lone ranger

this is my little "hi ho Silver" bobwhite

Only managed to hatch 1 out of 9 eggs. 6 weren't fertile and the other 2 were dead in shell. He was quite weak for more than a day or 2 after hatching, so I didn't hold much hope for him. Now he is singing his head off.

All my other quail are off heat, so I decided to put him in a little desk top brooder.

and this is his little brooder. A small perspect container from Muji (for holding VHS videos). He has his own little supply of Tango water in the corner and about his body weight in crumb. As I'm off for "le Weekend a Bruxelles"

Aw what a cute little chap, hope he's OK over the weekend!

I hope so too. I'm a bit worried about him over heating. It's scorching down here at the moment!

So I hooked up a thermostat to his light.

where can you get thermostats to operate separate lights from?

I made my own. I had an old thermostat with a nice display from an old 3KW greenhouse heater (the heater element was fried), so I wired a 4 socket extension cord to it. That way I can use the thermostat to run one to four lights (up to at least 2.5KW load) and not have to keep removing plugs from lamps. So I use it to run a small light for a small brooder or a set of larger more powerful lights if I need to. If you're using it for more than one light, you just have to be a bit careful where you position the sensor for the thermostat ...otherwise cold or fried quail chickies.

Awww - he is gorgeous Andy. Post him over to me to love while your gone!

too late Harrie, I've left him home alone. He is guarding the house, but I forgot to wire up the panic button

hi andoy, are you selling any eggs?? i need 7 or 10 for my rcom3, i dont want to buy it from ebay as you know about posting reduce the fertile, so you live near by and i can collect the eggs from you by hand, could you pm me about that please? thanks

hi delmare, to the forum.

Sorry, I haven't got any fertile eggs going. My bobwhites are still juveniles and I've seperated my male and female coturnix (males destined for the BBQ as most of them are related to my females).

If you want Japs (Coturnix), I recommend buying from Joy ( riverside-quails.co.uk ) in Loudwater (near High Wycombe). She also sells birds (collection only).

If you want bobwhites, then put up a wanted add on here.

Delmare - just noticed that you asked Andy for 7 or 10 eggs for your R-com - sorry to stick my nose in but just thought I let you know that I put 8 eggs in my Rcom3 and it was really tight in there. The last 2 eggs that hatched were trampled and trotted on therefore I would stick to 7 or 8 as a maximum.

Nils, x

delmare wrote: i dont want to buy it from ebay as you know about posting reduce the fertile

Just going to add my tuppense worth .... the above statement is incorrect. Posting does not effect fertility - an eggs is either fertile or it isn't. Bad packaging and/or rough handling will effect the eggs viability and hatchability though. I have had eggs from Derek (Ironsun) sent through post numerous times, often with 100% fertility & hatchability.

I will agree however there is problems with some eBay eggs, but this could be caused by a lot of different factors, old breeding stock, hens coming out of lay, poor nutrition & unscrupulous sellers to name but a few.

to the forum by the way

Suz