I am no longer
breeding any Harlequin Quail.
My birds have stopped producing.
I will not be offering these for sale any longer
The African
Harlequin Quail
The African
Harlequin Quail - Coturnix delegorguei
These quail are native to the
southern part of the African Continent and apparently have
been kept and bred in European aviaries for many decades.
Harlequin quail are larger than
Button Quail but smaller than Coturnix quail, I would said
2 times larger than a Button and 1/3 the size of the
average large Coturnix.
They are extremely tame compared
to all other types of quail and very curious about their
owners, to the point of being at your feet constantly if
you are in their aviary.
They mature fast, about 10 weeks
of age and females are laying eggs. The eggs are about 2
times the size of a Button quail egg and they hatch in 15
days. This is the shortest incubation period of any quail
I have kept. They have a reputation for producing
many infertile eggs. Don't waste your time or money buying
eggs to hatch, chances are NONE will, and I am totally
serious. Instead if you can buy young birds and hopefully
you will be able to hatch some of your own eggs.
The young are very easy to
raise, with the same requirements as any similar quail
chick.
I have kept Harlequin quail for
several years but I must say every year or two they
go totally sterile and no eggs hatch. I have had
this happen before and I simply bought new birds and
started all over but Im DONE, I will not do it
again. Too expensive and I am no longer interested
in keeping this species.
At this time all my females
have stopped laying eggs and I will not be replacing them.
Photos of Harlequin male
and female and their eggs
More
photos: