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I have established a covey of quail

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2019 5:00 am
by 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

Re: I have established a covey of quail

Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:11 am
by 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. :(

Re: I have established a covey of quail

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 2:37 am
by 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.

Re: I have established a covey of quail

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 1:49 pm
by 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.

Re: I have established a covey of quail

Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:20 am
by OldA5good
What would you take for your surrogate?