Chinese Painted Quail

Scientific Name: Excalfactoria chinensis

Origin: Southern Asia

This is a beautiful miniature quail which prospers well in a mixed aviary in company with other small birds. It performs a useful service by eating waste seeds from the ground. Only one pair of Chinese Painted Quail should be kept at aviary as the bird is intolerant of their own kind and may end up fighting with one another.

Description:

Size: 13 cm (5 in)

COCK:

Head: mottled with a black and white pattern. Body: brown mottled with black and beige. Breast: blue-grey. Beak: black. Legs: yellow.

HEN:

Body: dull brown, mottled with black.

Breast: pale brown. Its head has the same pattern with the head of the cock.

Diet: (Seedeater)

Mixed millets and plain canary seed form the basic diet. Maw seed is also enjoyed. Green food should be given and also live food, preferably small insects. The Chinese Painted Quail forages actively in the aviary for insects. An area of thick grass should be provided; this will give the bird a supply of insects and also a source of cover.

During cold weather this species should be placed in an indoor enclosure, but does not require heat.

Chinese Painted Quail Breeding:

A shallow hollow in the ground, concealed in thick vegetation, forms the nest site. Moss and leaves and blades of grass are placed in the depression to line the nest. Take care not to trample on the nest when entering the aviary.

The hen lays between six and eight eggs and incubates alone, while the cock guards the nest against any interference. The cock becomes quite defensive if he senses some threat inflicted to the nest. The incubation period is 16 days. The chicks are born active. They run around immediately after hatching from the eggs. At this age they can slip through even very small mesh. Place a board about 10 cm (4 in) around the bottom sides of their aviary to prevent this.

The chicks eat ants' eggs, finely chopped meal worms and lettuce. Insectile mix should be provided and sometimes a little raw minced is best. Chopped hard-boiled egg is also useful, but remains of the egg must be cleared away before the pieces become stale. The young bird also need plenty of ground egg shell, lime and grit.

The cock may not adapt well to fatherhood and may worry the hen while she is sitting on the eggs, or peck at the young chicks when they first appear. This sometimes happens with the first brood and can be attributed to inexperience. In case the cock becomes a hindrance while rearing the chicks, it would be wise enough to remove the cock from the aviary. At four weeks the chicks are independent and should be taken away when the cock returns. The pair will nest again for a second round. Pairs do not always rear well in their first season. No more than three broods of chicks per year should be allowed. Segregate the cock if he attempts persistent breeding.