gamble quail

[gendwk]

Has anyone ever tried to colony breed them with success? 

[DoubleL911]

The only way we do it.
We started with coops that were 4x8 giving them 32 sq feet with 9 hens and 7 cocks this gave them 2 sq ft per bird.
We were loosing some eggs to pecking, maybee bordum.
We moved up to 4x12 coops with the same number of birds  and it helped.
Now we use brood houses that are16 x16x8 and put 50 hens and 50 cocks with sand boxes and tree limbs we cut.

The only way to go

Larry Lain
www.doublelquailfarms.com

[gendwk]

Hay thanks Larry...    .I was wondering because I built a 10 x10 beautiful aviary for the gambles and then I read in Leland Hayes' book to only breed gambles in pairs or trios......I have 3 roos and 6 hens  thats 10 sq ft / bird  ...but his book said they get real aggressive..what ya think?

[DoubleL911]

It has been our experience that the Gambles are more agressive than all of the Desert species.
Regardless of pen size we cut lots of brush or tree limbs and put in the pens to give them hiding spots.
Larry

[DoubleL911]

Also your cock to hen ratio is low to me.Desert birds dont have the fertility that bob whites have.
Larry

[gendwk]

Thanks much.Larry. ..for the advice ..I'll try to get some more boys....have you ever tried Mearns?  Dwain

[DoubleL911]

MEARNS
A good way to loose money.
Have 2 pair that layed 5 eggs each the first year and the last 2 years none.
The young are tough to raise they dont know how to eat but a day old silkey chick solved that problem.
They also have fertility issues
Too tough for me
Larry

[gendwk]

that seems to be the general consinsis..thanks again  D