Home | Bird Behavior | Aviary Birds – Keeping and Breeding the California or Valley Quail – Part 1

Aviary Birds – Keeping and Breeding the California or Valley Quail – Part 1

Posted by: Frank Indiviglio in Bird Behavior, Bird Breeding, Bird diet, Bird Species Profiles, Field Notes and Observations on Birds, General Bird Care April 8, 2010 5 Comments 29107 Views

Most folks find that the broad, black feathers sticking straight up from the head of the California Quail (Callipepla californica) lend it a somewhat comical appearance, and few forget their first view of this unique bird. Also possessed of beautiful white-rimmed, blue-gray feathers and a hardy constitution, this North American native is likely the world’s most commonly-kept quail.

The California Quail ranges along the Western edge of North America, from Oregon to Northwestern Mexico. It reaches 10 inches in length but, like all quails, appears larger due to its stocky build. Captive bred birds are readily available.

Enclosure

California Quails are strictly birds for spacious, outdoor aviaries. Despite their relatively small size, they are extremely active and also like to perch well off the ground at night. California Quails dwell in some quite hostile habitats in the wild, but captives are intolerant of cold, damp conditions (wild birds move to high, dry areas during rainy weather). A warm, dry shelter is a must, even for those kept within their natural range.

The California Quail aviary should be heavily planted with tall grass clumps and shrubs. This will serve to calm nervous specimens, and insects attracted to the vegetation will keep them busy foraging all day long. An outside screen of evergreens is recommended, especially near roosting areas, as quails of all types are prone to “night frights” (at which time they may fly headlong into the aviary’s walls).

California Quails get along with finches, softbills and small parrots, but mated pairs will attack other quails during the breeding season.

Diet

Most quail keepers use a commercial quail or pheasant feed for their birds, while others prefer a mix of Dove Food and Canary Seed. Chopped kale, dandelion, romaine and other greens and native grasses should be offered each day, and grit must always be available.

Insects are taken frequently in the wild – live crickets, mealworms, waxworms and canned insects should be a regular part of the diet. Live plants will encourage insects to enter the aviary; the Zoo Med Bug Napper insect trap is an excellent (and interesting!) means of collecting live food for your quails.

John Sitek
September 22, 2014 at 2:33 pm

I sure hope I can get some help with this problem. I have been hatching California valley quail. I am having a problem & don’t know how to fix it.The eggs hatch fine. The babies do fine for 2 or 3 days & than they die. They eat & drink fine. I cant figure what is wrong or how to fix it. The other quail do just fine. Bob white & snowflake. Please help me.
Thank you
John Sitek
Frank Indiviglio
September 22, 2014 at 2:37 pm

Hello John,

Unfprtunatly its not possible to hazard a guess…sounds like something genetic perhaps, a problem in the line, as you are experienced and are not seeing obvious symptoms. If the supplier of the adults is not able to offr any info, an autopsy and related tests by an experienced avian vet would be your best option/. Sorry I could not be of more help, Frank
Paul
December 15, 2014 at 4:02 pm

Hi John, I have come across this problem on occasion and in my experience it was diet related. If the protein content of the food is too low, they appear to do fine, but actually don’t gain weight and die. Some varieties like the Coturornix do fine fine on a poultry starter, but the game birds don’t. Just a thought – have no idea what you are currently feeding them.
Good luck.
Paul from Cape Town.
Diana
April 26, 2015 at 4:12 pm

Hi Frank, My son rescued an abandoned baby quail chick around June/July of last yr. We have cared for it and she is loved by our family now, she has a large cage that is currently in the garage. I open the garage often & a wild male keeps visiting! It’s breeding season i belive and it’s clear that’s what’s on their minds. Since he’s been so persistent I’ve let him in with her. What do you think about keeping them as a pair? Or do you think it’s possible the baby chick we rescued would survive in the wild if we let her loose with this male? Do you think she will incubate the eggs if she lays? Just wondering what your thoughts were?
Frank Indiviglio
April 26, 2015 at 11:33 pm

Hi Diana,

Unfortunately there are no sure answers to your questions…a wild male might not adjust well to captivity unless provided a huge enclosure. The female may do fine in the wild, as much instinct is involved, but would be at a disadvantage in many ways – physical and behavioral attributes that are undeveloped, etc. nesting is mainly instinctual, so she may incubate if they mate…sorry I could not provide more certain answers…very interesting situation, please keep me posted, best, frank

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I believe that I was born with an intense interest in animals, as neither I nor any of my family can recall a time when I was not fascinated by creatures large and small. One might imagine this to be an unfortunate set of circumstances for a person born and raised in the Bronx, but, in actuality, quite the opposite was true. Most importantly, my family encouraged both my interest and the extensive menagerie that sprung from it. My mother and grandmother somehow found ways to cope with the skunks, flying squirrels, octopus, caimans and countless other odd creatures that routinely arrived un-announced at our front door. Assisting in hand-feeding hatchling praying mantises and in eradicating hoards of mosquitoes (I once thought I had discovered “fresh-water brine shrimp” and stocked my tanks with thousands of mosquito larvae!) became second nature to them. My mother went on to become a serious naturalist, and has helped thousands learn about wildlife in her 16 years as a volunteer at the Bronx Zoo. My grandfather actively conspired in my zoo-buildings efforts, regularly appearing with chipmunks, boa constrictors, turtles rescued from the Fulton Fish Market and, especially, unusual marine creatures. It was his passion for seahorses that led me to write a book about them years later. Thank you very much, for a complete biography of my experience click here.