Among poultry farmers specializing in quails, the Californian quail or Californian partridge, as this bird is often called in the United States, is especially popular. It is the western coast of North America that is considered the birthplace of this partridge - it can be found in the territory from Oregon to California. Attempts to acclimatize the California quail elsewhere have had the greatest success in New Zealand, Colombia, Chile and several other countries. In their natural environment in Europe, tufted quails have not taken root, however, they can be found among many amateur poultry farmers.

Description of the appearance, advantages and disadvantages of the breed

The California Crested Quail has a distinctive appearance that makes it easy to identify among other quail. The quail has a downed body, reaching a length of 25 cm. The short, neat tail has a stepped structure. The short, slightly curved, black beak is ideal for eating various seeds. The wings have a rounded shape. Paws of medium length are colored dark lead. Special attention should be paid to the crest formed by several feathers on the head. At the base they are gathered together, but at the top they form a kind of visor, bent forward. The crest of female California quail is much smaller than that of males.

Quails of the Californian breed have an interesting plumage color, and in hens and cockerels it is almost the same, with the only difference being that in males it is much brighter and more contrasting. The bird has a yellowish-white forehead. There are two white lines on the head: one of them runs just above the eyes, and the other, resembling a crescent, envelops the front of the throat. The back of the bird is brown with an olive tint, the crop and upper chest have a gray-blue tint. The lower part of the body has a peculiar scaly pattern: each brown or yellowish “scale” is clearly distinguished by a black border, especially in males.

Since the crested quail is grown at home, primarily for decorative purposes, it is worth considering and comparing its pros and cons mainly from this point of view.

Advantages:

• Decorative appearance is perhaps the main reason for the interest in quails of this species on the part of poultry farmers;
• Well adapted to natural conditions, which greatly simplifies its maintenance in enclosures;
• Does not require any special feed;
• Disease resistant.

Flaws:

• Relatively high cost;
• Low survival rate among chicks;
• The first two disadvantages create the third - it is usually not necessary to keep California quail for meat;
• The need for keeping in spacious enclosures. In cramped cages, California quail quickly wither and lose their attractive appearance.

In nature, Californian quail prefers dry areas: mountain deciduous forests, orchards and vineyards. You can often find partridges in city parks where there are tall and dense bushes.

After breeding, until the next mating season, California quail live in large flocks.

At home, California quails are usually kept in special enclosures. Since in nature the partridge sleeps and rests on tree branches or on suitable bushes, it is advisable to install several medium-sized natural branches or some kind of imitation of them in the enclosure. Often, poultry farmers keep these quails in a pen with other poultry.

Although California crested quail normally tolerate sub-zero temperatures in nature, it is still better not to keep them outside at temperatures below +10 0 C.

Feeding

The natural diet of quails includes seeds of grasses, shrubs and trees, various fruits, and often insects.

At home, California quails readily eat cereals: crushed corn, wheat, rye, millet, and other types of grain. Many poultry farmers give their birds grain in the morning and evening, and in the afternoon - wet mash, including grated carrots, beets, chopped cabbage (whole leaves can be given). In the warm season, the mash is diluted with finely chopped alfalfa, clover, and other succulent herbs. In winter, the deficiency of natural vitamins can be replenished with sprouted wheat or millet sprouts. It is also worth regularly mixing into wet mash a small amount of bone or fish meal, which is necessary for the skeletal system and the formation of eggshells.

Wet mash is given in doses so that excess feed does not spoil. It is enough to observe the birds' appetite for several days to determine the required single dose.

Crushed shells or fine gravel or chalk should always be present in the feeders.

The water in drinking bowls should be changed every 2-3 days, since pathogenic microorganisms can quickly develop in it.

Breeding

In nature, the tufted quail begins mating in March. After fertilization of the female, the couple builds a nest - a small hole covered with dry grass. On average, a female California partridge lays 12 brownish eggs, the shells of which are replete with small dark spots. Incubation lasts 22 days. All this time the cockerel stands guard, being close to the nest. When danger arises, it makes warning sounds. Ornithologists say that the males are ready to replace the female if she dies, and hatch the eggs until the offspring appear.

Typically, quail chicks are under the care of their parents for about 4 weeks, after which they form flocks and begin to independently look for food for themselves.

To breed Californian quails at home, it is necessary to create conditions close to natural ones. Since this is not always possible, most often the eggs are taken from the females for further placement in the incubator. Eggs should only be handled with clean hands, as microorganisms can penetrate through the shell. For incubation, eggs of the correct shape with a smooth surface are selected. A large percentage of unfertilized eggs is often caused by a disruption in the natural way of creating a pair.

The newly hatched chicks are quite weak, so caring for them must be very meticulous. There are known cases when eggs were placed under a brood hen, which subsequently perceives the emerging quails as her chicks, creating all the necessary conditions for the survival of the babies.

The considered type of quail is more suitable for poultry farmers who have the opportunity to create living conditions for them that are as close to natural as possible, that is, aviaries. Keeping such decorative birds in a cage will not allow you to watch their funny swaying while running, flying up onto perches, or simply watching their daily life. Therefore, before you buy Californian quails, you should think about the issue of their further comfortable maintenance.

This is one of the 5 species of tufted quail. Very easy to grow and reproduces without problems.

The species lives among the dry spaces of the western part of North America, the range of which stretches along the meridian - from eastern Oregon to Southern California. Also distributed in other states: Washington, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, where it is well acclimatized. Also acclimatized in the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, and Chile. There were unsuccessful attempts to introduce it into Germany. Californian quail is primarily found in mixed forests, but also in parks and open areas covered with shrubs. You can also meet it in vineyards.

Birds reach 25-27 cm in length, of which 8 cm falls on the tail. The rooster is made up with a spectacular forelock on his head. It is created by black feathers, narrow at the base and opening upward. The forelock grows at the top of the forehead and is directed forward.

Resistant to diseases. The most common diseases are Syngamozus trachea and Typhlohepatitis histomendoza. These diseases occur if birds live in damp places. Enclosures for California quails should be completely dry and have well-drained soil.

I added small chickens to the chickens, and thus the young ones got used to the yard. They always went into the chicken coop at night and did not have their wings clipped. The hen guides the chickens very well, always warms them up and calls them to the food she has found. It is necessary that the aviary has branches and poles, branches with a diameter of 30 mm, on which the birds spend the night and rest during the day. Most often they choose branches in the upper part of the enclosure.

Feed - wheat, millet, ground corn and finely chopped greens. Quails are monogamous, but you can keep a male with 2-3 females.

The nesting season begins in early April. The female lays 12 to 16 eggs and sits on them. The nest is always on the ground - a shallow hole. Sometimes females lay small eggs throughout the enclosure. In this case, you can place them in one place or collect them for incubation.

If the eggs are removed, the bird can lay up to 50 eggs. The chicks hatch after 22 days of incubation and are very tenacious. During incubation, care must be taken not to die, since small chicks can crawl into any crack. A well-chosen pair yields 100%, and there should be no problems with hatching. For the chickens I provide turkey feed, chopped eggs and greens. After 6-8 weeks, the sex of the chicks can be distinguished by a white stripe above the male’s eye. Until the end of March they can be in a flock, only with the onset of March pairs are selected.

My quail spend the winter in outdoor enclosures. The main thing is that there are dry enclosures and no drafts. Although the birds are small and look delicate, they should not freeze even at –25°C. The enclosure can be 1.5x2 m in size.

I advise everyone to keep these beautiful and interesting birds.

Callipepla californica

4000-4500 rub.

(Callipepla californica)

Class – Birds

Order – Galliformes

Family – Pheasantaceae

Genus – Scaly quail

Appearance

The main distinguishing feature of the crested quail is a small crest on the head, consisting of 2-10 (usually 4-6) feathers narrowed at the base and widened at the end, which are curved forward in adult birds. Moreover, such a headdress is worn by both males and females, only in the latter it looks a little more modest. In general, males are slightly different from females. They have a yellowish-white forehead, above which a thin white stripe stretches towards the back of the head. The dark brown crown is emphasized by a black stripe, and the black chin, lower cheeks and throat are outlined by a white crescent. The beak is also black, but the legs are lead-gray. The plumage on the back, chest, belly and tail of both sexes is similar, only the males are a little brighter. The chest and neck of California crested quails are bluish-gray, with thin longitudinal white stripes on the sides. The belly and undertail remind that these birds belong to the genus of scaly quail: there is a black scaly pattern on a yellowish-brown background. In young individuals this pattern is absent. In addition, the feathers on the crest are shorter and do not have a white edge, like in adult birds. The length of the average-sized Californian quail ranges from 25 to 27 cm, the wing is 11 cm, and the tail is 9 cm.

Habitat

It lives on the west coast of North America from southern California to southwestern Oregon. In addition, these beautiful birds were brought to Hawaii, Chile, Argentina and New Zealand, where they successfully colonize new spaces.

In nature

California tufted quails live in arid grasslands and open spaces with dense, tall shrubs at altitudes of up to 2,500 meters above sea level. They can settle not far from a person, if the area they like is located next to a suitable body of water, where they can quench their thirst. These chicken-like creatures feed on grass seeds, sometimes they eat tree fruits, their seeds, as well as various small arthropods. They are active during daylight hours and sleep in trees at night. During the day they spend most of their time on the ground; it is very difficult to get them to rise into the air. California quails remember their own wings only in moments of danger, when they can flutter short distances.

Reproduction

In the cold season, tufted quails live in large groups and all look for food together, and by spring they break up into pairs. Already at the beginning of March, the males begin to display: they spread their wings and jump in front of the females with spread feathers on their chests, while loudly shouting “Kaaah, kaaah!” This continues until the female gives in to this active pressure and agrees to mate. The mother makes the nest right on the ground. To do this, she digs a small hole and covers it with soft, dry blades of grass. One clutch usually contains from 10 to 14 dark brown speckled eggs, from which small, downy chicks hatch after approximately 22 days. During incubation, the father guards the nest and warns of the appearance of a predator. If the female dies, he can even take her place and hatch the chicks on his own. Already at 4 weeks, quails leave their parents and form their own small flocks.

The average life expectancy is about 3-4 years.

At home, Californian quails are usually kept in special. Since in nature the partridge sleeps and rests on tree branches or on suitable bushes, it is advisable to install several medium-sized natural branches or some kind of imitation of them in the enclosure. Often, poultry farmers keep these quails in a pen with other poultry. Although California crested quail normally tolerate sub-zero temperatures in nature, it is still better not to keep them outside at temperatures below +10 0 C.

At home, California quails readily eat cereals: crushed corn, wheat, rye, millet, and other types of grain. Many poultry farmers give their birds grain in the morning and evening, and in the afternoon - wet mash, including grated carrots, beets, chopped cabbage (whole leaves can be given). In the warm season, the mash is diluted with finely chopped alfalfa, clover, and other succulent herbs. In winter, the deficiency of natural vitamins can be replenished with sprouted wheat or millet sprouts. It is also worth regularly mixing into wet mash a small amount of bone or fish meal, which is necessary for the skeletal system and the formation of eggshells.

Wet mash is given in doses so that excess feed does not spoil. It is enough to observe the birds' appetite for several days to determine the required single dose.

Crushed shells or fine gravel or chalk should always be present in the feeders.

The water in drinking bowls should be changed every 2-3 days, since pathogenic microorganisms can quickly develop in it.

To breed Californian quails at home, it is necessary to create conditions close to natural ones. Since this is not always possible, most often the eggs are taken from the females for further placement in the incubator. Eggs should only be handled with clean hands, as microorganisms can penetrate through the shell. For incubation, eggs of the correct shape with a smooth surface are selected. A large percentage of unfertilized eggs is often caused by a disruption in the natural way of creating a pair.

The newly hatched chicks are quite weak, so caring for them must be very meticulous. There are known cases when eggs were placed under a brood hen, which subsequently perceives the emerging quails as her chicks, creating all the necessary conditions for the survival of the babies.

California quail is famous for its popularity among poultry farmers who raise this type of bird. In the USA this breed is called the California partridge. They are common in North America and are found from Oregon to California. Countries such as New Zealand, Chile and Colombia (several others) were able to adapt these birds to live on their territory. Unfortunately, this bird did not like the climate of European countries, so they cannot be found there in the wild, but local poultry farmers who raise quails have them.

