Monday, June 11, 2007
Raising Chinese Painted Quail.
The Chinese Painted Quail (excalfactoria chinensis) is about 4-5 inches in height, much smaller than other members of the quail family such as Japanese and Harlequin quail. Chinese painted quail don't need very many fancy foods, and are very cheap to feed. Japanese and Chinese Painted Quail are ideal aviary inhabitants. There are various mutations of Painted Quail but in the normal form males have a brown back with dark streaks and highlights. Because their feet are not made for perching, Chinese Painted Quail will usually need an aviary with a solid bottom. Although there are many species known as "Button Quail", the Chinese Painted Quail is the most commonly kept and is often used synonymously when referring to captive Button Quail.
The basic diet for Chinese Painted Quail is a mixture of mixed millets and chick crumbs, at the ratio of 50/50 in a dish or hopper, which will prevent them from emptying the contents on to the aviary floor. When raising these small quail chicks be sure to provide watering devices either filled with marbles or very clean stones to prevent drowning. Chinese Painted Quail much like the Coturnix mature very quickly. They also start laying eggs at a very early age 6 to 8 weeks and are very easy to care for.
Painted Quail can be successfully maintained in bare aviaries or flight cages, you will usually get best breeding results by housing them in a planted aviary with access to the ground. Chinese Painted Quail will lay one egg per day if they have 12 or more hours of sunlight; usually from mid-February to the beginning of November. A lot of breeders feel it is best to house a trio of Painted Quail in colony breeding flights pens. Chinese Painted Quail lay a average clutch of 6-12 eggs but in most cases will lay them where ever they happen to be standing at the time.
The most efficient way to hatch Chinese Painted Quail is by artificial incubation, using an incubator.
Other breeders will tell you it it best to wait till the hens go broody and set to hatch them. So I would say you will have to determine what best fits your situation.
The Chinese Painted quail is probably the most widely kept of the ornamental aviary breeds. Chinese Painted Quail are peaceful towards all other bird species.
About the Author:
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To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
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The basic diet for Chinese Painted Quail is a mixture of mixed millets and chick crumbs, at the ratio of 50/50 in a dish or hopper, which will prevent them from emptying the contents on to the aviary floor. When raising these small quail chicks be sure to provide watering devices either filled with marbles or very clean stones to prevent drowning. Chinese Painted Quail much like the Coturnix mature very quickly. They also start laying eggs at a very early age 6 to 8 weeks and are very easy to care for.
Painted Quail can be successfully maintained in bare aviaries or flight cages, you will usually get best breeding results by housing them in a planted aviary with access to the ground. Chinese Painted Quail will lay one egg per day if they have 12 or more hours of sunlight; usually from mid-February to the beginning of November. A lot of breeders feel it is best to house a trio of Painted Quail in colony breeding flights pens. Chinese Painted Quail lay a average clutch of 6-12 eggs but in most cases will lay them where ever they happen to be standing at the time.
The most efficient way to hatch Chinese Painted Quail is by artificial incubation, using an incubator.
Other breeders will tell you it it best to wait till the hens go broody and set to hatch them. So I would say you will have to determine what best fits your situation.
The Chinese Painted quail is probably the most widely kept of the ornamental aviary breeds. Chinese Painted Quail are peaceful towards all other bird species.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
# posted by Gary Ortlieb @ 4:18 PM 
