Pipping?

[Susan Skylark]

Congrats on the rest! Sometimes they just don’t make it, sadly death is always part of life, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth doing, otherwise we merely exist, a ‘safe’ life is no life at all.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

How can I tell them apart, they all look the same, me and one chick I called Samuel have gotten a strong bond . But it's so hard to tell him apart! And when and how will I be able to sex them?
Thanks

 

[Nabiki]

How can I tell them apart, they all look the same, me and one chick I called Samuel have gotten a strong bond . But it's so hard to tell him apart! And when and how will I be able to sex them?
Thanks

You could put food dye on their heads. It will last for a few days, at least. Other than that...

You aren't going to be able to sex any of them until they are at LEAST three weeks old. At three weeks you can generally tell the ones that a feather sexable by breast feathers. Otherwise you will need to wait until they're sexually active and vent sex.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

Thanks for your reply. The chicks are so fun to sit with, they nestle in the palm of my hand and run around and flap. They have started to grow their tiny wing feathers. Samuel is the naughtiest one!

 

[Nabiki]

Hatching never gets old.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

What kind of pen will they need when they're older? Would a pen outside with access to grass work or a pen raised off the ground?

 

[Nabiki]

What kind of pen will they need when they're older? Would a pen outside with access to grass work or a pen raised off the ground?

As long as they have shelter and it doesn't get too cold for them, I would keep them on the ground. They'll be happier and may even go broody and hatch out their own chicks.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

Ooh that would be fun, would u think the quail would be related? As I wouldn't breed them if they were but I could buy eggs. I might bring them in in the winter when it gets cold and muddy.

 

[Nabiki]

Ooh that would be fun, would u think the quail would be related? As I wouldn't breed them if they were but I could buy eggs. I might bring them in in the winter when it gets cold and muddy.

They can handle a bit of inbreeding. The person I got my first buttons from had the most amazing aviary. It ran down the side of his house, under his deck and took up about 1/3 of his back yard. He had a tiny stream that ran through it and so many plants. He had finches and button quail in there, and they just bred. Even he had no idea how many birds were in there.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

If they went broody I'd probably but some eggs and let them raise some of their own aswell. If you had pictures of an outdoor run it would be very helpful. Thanks