.

[matcho]

People,

I think what Andre wants to do is have his quail like little chooks in his backyard. Cut the wings, can't fly, stay in the back yard. Will not and will never work. Quail are still after all the time of being domesticated are pretty well still the wild form. Chickens are different, bred for laying and meat, not real smart after all of the breeding. Quail on the other hand hand are true game birds like pheasant, bred purely for the table trade, out of the cage they will hit the toe.

Andre,

Forget it, free range quail? Would be good but wont happen in my life time. Leave them in the aviary or sell them off to someone who wants to look after them. I think you mean by "singing quail" you mean the King Quail who sing all night, the little buggers who are pretty on the eye. Unfortunately they breed better than zebs. Don't get me wrong, I love them but cause more grief because of their night flying habit.

Ken

[matcho]

And yes,

Cats love 'em inside or out of the aviary.

Ken.

[finchbreeder]

I know a number of people who have experimented with letting King quail free range in the garden. I know of none who did not wind up with very happy neighbourhood cats. Sorry.
LML

[NOI7]

The singing quail or dactylortyx thoracicus. I would just love to have them walking free in my garden. We stay in a complex with high walls and electric fencing ( standard in South Africa) so cats are not allowed and can not get in from outside. I won't like them however to fly away

[COUNTRY CAPITAL]

just as an aside....I have several small covey's of wild stubble quail in grassland near my property.
they often surprize the bejesus out of me when they "explode" in front of you and fly off.
hawks, cats, foxes, butcherbirds etc etc and they still manage to survive....so never say never
in the "compound" described I reckon it could work....the back yard sounds like a walk-through aviary to me.

[finchbreeder]

Stubble quail are native and possibly have more "street smarts". The enclosed unit back yard sounds like a better bet than most I have heard of. And agree, never say never. But on average in an Aussie back yard your odds are not good.
LML