Danny is right.They are the best cultivaters I have seen they scratch all day and leave circles every where
but at least the soil doesn't go stale.It is quite some time since i had them but I would throw M/Worms on the ground and
they would occupy themselves looking for them. I treated them as other Turnix Quail except they need some biggish cover
because of their size.
Black Breasted BQ
- spanna
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Great, thanks guys. I have already put some concrete slabs down as feeding stations, have added eucalyptus mulch to the soil (there are already some places with good leaf litter though) and limed it all just yesterday. I have grasses growing for them, which they are always hiding under, and have placed some branches in the corners of the aviaries to make sure they have plenty of cover.
I was warned by VR1ton about their earthmoving abilities, and they haven't failed to disappoint!!! I assumed that their biology (scratching in leave litter, broad strong bill) would mean they were fairly insectivorous, but just wanted to make sure captive birds were still ok with all those goodies!
Thanks all!
I was warned by VR1ton about their earthmoving abilities, and they haven't failed to disappoint!!! I assumed that their biology (scratching in leave litter, broad strong bill) would mean they were fairly insectivorous, but just wanted to make sure captive birds were still ok with all those goodies!
Thanks all!
- Danny
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I have one exceptionally skilled hen who, when her mate is on eggs, is placed in different small breeding aviaries for a day or two to 'freshen up' the soil so I don't need to go in with a rake and do it. Any more than two days and she makes a mess.E Orix wrote:Danny is right.They are the best cultivaters I have seen they scratch all day and leave circles every where
but at least the soil doesn't go stale.It is quite some time since i had them but I would throw M/Worms on the ground and
they would occupy themselves looking for them. I treated them as other Turnix Quail except they need some biggish cover
because of their size.
- spanna
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I was thinking of doing exactly that! It's such a pain to rake over the holding aviary as it almost always has young, flighty birds in it. An avian earth turner, brilliant!
- desertbirds
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One of the problems i encountered Spanna was the need for live food at ground level when they have chicks. Ants invaded big time, so be prepared for that one. I bred some (12) to maturity but chicks didnt do so well here. Im thinking it was lack of humidity, i lightly hosed around nesting cocks twice a day and found this improved survival rate of hacthlings. I also bought pupae and gave it a light misting of water then added insectivore mix (coating the pupae), this also seemed to improve results.if anyone tells you that the hen might be ok left in there, dont risk it, my hen was ruthless once chicks hatched.I ran 4 cocks with her and she would put three down in quick succession then i would remove her. 2 nests were usually fertile and all the cocks helped with whatever hatched, it was amazing to watch and they basically shared the chicks. I loved the BBBQ`s but once i got into a few expensive birds i wasnt happy with the odd high speed flight down the aviary, as mentioned i also believe lack of humidty was causing chicks to hatch in a very weak state and many (maybe as high as 20) didnt make it past the first day or two,alas i thought someone in a different area may do better.Bit heart breaking loosing lot of chicks. Oh yes one other point - chicks lay dead still when the parents tell them to and are the same colour as leaf litter (be very very careful not to tread on one), hence another one mine didnt make it. 

- desertbirds
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1 quirky habit my BBQ`s had was to get trapped in my catch cage.I think they generally pivot clockwise and i had the water dish in the catch cage on the left hand side. They would enter, drink ,then turn right to face the back of the cage and then could not find their way out , running back and forth along the back of the cage. This was frustrating while i was trapping birds out as i would have to go in and release them . ( dopey never thougth to get the cage off the ground). One day i moved the dish to the right hand side of the catch cage, the BBBQ`s would enter , drink and then walk straight back out.
I couldnt believe it !!!

- spanna
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Thanks for that desertbirds
I've thought about the ants in live food problem, my solutions vary (currently no ants around to test theories) but what I've been thinking about is getting some stainless steel cat dishes that have a moat around the edge that you fill with water. These would be placed on the concrete slabs (already in the aviary) so they can't be buried, or the moat filled with dirt, as they so love doing. This is in addition to regular doses of coopex around the perimeter of the aviary.
Lots of good notes and tips in there, thanks for that, all have been written down for future reference! And don't worry, my catching cage is off the ground
so no chance of confused quail!
I have to say though, getting some nice birds for the aviary floor has made me pay much more attention to a apart of the aviary that was previously somewhat ignored. There were never any problems with my aviary floor (dry, well draining sand) but now that I have the BBBQ rather than king quail, I've put a lot more thought into the health of the soul, pH and placement of plants. Previously plants were placed wherever they would look nice, now they are placed to provide cover for the quails instead. Just something I thought the other day as I was admiring my compost heap resembling aviary floor... For the first few days they only hung out in the back half of the aviary, now they are venturing much further, and the state of the floor proves that!! Looks much nicer when it's freshly turned, and all the finches are appreciating the chance to forage in it as well!!

I've thought about the ants in live food problem, my solutions vary (currently no ants around to test theories) but what I've been thinking about is getting some stainless steel cat dishes that have a moat around the edge that you fill with water. These would be placed on the concrete slabs (already in the aviary) so they can't be buried, or the moat filled with dirt, as they so love doing. This is in addition to regular doses of coopex around the perimeter of the aviary.
Lots of good notes and tips in there, thanks for that, all have been written down for future reference! And don't worry, my catching cage is off the ground

I have to say though, getting some nice birds for the aviary floor has made me pay much more attention to a apart of the aviary that was previously somewhat ignored. There were never any problems with my aviary floor (dry, well draining sand) but now that I have the BBBQ rather than king quail, I've put a lot more thought into the health of the soul, pH and placement of plants. Previously plants were placed wherever they would look nice, now they are placed to provide cover for the quails instead. Just something I thought the other day as I was admiring my compost heap resembling aviary floor... For the first few days they only hung out in the back half of the aviary, now they are venturing much further, and the state of the floor proves that!! Looks much nicer when it's freshly turned, and all the finches are appreciating the chance to forage in it as well!!
- spanna
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What a turn around. Reintroduced the cock today, and oh how the tables have turned!! The problem before was that the cock was mature, while the hen was immature, so he attacked her on sight. Now the hen has a bit more colour to her, and I thought it would be a good time to introduce the cock as she has only recently reached maturity, so may not be overly aggressive.
Naturally, the first thing the hen did was jump out of the undergrowth and attack the cock
After he flew off though, she started running around like a headless chook calling, then stood still and started her booming!! Such a strange call! He is now cowering in the corner, but she has found him and is still calling to him, with no more attacks yet. I'm standing at the far side of the aviary keeping an eye on them though!!!
Naturally, the first thing the hen did was jump out of the undergrowth and attack the cock

After he flew off though, she started running around like a headless chook calling, then stood still and started her booming!! Such a strange call! He is now cowering in the corner, but she has found him and is still calling to him, with no more attacks yet. I'm standing at the far side of the aviary keeping an eye on them though!!!
- spanna
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Hmmm, spoke too soon!! Hen is chasing the male a bit, but still calling frequently, so will leave them a little while and see if they settle.