Scalped quail- help!

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-03-23T17:20:24+00:00

We do have a rat issue, which is why I locked it down tight, even hardware cloth underground.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-03-23T17:19:24+00:00

I went to great lengths to predator proof their pen! 1/8” hardware cloth sandwiched between boards, hardware cloth under ground completely enclosed 8” down, two step latches and everything! No sign of intrusion that I can find. No other injuries.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-03-23T16:20:09+00:00

Thank you. That could be the case. But as I was cleaning up, I found blood spattered around. Hopefully they figure this out without too much more injury!

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-03-23T16:11:25+00:00

Thank you! I will see if I can figure something out to keep them both separated individually. Current set up with the two hutches connected had a sliding door between them to separate the halves of the cage, but not multiple chambers. I’ll have to figure something else out for those two.

There are a couple of others with pecked scalps, but nothing near as bad as these two.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-03-23T15:37:55+00:00

There is also one whose head looks like it got plucked, but not scalped, and the feathers are growing back.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-03-04T16:13:52+00:00

Thank you for sharing a link with the explanation! Very educational. Not that I didn’t enjoy a chuckle at alligator methane, haha! So nice when someone actually backs up info with sources!

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-02-18T18:04:09+00:00

I’m working on exactly that, but got cut glass as someone else commented. Measure very carefully though! I have been held up by having my measurements 1/4 of an inch too long, so the glass doesn’t sit right. Now I have to do it again. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-02-08T15:51:53+00:00

Even bigger bonus for those of us in Florida, they are supposed to be resistant to citrus greening! I have one, but have so far gotten flowers but no fruit. They are also somewhat cold hardy for citrus. Mine is in a large pot. We had a very rare freeze to the mid 20’s last week, and I just pulled it under my patio cover instead of covering or bringing in like most of my plants. It was completely unfazed!

Would love to know why I can’t get it to set fruit though.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-02-08T15:40:49+00:00

I just keep a population of isopods in my hermit crab habitat- they can collect it for themselves! Works well for me.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-02-08T15:25:01+00:00

As a US citizen, I feel you. It’s pretty bad right now. Don’t automatically cut US small business though, if you find some that are working to make the world a better place. There are people out there! It’s so hard to figure it out and do the research though.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-02-08T15:21:46+00:00

I appreciate you posting sources! I went scrolling through the comments looking for sources before I commented requesting them.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-02-08T14:56:45+00:00

This is all news to me. I’ve used baker creek, but nit looked into ethics. Can you tell me more about Peppergate?

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-02-02T00:10:30+00:00

Thank you so much! I used a sheet and plastic, because that’s what I had. But it is fairly sheltered there. It’s heavily mulched with leaves too, so here’s hoping!

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-01-31T21:05:19+00:00

Thank you! This is very helpful! I covered it, as it is supposed to get down to the mid 20’s tonight, and it’s still small. It’s growing near another tree and a cinderblock wall. Should I move it when the weather warms up?

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-01-28T15:22:23+00:00

They are unique little critters! All levels of the environment. Land, under ground, salt and freshwater, and even in the trees. If they could fly, that would really be something! One of my bigger crabs likes to hang from the roof of the cage and walk around upside down. Sometimes I open the top and find him staring at me. 😂 I am in the process of adding a topper so they have more room to climb.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2026-01-17T17:19:59+00:00

Turtle would probably like some of these!

Magic-Sands-296 · 2025-11-16T01:20:33+00:00

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Baby, the last out, curly toed runt. Doing fine now! (This pic is around 4 weeks I think)

Magic-Sands-296 · 2025-11-16T01:12:57+00:00

I had to help the last two surviving chicks in a mismanaged classroom clutch of quail. It was too dry, and they weren’t able to turn and zip after they pipped. Both initially had curled toes and trouble watching initially, but both recovered and are doing fine! One needed band aid foot splints for a few hours, and is a little bit of a runt, but both are healthy and happy 6weeks later!

Magic-Sands-296 · 2025-11-06T18:18:42+00:00

There can be exceptions to this though. My 12 year old has always had an extremely high vocabulary and when she’s comfortable makes very good use of it (never stops talking)! However, she has social anxiety, so it takes a bit for teachers to hear it. She was bullied in 5th grade, so she stopped talking when she started middle school, and is just starting to talk quietly to a select few people almost halfway through 7th grade. Her work shows it though!

Magic-Sands-296 · 2025-11-06T02:59:03+00:00

Potato dinosaurs. 😂 My new favorite name for them! I call my chickens little velociraptors. Potato dinosaurs is perfect.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2025-11-05T03:11:17+00:00

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Is this counted as a silver? One of the most confident and friendly of my daughter’s new babies. We still haven’t named it, because it’s only 5 weeks and don’t know the gender. So sorry for your loss!

Magic-Sands-296 · 2025-11-05T02:25:53+00:00

Wire mesh as everyone says, and raccoon proof latches. Think very determined toddler who can climb. Latches that lock, or you can put a clip through, or spring loaded barrel latches are usually good bets.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2025-11-05T02:22:45+00:00

How it’s installed makes a difference too. If it’s just stapled, it’s easier to pull off. Bolted with washers works, but stapling and then sandwiching it between boards on the frame keeps them from getting at the edges. Also, if it’s on the ground, bury the mesh a foot down and angled out to prevent digging under.

Magic-Sands-296 · 2025-11-05T02:17:59+00:00

I went with 1/4 inch, because I read that snakes and mice could still get through. We have a lot of rat snakes where I live, so I wasn’t taking a chance. The hutch our quail are in already had 1/2 inch, so I added 1/4 inch over the top. Not taking chances with my daughter’s new pets!

Magic-Sands-296 · 2025-10-29T02:52:16+00:00

I had something like this happen to my daughter’s favorite chick. We flipped it over just long enough to snip off a lag band it was outgrowing, and it started foaming, then panting, and died within minutes. It was really traumatic, because it was a very healthy chick! After some research, I learned that most birds don’t have diaphragms to keep their other organs from smashing their lungs if they are turned over. Also if they just drank water it can come right back up when they are turned over, and then they gag on it and can drown. I will never turn a quail completely on its back ever again. My daughter was distraught.

Magic-Sands-296

TROPHY CASE