Virginia quails are medium in size. They are characterized by a high-set short beak and legs with long claws without spurs. Birds belong to the meat category. Birds are highly productive, which is why many farmers raise them. In order for quails to grow normally and not get sick, they need high-quality care and a balanced diet.
Description and characteristics of meat breed
This breed of quail is not considered the most common. In European countries they are often bred as ornamental birds. The weight of the birds is 200-300 grams.They are characterized by tasty meat with a minimum of fat and a delicate taste. At the same time, quails lay few eggs. This parameter is 40-60 pieces per year.
The advantage of quails is their decorative appearance. They are characterized by a short beak, covered with jagged edges. At the same time, the legs are decorated with long claws. The birds are distinguished by brown feathers. At the same time, the body is covered with lighter and darker plumage. From the forehead towards the neck there are black and white stripes.
On average, the length of the body is 22 centimeters, and the tail - 6. Females are larger in size. At the same time, males are characterized by a contrasting shade of the head. In addition, they have a tendency to talk. Quails make specific sounds to attract the opposite sex. However, a loud cry can only be heard at the beginning of spring.
Pros and cons of Virginia quail
The advantages of birds include the following:
- quite heavy weight;
- decorative appearance;
- resistance to pathologies;
- undemanding to nutrition.
The main disadvantage is considered to be very low egg production. Virginia quails lay no more than 40-60 eggs during the year.
Conditions of keeping and breeding
Birds do not require specific care. To breed quails, cages and standard food will be enough. Females tend to build their own nests. In this case, the sex ratio in the cells should be approximately the same. This is due to the fact that Virginia quails are best bred in pairs.
Habitat
Most often, such quails are bred in small cages. Their dimensions must be at least 120x40x30 centimeters. In this case, one of the corners of the cage should have a shelter made of tree bark, bushes or grass.
There is no need to make perches in the cage. Birds can spend the night on the floor, huddling together. The side of the cage should be at least 15 centimeters. This helps prevent sand and feed from spilling out. It is also worth placing drinking bowls and feeders in the cages.
Diet
Virginia quails do not require specific nutrition. It is permissible to give them different types of food - millet, crushed barley, corn, oatmeal. Birds also happily eat millet, rapeseed, wheat, and weed seeds.
In addition, the following foods should be included in the diet:
- cottage cheese and boiled eggs;
- a mixture of crushed crackers and carrots;
- mealworms, grasshoppers, bloodworms;
- chopped vegetables - boiled potatoes, cabbage, greens;
- chalk, eggshell, shell rock.
It is permissible to introduce bird feed into the diet of quails, mixing it with herbs and egg shells. There should be 2-3 meals a day. It is advisable to do them at the same time.
Bird breeding
In rooms with natural light, the breeding season lasts from May to September. With the arrival of the nesting period, it is worth increasing the amount of protein in the diet to 25-30%. Birds should also be given minerals.
There are usually 2 females for every 1 male. Sometimes birds are placed in colonies in large enclosures. However, this can cause fights between males. In this case, some of the eggs may break.
After constructing the nest, the female lays eggs daily. When 10-15 pieces accumulate, she begins to hatch them. On days 22-23, chicks are born. With high-quality nutrition and proper maintenance, young animals are highly viable. Quails grow quickly and easily adapt to new conditions.
Possible diseases
Quails have strong immunity.However, sometimes they encounter infections or non-communicable diseases that are associated with poor nutrition or care. Improper feeding causes many pathologies, so it is worth using high-quality types of food with the correct composition. If there is an overdose of vitamins and minerals, the birds can die.
If your diet is disrupted, there is a risk of the following problems:
- prolapse of the oviduct with the egg;
- problems with shell formation;
- lack of vitamins.
Virgin quails are distinguished by high meat productivity and decorative appearance. For bird breeding to be successful, they need to be provided with quality care. Quality nutrition is of no small importance.
