White Bobwhite Quail
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The White Bobwhite, is a mutation of the Northern Bobwhite. The Males and the females are extremely difficult to sex, as they look so much alike. The only difference between them is that the males have a larger head than the female. |
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Breeding White Bobwhites present no problems in captive rearing, and can be produced easily in small or large aviaries. Many producers house their breeders in breeding batteries, some as small as 1'x1'x1' and keep them in trios or pairs. You can choose to colony mate (several hens with two or three males), trios (one male with two hens) or in pairs. White Bobwhite hens begin laying in mid April and may lay all summer long. The eggs are pure white and are incubated for 21 days. You will probably have to use artificial incubation with this species, as many captive hens are mass producers of eggs are highly unlikely to go broody in a cage setting.
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General Comments As mentioned, Bobwhites are easy to keep and raise. They are often one of the first species of quail for the beginning quail breeder and many long-time breeders keep them around for the male's call. Like many other species of quail, they seem to do best on wire, but can be kept on the ground if the aviary is well-drained. During the Winter, birds that are not kept indoors such as a barn, should be grouped together so they can form natural coveys for warmth. I also recommend keeping dry straw or hay in the cage during the Winter. Bobwhite should be fed a good quality game bird ration of at least 16% protein during the non-breeding season to 20% during the laying period.
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Mutations There have been a number of mutations developed in captivity. Some of the popular colors include the Mexican Speckled, the Tennessee Red, White, Blonde, and Silver Bobwhites. There are also strains developed for their large size, such as the Wisconsin Jumbo and the Indiana Giant.
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