Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The judgement day

So Rusty was released into the main house, so did Stevie the decoy quail.

Keeping her peaceful eyes on the others....

I didn't think at the time I was making Stevie, but she's a lot smaller than the others...

Zebedee and Newbie Stevie



Well there was a little bit of pecking - Zebedee pecking Rusty, but not as nasty as before, and Rusty didn't run away like she did before...in fact, she was casually fighting back. No screaming or flapping, just some peck occasionally. 

Stevie, what a saviour! (I'M SURE SHE'S THE KEY TO THIS PEACE). 


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Dougal had a bit of accident today, and she fell into a gap between the house and the hutch - she might have been stuck there for good 30mins or so!! Poor Dougal....She's a bit traumatised, I think. She laid an egg immediately after being rescued, and now her bum looks sore. She still runs for mealworms etc, but something is still not quite right. She's a bit puffed up and keeps sitting down. Hope nothing was damaged....I should have thought about the risk and I feel really bad. Now the gap is sealed.......

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Decoy Mission!

The new greenhouse was built (with some windows changed to wire net) for all four quail to live happily. 

Zebedee was being picked on by Dougal and Rusty before. When we put all of them back into the new house, Zebedee decided to get her own back and started attacking Dougal and Rusty really nastily! The  two were running and flying everywhere in the house, trying to get away from Zebedee's vicious peck! (Meanwhile Ermantrude was busy chasing a fly). 

This just didn't look good. We put 2 bowls of food and 2 bowls of water, but no use. Zebedee went out of her way to get those ex-bullies! 

Oh...... dear.............

So the cage had to be used again. Zebedee was kept in the cage, inside of the greenhouse! 
The house was peaceful once Zebedee was in the cage. They can still see each other so HOPEFULLY no pecking will go on after a week or so.



Zebedee was released into the main house after a week. She didn't attack anyone. Dougal didn't seem bothered about Zebedee. 

Peace, finally! 




....Oh no, Rusty didn't like her return, so decided to peck her!

WHY QUAIL WHY! 
This is the crazy world of quail (maybe other birds too?). Maybe we should let them peck on each other and decide who is the boss in this very very small flock.  But one thing we don't want is them killing each other! 
Let's try once more - Rusty, we have to keep you in the cage this time!

AND THIS TIME....... I have a new plan. 
A lump of air-dry clay

Shape it into a quail shape


Paint it like a quail!

This is my Qrazy Quail Decoy Mission!!! 
When we release Rusty into the main house, I'm going to release this Decoy Quail, Stevie. 
I hope that my artistic skill is good enough for quail's eyes too. They can peck this newbie Stevie as much as they want! Please, just not each other!!!!!!

Let's see what happens. 
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Friday, August 3, 2012

Pecking order!

Zebedee's wound got better after a few days so we popped her back in the run... We were warned by our friend who has experience with chickens, that other quail might pick on Zebedee after being out of their sight. 

Ok, as soon as she went back in, Dougal and Rusty went for Zebedee! It was horrible to watch as those two were darting around the run to get her. Zebedee looked really worried and she kept hiding behind and on top of pots. She also started flapping (jumping vertically, like quail do), which made us think that this was maybe already happening and she ended up banging her lump on the ceiling. 

Ermentrude didn't seem bothered either way. She gets on with everyone. What a good natured quail!

So.............................Dougal and Rusty ended up in a cage. 
Not impressed!

The cage was placed right by the run, so they could still see each other.

Meanwhile, we ordered a small greenhouse. Not for vegetables, but for those qrazy quail. 
A new house, a new start, everyone will be happy. 

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After a few weeks, the greenhouse arrived. 
Firstly we moved Zebedee and Ermantrude out of the run. Then we quickly half dismantled and moved the run and hutch onto other area. Everyone was then put into the run while we constructed the greenhouse. 


Everyone seemed pretty excited to be in a different environment with a red currant bush in the middle of their run. They went mad!!! Ate the leaves, run between the twigs......they were happy in there!
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Guess what though.