Debie Lyons of 'Piskies and Poppets' left a post about our quail eggs and how she raised them from time to time from eggs... and it got me to thinking (and I am ashamed to admit I almost forgot) to mention that back in 2004 while standing out in our driveway saying goodbye to my cousin...a tiny tiny little furry ball ran across the driveway...it actually looked the a furry tumbleweed the size of a walnut....had not a clue what it was. Then it came back to the edge of the driveway and stared at us...it was a baby quail...no older than an hour or two. With no parents in sight and the sun going down...this little creature...(who obviously was last to hatch...and the others moved on) was totally defenceless against what the night offered it.... so we gathered her up and made a comfortable place for her inside...complete with heated box and various gathered bugs. Our plan was to find a home the next morning for this little fellow...but over night between spelling one another in our all night vigil a bonding occurred ....between all 3 of us... So for the next week we cared for this little baby and loved every second of it. It seemed to really respond to us and our voices. We got little done over the next week...except watch this baby grow and gather bugs. When I finally called to see what else we were to feed the baby...we were promptly told that it is against the law to house a Wild Game Bird... and that we must turn it over to the Arizona Game and Fish Dept. of risk heavy fines and jail time.... WHAT!!!!! They even said if you don't..we will trace your call and come to your house... all of a sudden I felt like we were housing John Dillinger!! So sadly and reluctantly... we took our baby to the AZ G&F Dept... where they release into the wild after it has grown...sniff sniff....
So every quail I see ...I think it may be an offspring from our little Peep!
Just thought I would share....
Jodi