GOPHERS??
I was in my quail pen today and I saw a round hole that was curving into the soil so I quickly filled it. Could a gopher harm my quails?
Posted Sep 29, 2018, 1:00 AM UTC
33
Nope.
2
I had issues with rats, moles, chipmunks. And mice digging into my quail run. They will eat the birdfood and the rats also eat eggs and have hurt the quails. I ended up lining the floor of the run with half inch hardware cloth, and never had a problem since. Too many critters can get through 1" holes.
The worst ones are weasels. They are rarer than other rodents, but they tend to kill every last bird they can get their hands on, for sport. and they can easily fit through 1"
1
It’s over for quailcels.
1
too true I sold off all my male quails
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Gophers are strict vegetarians, so I wouldn't expect them to be much of a threat, but there are other creatures that burrow and have a strong interest in dining on quail...
I disagree with the idea of 'strict vegetarian' when it comes to anything rodent. Squirrels kill and eat baby birds and mice, as an example. Gophers also happily cannibalise one another.
While I don't see a gopher hunting an adult quail, I'd be concerned for chicks and eggs, and a gopher family will definitely make a dent in your feed supply!
I'm only going by what t'interwebs says in calling them strict vegetarians (e.g www.havahart.com/gopher-facts) Squirrels are omnivores, so occasionally eating a small bird or whatever isn't surprising...