Appearance

The California Crested Quail has received unique external characteristics. They immediately distinguish him from other representatives of his species. Externally, this breed has an elongated body, about 25 cm in size, a small-shaped tail, a shortened beak with a curved end, and black color. This shape allows the bird to easily feed on the seeds of various plants. The wings are pressed to the body and have a rounded shape. The limbs are small, dark skin tone. On the head you can see a crest consisting of several feathers, which first narrow, and straighten out from above and bend forward.

By gender, females have smaller crests than males. In addition, the attractive appearance of the feather color also has a slight difference between males and females. In the latter it is not so intense and bright. On the head, in the frontal part, the feather is colored white and yellow. There are 2 white lines that together form an interesting crescent moon pattern. In the back area there are brown feathers with a greenish color, the craw area and the chest part are bluish-gray. The rest of the plumage has a peculiar pattern, each feather is distinguished by a black edging. This is most noticeable on males. California quail is used for growing as an ornamental bird. It is often used by amateur poultry farmers for their collection.

Advantages

• Attractive and bright appearance;
• They adapt well to different climatic conditions and are not picky about their maintenance;
• For feeding use standard quail food;
• Strong immunity, disease resistance.

Minuses

• The cost of one head of this quail breed is high;
• Poor survival rate among young animals;
• Based on the above, they are not raised for meat;
• Only spacious enclosures are suitable for them, as cramped space spoils their appearance.

Content

In wild natural conditions, the Californian breed of quail chooses to be located in vineyards, orchards and deciduous forests. In some countries, this bird may take a liking to local parks and live in bushes and shrubs. This species of bird lives in flocks. When grown at home, they are kept in spacious enclosures. Perches made from tree branches are installed inside to imitate wild conditions in which this bird prefers to sleep on trees and bushes. It can also be kept together with other bird species.

Under natural conditions, quail normally tolerate sub-zero temperatures, but at home it is better to provide them with a minimum temperature of +10 o C. Keeping ornamental quails involves providing them with excellent growing conditions. They are not suitable for the conditions of keeping common industrial breeds. These birds have a decorative purpose, so they are not used for meat products.

Feeding

When this breed lives in wild natural conditions, the basis of their diet is the seeds of various plants, the pulp of fruit trees and shrubs, and insects. And to organize feeding of quails at home, they use crushed grain of corn, wheat, rye, and other types of these crops. Experienced poultry farmers use grain in feeding up to twice a day (morning and evening), and use wet food during the day. Such mash consists of grated vegetables and green mass. In winter, wheat sprouts can be sprouted for quails and fed to them.

This feeding will allow the quails to receive the vitamins they need for growth and development. Meat and bone meal can be added to wet food to enrich the diet with minerals. Such mashes are prepared new every day so that the food does not spoil, so you should watch the bird to understand how much food it needs per day. A container with fine gravel and feed chalk is placed next to the main food. Fresh water is provided every day.

Breeding

The beginning of spring is the period when mating games begin in the natural habitat of California quail. When fertilization has occurred, the resulting pair begins building a nest. They make a small depression in the ground and cover it with grass. One female can lay up to 12 eggs. They have a brown shell with spotted patches.

The incubation period for chicks lasts 22 days. All this time the male guards the nest and the female. If a threat arises, it begins to make characteristic sounds. Experts say that if the female dies, the male can sit out the eggs on his own.

Adult birds watch the young until they are 4 weeks old, and then they form their own flocks and look for their own food. At home, it will be difficult to create their usual method of breeding, so after laying, the eggs are placed in an incubator and the young are hatched in it. Collect eggs with clean hands into a clean container. The hatching egg must be free of defects and of correct shape. There are known cases when this breed of quail was bred by a brood hen and cared for like chickens. But, in general, young animals are very capricious in the first month of their life and they need careful care.

California quail is suitable for poultry farmers who can organize aviary keeping and good care for this bird. The cellular type of cultivation is not suitable for them; they will feel bad in them and lose their external attractiveness.