Japanese Quail

ok so i thought i would post a lil profile on japanese quail:

japanese quail

Latin name: Coturnix japonica

Approximate size: 5½ - 6 inches

Incubation period: 17 - 18 days

Characteristics

.Do not make alot of noise
.Can be kept in pairs / (colonies 1 male : 2/3 female)
.Exellent eggs layers
.Easy to sex


Admin added photo of own quail

i thought i would post a lil profile on italian quail:

italian quail

Latin name: Coturnix japonica

Approximate size: 5 - 6 inches

Incubation period: 17 - 18 days

Characteristics

.Do not make alot of noise
.Can be kept in pairs / (colonies 1 male : 2/3 female)
.Easy to sex from 15 days onwards
.Excellent egg layers


photo added by admin courtesy of Quails-in-Essex
http://www.quails-in-essex.co.uk/

i thought i would post a lil profile on spanish quail:

spanish quail

Latin name: N/A

Approximate size: 5½ - 6 inches

Incubation period: 17 days

Characteristics

.Exellent egg layers
.Do not make alot of noise
.Can be kept in pairs / (colonies 1 male : 2/3 female)
.Can be aggressive
.Easy to sex in normal colours

I don't know if it has a Latin name - as far as I can tell, the Italian Speckled Quail is also known as the Manchurian Golden Quail (Coturnix japonica). But I think its just a dominant mutation of the Pharaoh (Coturnix coturnix) or Japanese quail, but about only 2/3 the size of the Japanese quail.

ye i think so to ill just put coturniz japonica

Hi,
I've been asking about Italian quail to many breeders, and no one can give me a defenate answer. My question is this, Is the Italian a different species from the Japanese quail or is this just another colour mutation? Derek

It really depends - It can either be a mutation Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) or mutation Jap Quail (Coturnix japonica) depending on the source birds. Same goes for the Spanish quail.

Sorry I can't give you a more definitive answer.

Suz

i cant find anything either its strange really

Keelan

If you try googling - Pharaoh & Manchurian Golden Quail, you should find some information. I do have snippets bookmarked, but I've got so much Quail mince in my favourites they'll take ages to find.

hope this helps

Please keep these birds with a ratio of at least 1 male to 5 females, I've had nightmares with Jap males murdering jap females when they are kept in a trio or pair.

Hi,
I agree with Martin,I keep 18 females and just the 4 males,I find they get along fine. Before I had trio's and the females were treated very rough by the males,I had to remove them in the end.Derek

Yeh i tend to agree 1:5 ratio is good

as there so many different types of japs in coulor n size r thier eggs different in coulor and what coulor r english whites eggs

I think all the coturnix lay the standard coloured quail eggs. Somebody else may be able to help out.
Sometimes they may lay a white/blue egg. It's normally just a blip in the egg production, but they still can be fertile etc.

Hi,
The japanese quail has many mutation colours,including "English White" They all lay the same coloured speckled eggs.Derek.

Hi

I am new to the forum and am looking into perhaps getting some Quail and would want to keep them in a hutch like above, with a ramp down to a run underneath that is off the floor.

Do Japs and Italians do well in hutches? I would plan to use night shutters at night as I have cats.

Hi,

Firstly, Italians are just Japanese quail but a different colour.lol. They will do alright out side if they have shelter from both wind and rain.

Japanese quail are very hardy, and can live outside,if the above is noted. Mine live in sheds with access out side are are perfectly happy, I supply extra lighting to ensure they lay eggs all the year round.
Derek.

Ok, I've merged the Japs & Italians until I get a chance to re-write these topics in the reference section.

Suz wrote:I don't know if it has a Latin name - as far as I can tell, the Italian Speckled Quail is also known as the Manchurian Golden Quail (Coturnix japonica). But I think its just a dominant mutation of the Pharaoh (Coturnix coturnix) or Japanese quail, but about only 2/3 the size of the Japanese quail.

I know this is an old post, but I just thought i'd add that my Italians are enormous. I have one 320g, and one 300g. The other looks the same but he is only 280g.

yeah, but yours are the Jumbo mutation, but I've never noticed any difference in size between the standard varieties - I'll need to remember to add a bit about size as well as colour mutations in he new Jap's section

Yeah, worth nothing that not all italians are scrawny

In all the pics i've seen of the two colours together the japs have never looked bigger, but i've come across that 2/3rds the size thing on a few sites. I wonder if one person happened to have small italians and the word spread round the internet.

Is it you who has the mini japs, Suz? Def need info about those, they sound so cute.

Hi,

I think all this small sizes in quails is down to too much inbreeding, when I first started with quail, I bought only from ebay. Then I relized the people I was buying from were also buying from ebay and so it goes........ people were buying from other people beliving them unrelated but in fact were brother/sister cousins.

I now buy very little from ebay, I find breeders locally or even travel away to buy unrelated birds, and by only selecting the biggest to breed from, I'm now getting better birds. Derek

I've got 3 mini males @ 3 - 3.5 oz - tiny, not much bigger than CPQ and just as flighty.

Just read this - I have a ratio of 1 male to 4 hens - only had them a couple of days - should I rush out and get another hen from the breeder - and will she be accepted?

Hi Lottie

I have 3 jumbos hens with a male and they seem to get on just fine. I did keep a close eye on them when I first put them together just in case there was trouble.

You may have probs trying to introduce a new hen into an established group.