California Quail help

[Quail]

Hello

I wish to have a pair of California Quail, however I am unsure if you require a permit to own it or not.I have been told you need one but I have then been unable to find anything which says that I require such a thing. Anyone have ideas?

[les]

apparently because they are classified as a gamebird you need a permit to `hold`them.these used to issued by the local acclimatisation soc but i think it may be called fish and game these days?I doubt you would be pilloried for it,there are alot sold on trademe these days?

[SomesBirder]

To my understanding, it is illegal to collect the eggs of wild ones, though I may be mistaken. I do not think that a permit is required to keep them, but I see no benefits of keeping California Quail as opposed to keeping Japanese ones.

[Steps]

Im sure u only need a permit if breeding for release
We have kept captive breed in the past
Do not put them in with any other birds, they are extremely flighty.. and a very large aviary with plenty of cover, and wide perches....at least 2 to 3" diameter. Also have them where they will not be disturbed. They like isolation quiet.. no cats dogs people.
It doesnt take much for them to get upset and go off food, eventually die... even if appear ok in the environment.
Hence why they are not a commonly kept species, or see them for sale very often.
Of all the quail species the Californian quail are by far the most colourful , impressive....and 1st choice IF u get the environment right, and are not a messy bird.

Japanese quail are easy to breed... buy eggs off trademe...
But in the aviary they are stupid dumb birds and very messy liquid smelly excrement. And the only bird we have ever kept that will defecate in a seed or water tray.....they are very stupid.

Button quail on the other hand make excellent vaccuum cleaners... a must for any aviary. with dry hard ball poo. Do not mix with for species like love birds, red rumps that get very aggressive when in mixed flights

PS both button and J quail eggs when hard boiled and shelled make an excellent novel addition to a salad on a special occasion....and when fried or poached on toast with bacon , sausage look......well.....lonely, they are so small.

[SomesBirder]

Japanese quail are easy to breed... buy eggs off trademe...
But in the aviary they are stupid dumb birds and very messy liquid smelly excrement. And the only bird we have ever kept that will defecate in a seed or water tray.....they are very stupid.

Button quail on the other hand make excellent vaccuum cleaners... a must for any aviary. with dry hard ball poo. Do not mix with for species like love birds, red rumps that get very aggressive when in mixed flights

Japanese Quail can also only be kept in groups of one male and over three females; less than that causes the females to die of regular forced copulation.
I do not recommend keeping King Quail. Non-imprinted birds are impossible to handle and never get used to the presence of whoever feeds them. They will also fly out of their enclosures without provocation and do not incubate their own eggs. I know this from experience.

[Neil Fitzgerald]

You don't need a permit to keep pheasants, only to release them, so I would assume the same for Cali quail. That's my understanding anyway. Fish and game would be the people to ask fo sure. The whole protected game birds thing is weird IMO.

[Quail]

Ok guys thanks for the quick replies, I know from experience that King/Button Quail are impossible to handle and very dumb, mine kept stepping in seed and water, stupid birds. Had a pair, hen was egg bound and died, male escaped. Never touching those stupid birds again. Japanese Quail: considered them at one point, but they don't incubate their own eggs (wouldn't be such a problem if I had an incubator but I don't) as i've heard, but from what Steps said will probably be keeping away from them, and yes am getting big aviary for Cali Quail all to themselves, safety door everything. No cats etc nearby so should be all good once I find some for sale. I am just fascinated with California Quail, very colourful. Will post pics of aviary when I get it.

[Quail]

and anybody got info on Bobwhites?

[SomesBirder]

and anybody got info on Bobwhites?

Bobwhites are extinct in the wild here and should be available on Trademe from time to time.

[Steps]

do not incubate their own eggs. I know this from experience.

This common with most species of animals once one gets to a couple generations of artificial breeding / hand feeding

Bob whites.. yep they like the larger jap quals are messy, smell up flights

All out flights have button quail.. a couple males or male female... we dont breed thu occasionally they lay eggs...having hard white round poos , no mess and clean up all scraps of food, seed etc... and dont walk under ones feet like the bigger quail... the ones we have must be a good 5 to 7 yrs old now.. maybe more.
The flights have kakariki , kings, crimsons, turqs, burkes....