Japanese quail: description of the breed, photo, breeding and content
Quails can be kept for eggs ormeat. Both of these products have excellent taste qualities and are also very useful for health. But most often farmers breed this bird yet to receive eggs. There are many good breeds of this direction of productivity. However, the most popular among Russian farmers is Japanese quail.
Breed description
These quails were withdrawn a long time ago, as alreadycan be judged by their name, in Japan. Once they were bred in this country only as a decorative bird. However, later they began to contain and to receive eggs and meat. Both these products were considered delicacies in ancient Japan. But the main emphasis in breeding this bird the inhabitants of the country of the rising sun nevertheless did on increase in their egg-laying.
By appearance Japanese quailthe bands represented on the page confirm this) very much reminds the wild relatives. The color of the pen is patchy gray-black. In males, the breast is brown. In females, it is light gray. To the pedigree signs of Japanese quail also include:
- an elongated trunk;
- short wings and tail.
The beak of the males of this breed is darker than that of the females.
The sex of these quails can be distinguished already from the age of 20 days. Oviposition starts at 1.5-2 months. In mature males, the pink cloacal gland is clearly visible. Nesushki does not have it.
Performance indicators
Weight of bodiesand yapoRussian Quail gaining very small. It is believed that contain this bird the meat is absolutely unprofitable. The average weight of adult males is 110-120 g. The females of this breed weigh only about 135-150 g. The peculiarity of Japanese quails is that they gain weight very quickly in the first weeks of life. Then the development of birds in this respect is significantly slowed down.
Yaytsenoskost in Japanese quails is very high. During the year one female can bring from 230 to 300 pieces. The size of the egg quails of this breed are not too big. Their weight is usually 6-9 grams. Some disadvantage of this breed is that the females are well ridden only in the first year of life. Later, the productivity indicators of the Japanese quail begin to decline in this respect. The bird of this breed rushes directly on the floor and usually at the same time of day. Therefore, owners of quail should carefully monitor the cells. If the eggs are not cleaned in time, the bird can simply tread them.
Character of a bird
Quail Japanese, description which were given above, differ in that they have in the pack a pronounced hierarchical structure. Mainly in the poultry house is usually the largest and most prolific female. In some cases, it can show aggression to the relatives - drive away from the trough or drinkers. This should be taken into account when keeping the aviary method.
By nature, Japanese quail, but, very timid. Therefore, withThey will have representatives of this breed usually only in cells. At the same time they try not to let outsiders or any domestic animals (including cats and dogs) into the poultry house.
Contents of Japanese quails: poultry room
In the dark, Japanese quail can not be kept. The room in which the cells will be installed should be sufficiently light. That is, in the poultry house necessarily provide for several windows. However, too bright lighta Japanese Quail, toOriginally a foresterand I birdsa, not a transferandYou can not install cells near the windows. In addition, as already mentioned, Japanese quail is very timid. And therefore birds flying past the window can cause them great stress. As a result, quail simply stops sweeping.
A light day for poultry should be provided in17-19 hours. Under this regime, some layers will lay even two eggs a day. With a longer daylight, the birds may develop aggression. Of course, the room for quail should be warm. Be sure to equip the house with ventilation.
What should cells be like?
By the method of these quails, thus,do not contain. Cages for this bird usually acquire multi-tiered. Quite suitable for Japanese quail as iron, and wooden "dwellings." The height of each cell should be about 20-25 cm. This will allow the bird to feel relatively free and exclude its trauma. If the cages for quails are purchased higher, their ceiling must be beat something soft. The matter is that this bird at fright likes to sharply fly upwards "a candle" (can strongly damage a head).
The floor of each cell should be covered with straw. In the future, it must necessarily be changed at least once a day. Instead of straw, you can use hay or large sawdust. Feeders and drinkers are usually fixed to the door of the cage from the outside in such a way that birds can easily reach them, sticking their heads between the bars. Inside these accessories are never installed. The fact is that Japanese Quail just loveet get into the troughs and drinkers, throwing food and pouring water.
Feeding regime
Food quail should be given correctly. Usually, farmers use one of two feeding regimes:
"Full feeder." In this case, there is always food for quails. Farmers simply lay in the troughs the entire daily rate of feed at once.
Twice a day. In this case, the quails are fed 2 times a day - at 9 am and 4 pm in the evening.
The first method is usually used only when the farmer does not have a lot of time to feed the bird. The plus of the "full feeder" technique is only low labor input. But this method has a huge minus. With this method of feeding, the bird can easily heal. Perhaps, the meat will become more delicious at the same time. However, Japanese quail is bred, as already mentioned, mostly still on eggs. In this regard, the livened up bird productivity is usually very much reduced.
What to feed
Breeding Japanese quails suggests, among other things, the development of a suitable diet for them. Very often this bird is fed in the same way as chickens. However, in this way content it will be impossible to achieve high egg production rates. For quails it is necessary to develop a special diet.
It is best to use specialindustrial feed. At the same time, only those that are intended for feeding birds are to be purchased. Pork mixed fodder, for example, for quail is absolutely not suitable. The fact is that it contains a lot of salts. The accumulation of the latter in the body of a quail can easily lead to its death.
The best for quail is suitable mixed fodder PK-4 and PK-5 with corn. Before feeding the bird, the granules are soaked in the reverse, and then they add grated vegetables and chopped greens to the swollen mixture.
Breeding and care of chickens
Maternal instinct in the process of selectionand quail of Japanese breed PHave completely lost. They never sit on eggs. Therefore, chickens are hatched only in incubators. At the same time, the temperature regime is 37-38 ° C. Japanese hawks hatch on the 18th day of incubation.
At first the chicks are fed choppedquail egg and cottage cheese (from the second day). You can also use the "Start" mixture for layers. When you feed home foods, the amount of cottage cheese within a week after hatching chicks in their diet is gradually increased, and chopped eggs - reduce. From the second week the chicks begin to give boiled fish, millet, grated carrots. After 3-4 weeks. the bird is transferred to an adult diet.
Instead of concluding
Thus, a good egg productivity andquite a beautiful appearance - this is what distinguish the named birds. The breed of Japanese quail (a description of its species was presented in the article) looks like wild cousins. Yes, and their character is almost the same. Therefore, with the content of Japanese quails, in the first place, we should pay maximum attention to excluding the possibility of injury to the bird. And, of course, it is necessary to develop the most suitable full-fledged diet for pets.
