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I out bird seed mix from the hardware store and they hammer it. There’s tons of natural food but they still will eat the store stuff.
We have been feeding Quail every winter for the last 13 years, and it seems to maintain our groups at very healthy levels. Our feeders is a 55 gallon drum, as we hold around 250 - 300 Quail at any one time. We only feed once the snow is on the ground, as there is ample habitat and feed until that point. Several things you can do to help with increasing the numbers of birds, some of which you mentioned. Brush piles are great, as they can evade predators and gives them a place to get out of the weather. Racoons, Opossum, Crows, and Magpies are a big problem, as they are egg stealing machines, and will pick on the young. When putting up feeders, make sure you put sheep fence or some other barrier around them, so Deer / Elk don't eat it all. One thing we have learned, both through reading books on the subject, and our own experience, is that you can only increase the population to a certain extent. Habitat and predation will keep things at a certain level, but feeding is key once the weather sets in.
Quote from: ellensburgpo on May 17, 2021, 08:38:41 AMI out bird seed mix from the hardware store and they hammer it. There’s tons of natural food but they still will eat the store stuff.Are you using a feeder, spreading it on the ground, or?
Ive done some research on this as well. One of the brush pile designs was a log cabin fire styked stacking of 4-6" logs then tossing the brush over the top some designes secured thenlogs together then places a piece if tin or plywood over top to keep the pule dry. This may be less of an issue depending upon if your in the rain shadow or not..That and do everything in your power to kill of predators.Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
Quote from: Special T on May 17, 2021, 10:13:47 AMIve done some research on this as well. One of the brush pile designs was a log cabin fire styked stacking of 4-6" logs then tossing the brush over the top some designes secured thenlogs together then places a piece if tin or plywood over top to keep the pule dry. This may be less of an issue depending upon if your in the rain shadow or not..That and do everything in your power to kill of predators.Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using TapatalkI've seen that as well. Some use a stack of pallets, but I'm not leaving old pallets laying around the joint.
Tag. I'd like to foster a bevy or two here. I'd noticed here that they like thickets and for landscaping shrubs, evergreen, low ground covers, and a few take up residence in a neioghbor's dwarf ornamental evergreen, maybe a fir, with the limbs down low.
Great book on the subject, "The California Quail, by A. Starker Leopold (son of Aldo). Lots of good info on quail, even if it a little aged.
Tried feeding them around my place but seemed to be a predator magnet. Hawks mostly but had to also dispatch a few feral cats that appeared. Don't know why some people think it's ok to drop cats/kittens off in the country side but they are really rough on quail and other small birds. Don't have any homes really nearby so don't know how else they can keep showing up.
Liking the idea and efforts! The auto water source is awesome! If it were me I would make that cage around the feeder BIGGER to protect the birds a bit more, maybe build some even "fake" cover into the tree branches so the birds have a better escape route to real cover. I would also watch the tree for hawks and consider topping it to not give the birds of prey a perfect perch right above the feeder. It must have been really rewarding to watch them come right in to your special project!!
Solid plan! I love it! Best of luck to you!
Scratch or cracked corn is good for winter and supplemental other times but the corn will put fat on them and can reduce their ability to reproduce. They sell gamebird seed blocks that will sustain them and last a long time. They will likely just stop in from time to time outside of winter but keep an eye on how often they are and how much they are eating. Watch the numbers and make sure your predators aren't just eating your efforts.
Quote from: Birdguy on June 17, 2021, 03:56:52 PMScratch or cracked corn is good for winter and supplemental other times but the corn will put fat on them and can reduce their ability to reproduce. They sell gamebird seed blocks that will sustain them and last a long time. They will likely just stop in from time to time outside of winter but keep an eye on how often they are and how much they are eating. Watch the numbers and make sure your predators aren't just eating your efforts.Great info. Thanks. Predators are my main concern, as the place is lousy with hawks and those white headed crows.
Quote from: Angry Perch on June 17, 2021, 04:20:44 PMQuote from: Birdguy on June 17, 2021, 03:56:52 PMScratch or cracked corn is good for winter and supplemental other times but the corn will put fat on them and can reduce their ability to reproduce. They sell gamebird seed blocks that will sustain them and last a long time. They will likely just stop in from time to time outside of winter but keep an eye on how often they are and how much they are eating. Watch the numbers and make sure your predators aren't just eating your efforts.Great info. Thanks. Predators are my main concern, as the place is lousy with hawks and those white headed crows. Hopefully the white headed crows will be feasting on the neighbors chickens as they are a much bigger better meal! The hawks is what to watch and any raccoons, cats etc. That is why I say watch that tree top, hawks will be quite visible until you train them.
Hey guys, gals We aren't suppot feed or encrurraged them in whay, shape or forum......
Quote from: Lady Grouse hunter on September 14, 2021, 09:40:32 PM Hey guys, gals We aren't suppot feed or encrurraged them in whay, shape or forum......Huh?