How to Get My Coturnix Quail to Not Be Afraid

The term Coturnix refers to several species of quail native to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia in the Coturnix genus. The Chinese painted quail, also known as the button quail, and Japanese quail are the species most commonly found as pets in backyard aviaries. Being a prey species, these quail can be more than a little skittish around people. To escape a feared predator, which they may think you are, some quail will fly straight up, injuring themselves when they hit the top of the aviary. Understanding your quail's natural instincts will help you bond with your quail and keep your birds calm when you enter an aviary.

Things You'll Need

  • Quail food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Give your quail lots of natural hiding places in the aviary. This can be done by planting bushy plants and placing a few large rocks on the ground. This will give your quail places to hide throughout the day, reducing their overall stress level. The less stressed your quail are, the more open they will be to bonding with you.

    • 2

      Move slowly and carefully when entering the aviary. Making sudden movements or cornering your quail will only make them more fearful.

    • 3

      Sit by the door when you bring food into the aviary for as long as you can. Sitting makes you appear less scary. You may need to start with just a few minutes at a time until your quail come out of hiding to eat with you present. Place the food close to where the quail hide and far away from you.

    • 4

      Place the food progressively closer to where you sit as the quail become more comfortable with you. Depending on the progress, you may be able to move the food dish only an inch at a time, or several inches at a time. Do this for at least several days.

    • 5

      Feed the quail from your hand as you sit in the aviary. Move to this step after you have fed the quail from a dish right next to you for several days.