I have established a covey of quail

[mm]

So I had to get the brooder away from the house so I put it out in some brush away from the house with a long extension cord. When I was adding some chicks one day an older bird got out. He stayed by the brooder for a week or so so I put out food and water and he stayed on. SO I let a couple more go and they stayed and a couple more and they stayed. So now I have this small covey hanging around. I thought they would get killed I have hawks and a fox and a lot of coons. They got most of my chickens but they are all still there.

Has anyone else had this type of thing happen?

I always looked at the suragators they sell but heard they dont work well.

I am thinking of bringing this to my training ground and trying to do the same thing.
mm

[Featherfinder]

Congrats on the covey!
Surrogators do work but there are so many variables in habitat, predation, chick quality, etc. that they can a get bad rep.
Surrogators, johnny houses, etc. are not a one step process. Some folk find what works for them but in most cases, coveys have a short life span.
Be it, predation, weather, again...habitat, these birds just don't last very long.
Predation is not restricted to external invasion. Keeping predators out of a surrogator or johnny house can be a challenge.
We had a couple of covies one summer/fall. By spring there wasn't a bird to be found.

[mm]

I have failed at getting birds to stay around for years and I had given up on the idea thats why this was such a suprise to me. They are still out there and doing well the problem is they are between my driveway and my horse yard. I cant use them to train. Hopefully they are eating ticks. I have been to Hoffman a few times and they do a nice job with the birds. But they have a whole program there.

[jkoehler]

Would anyone have any interest in a surrogate? I have one that I would be willing to sell since I have no place to use it anymore.

[OldA5good]

What would you take for your surrogate?