CATDOLL : CATDOLL: Can partridges be bred artificially? What are their habits?

Can partridges be bred artificially? What are their habits?

Quail is a kind of bird, mainly distributed in southern provinces of my country. It is generally Chinese Quail, a provincial protected animal. It is similar in shape to a chicken but smaller than a chicken. Its feathers are mostly black and white, especially the eye-shaped white spots on the back, chest and abdomen. An adult quail is about 30 cm long and weighs about 300 grams. It lives mostly in grass or bushes in hills and mountains. Male quails are aggressive and have a special call. Some people imitate its sound as "Xing Bu De Ye Ge Ge". Quails feed on grains, beans and insects.

Quail can be bred artificially, but it is difficult. Because this animal is wild, it needs to be tamed. It likes a warm environment, is particularly afraid of cold and humidity, has a strong flying ability, and likes to live in groups or blindly. Here are some of the habits of quail!

1. Environment

It likes warm and dry environment, and avoids cold, hot and humid environment. Temperature below 10℃ or above 30℃ is not good for its growth and production. The optimum temperature is 16℃～18℃. The chicks need to spend the brooding period under higher temperature conditions.

2. Food habits

Quail is an omnivorous bird with a wide range of diets. It can eat weeds, seeds, fruits, leaves, insects, etc. Therefore, the feed for partridges should be diverse.

3. Social nature

They live in groups whether foraging or resting, and young quails like to gather together when sleeping. However, it should be noted that the former is different from the latter because of cold weather. The former is relaxed, while the latter shrinks the neck, hides the head, and retracts the feet.

4. Wildness.

(1) Possess the ability to fly. They can fly from 2 weeks old, with fast speed and short duration.

(2) Aggression. Males are more aggressive than females, and they fight fiercely for mates during the breeding season. Therefore, males and females should be kept separately before sexual maturity, and they should be kept in small groups with a male-female ratio of 1:3 before giving birth.

(3) Stress. Quails are timid and easily startled, and are highly stressful. When they encounter unusual sounds or foreign objects, or are exposed to uncomfortable external environmental factors (such as high temperature, high density, strong light stimulation, etc.), they are prone to stress reactions, resulting in decreased productivity or even death. Therefore, within 30 hours after the chicks hatch, they can be trained to respond to various stress factors (sound, light, color, objects, etc.) to cultivate their adaptability.

5. Growth characteristics

The growth of young quails is relatively fast before 12 weeks of age, and the weight of the young quails is 13 to 14 grams when they hatch. The weight of male quails can reach 500 grams at 12 weeks of age, and then the growth gradually slows down. Therefore, the feeding tube should be well managed before 12 weeks of age to improve economic benefits.

6. Phototropism

In a dark environment, as long as they find light, they will fly towards the light source. Therefore, wire mesh should be added to the doors and windows of the partridge house, and black cloth should be used to strictly block light during non-lighting periods.

7. Nesting

Under domestic conditions, they lose the nesting habit, but they still form nests in the wild.

8. Sensitivity to moldy feed

Partridges are very sensitive to moldy feed, especially to ochratoxin and aflatoxin. Therefore, the feed must be fresh.

9. Moulting characteristics

Partridges molt four times before reaching sexual maturity, before and after 7 weeks of age, after 12 weeks of age, and before laying eggs at 28 weeks of age.