The Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) Besides the Chinese dwarf quail, it is one of the most popular quail species. The Japanese quail is the largest domesticated quail species, they can grow up to 18cm in size. They also have a fairly high egg production that is not nest dependent. The ideal quail for the aviary! He cleans up spilled food and lays very tasty eggs. The Japanese quail is not aggressive and very tame. They also eat out of your hand very quickly.
Origin
The Japanese quail is found in the wild in South and East Asia (Mongolia, Eastern Siberia, Japan and Korea). They mainly occur in areas with grasslands and low shrubs.
But due to years of selection of the Japanese quail in captivity, the quail is no longer the same as those in the wild. Breeding for meat and eggs has ensured that we select these quail more heavily and more productively.
Appearance
The Japanese quail is between 15 and 20 cm in size. Their weight is 100-200 grams up to 400 grams for the ‘Jumbo quails‘.
The wild-colored males have a red-brown breast, while the hens have a more gray-brown breast. The roosters also have a (brown) throat bar. This difference will also be present with some color mutations, the roosters will have a brighter color and the hens a paler one.
With other colors you cannot perceive any external difference between a rooster and a hen.
If you want to know the sex of your quail, there is a way that works for all colors. They must be at least 6 to 8 weeks old.
You take the animal in your hand with the tail up and gently push the tail against the cloaca, do this carefully and not too often. When white foam is released you can say with certainty that it is a rooster.
The Japanese quail comes in different colors, some colors are:
- Wild color
- White
- Isabel
- Reddish brown
- Fur
Housing
Their calm nature makes them ideal for a community aviary. They are 100% ground dwellers. They only fly when startled, but then land immediately back on the ground.
An indoor aviary, an outdoor aviary or a chicken coop are suitable for housing. Make sure that they are not housed too small, as this encourages them to peck at their fellow residents.
If you choose a chicken coop for housing, make sure that the mesh mesh is not too large and that they cannot escape.
In winter they need a draft and frost-free night cage, one at ground level is recommended.
Due to the intensity of the roosters, it is recommended to place several hens with 1 rooster.
You should also not combine them with other quail species.
Grow
Breeding Japanese quail is not difficult. The chance that the hen will brood on her eggs herself (natural brood) is very small. Hens that come from natural brood will do this more easily, but it is no guarantee.
If she lays all her eggs in a shallow hole in a sheltered place, leave the eggs there. That could be a sign that she wants to breed herself.
But usually the hen will lay the eggs spread across the coop. In that case you can pick up the eggs and put them in the incubator.
The eggs are cream colored with brown spots and hatch after 16-18 days of incubation. The chicks, which are not much bigger than a bumblebee, immediately start walking around.
After 4 weeks the little ones are independent. The rooster will not breed or care for the chicks.
Provide chick meal, small seeds and fine live food for hatching.
If you do not breed naturally, the chicks need warmth from a ceramic or infrared lamp. This should hang higher as the chicks get older. In this way, the chicks gradually become accustomed to the ambient temperature.
Young quail chicks drown quite easily in their drinking bowl. Make sure it is not too deep and preferably place pebbles or marbles in it.
After 8 to 10 weeks, the chicks are adults and can breed and lay eggs themselves.
Power supply
Quail are often kept in an aviary to eat wasted seeds from other birds. In addition to all the fine bird seeds, they also eat a fine one grain mixture especially for chicks and quails and they occasionally appreciate fine live food.
In addition, grit and/or stomach gravel must always be present. To prevent waste because they would scratch open feeders, feeders with small holes are recommended.
For sale
Below you will find what I offer for sale of this species.
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Japanese quail rooster feeding quail€ 2.00
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Japanese quail rooster€ 2.00
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Japanese quail hen€ 8.00
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Japanese quail chicks€ 1.00
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Japanese quail hatching eggs – 12 pieces€ 3.00