Day 15...growing up and leaving home

Snowpea enjoying some child-free time...

At around two weeks, Snowpea completely lost interest in her little ones, leaving them to fend for themselves.
They now sleep huddled together in the nesting box, and forage through the garden showing absolutely no need of their mother... Snowpea eats as if she is making up for long weeks of starvation - which I think she is.

Tug-o-war (the worm won!)

They are still tiny, with scrawny feathers, looking particularly scruffy and unkempt. One at least is developing a clearly spotted breast - hopefully she is female! Three are very quick, finding insects and seeds very easily - the fourth seems a bit 'head-in-the-clouds' and wanders vaguely, occasionally peeping loudly when it looks up and discovers the others are miles away. It doesn't really care whether they respond or not, and we rarely see it hunting insects - it's a definite dreamer. When we offer meal-worms it is always the last to realise what is happening.

Please let our four little chicks all be girls!

"Has anyone seen my friends?"

Another few weeks and we should know which are males and which are females. They are all have  the classic Coturnix markings - we were hoping for some variety, but no such luck. We will have to use leg bands again, to tell them apart.
If you have enjoyed this blog and would like to share your experiences with quail, we'd love to hear from you! Please leave a comment, and we look forward to learning more about other people's adventures with these lovely little birds.