Frequently Asked Questions
How are live birds shipped?
Live birds are only shipped via USPS Express Priority Mail which is the fastest available shipping option from USPS. Because adult birds can overheat in transit, they are only shipped in the cooler months. We raise birds to 6 weeks old to have adequate fat reserves for traveling. We also evaluate each bird individually for physical issues and overall vitality to make sure they are good candidates for the shipping process and likely to thrive in their new homes. We cannot include food or water in the shipping box, so the birds are allowed free access to food and water until the day they are shipped. We never package birds ahead of their ship date. Shipping is stressful for the birds and it is normal to have to provide special care within the first 72 hours to help the birds recover from the shipping process. We send detailed care instructions with each shipment to help your birds have the best start possible in their new homes. Because nearly every bird survives the journey, we proudly offer a 72 hour live guarantee for all shipped birds.
Birds shipped to Hawaii are sent via airline to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) for inspection and approval, and must be picked up at the airport on the day of arrival.
What is your live bird guarantee?
Shipped live quail usually arrive happy and healthy, although they will be very thirsty and hungry! Although we do everything we can to help them make the journey, the shipping process can be stressful for the birds and there are many variables out of our control that can affect the shipping process. We recommend that you follow our detailed instructions carefully, and contact us if you have additional questions. We offer a 72-hour live bird guarantee. Any birds that do not survive for 72 hours after USPS scans the birds as “Delivered” or “Available for pickup” will be refunded or reshipped depending on availability. Your business is important to us, and we want you to purchase our quail with confidence that you will get what you pay for.
What do I do if my live quail arrive injured or dead?
We make every effort to make sure quail are packaged safely so they make the journey through the mail safely and arrive healthy and happy. If your birds arrive injured or dead, please contact info@swgamebirds.com within 72 hours for replacement. Please also include pictures of the birds in the box as they arrived and the outside of the box if it was damaged. The pictures help us determine what may have caused the injury or death. If the damage was caused by USPS, we will work with them to resolve the issue to make sure future birds arrive safely.
Does Southwest Gamebirds take returns?
As part of our effort to keep our flock healthy and secure, and to comply with state laws, we cannot accept returns of eggs or birds to our farm. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your product, please contact us and we will make reasonable accommodations to replace your product at a discounted rate or offer a full or partial refund depending on the circumstances. Please note that perishable items such as eggs are sold “as is” while live birds are guaranteed for 72 hours.
Do I need a permit to raise birds?
It depends on your state and the type of bird. Most states do not require a permit for any domesticated bird, but some states require a propagation permit to raise quail. We recommend that you check your local laws before purchasing any type of livestock or poultry.
How big will my quail get?
Japanese quail are typically classed into three size categories: bantam, standard, and jumbo sizes. In general, for a line to be considered a specific size category, at least 75% of the birds should conform to the average size range when raised under the proper conditions. We do our best to provide accurate size ranges for both birds at maturity and eggs from each of our lines based on the weights we see at our farm, however these sizes can vary for individual birds and can be affected by husbandry practices such as proper brooding and nutrition. Additionally, size ranges can shift from generation to generation depending on breeder selection methods. Because environmental and nutritional conditions may vary, we do not guarantee that our live birds (which may not be finished growing at the time of shipment) or birds hatched from our eggs will reach specific sizes or stay in specific size ranges advertised as “average”.
What should I feed my quail?
Quail need a high-protein game bird feed. Quail should be fed a game bird/turkey starter feed with 30% protein and no more than 1.5% calcium until they are 7-8 weeks old. At 7-8 weeks, the quail should be transitioned to a game bird or turkey layer/breeder/all-purpose feed with 20-22% protein and 2-3 % calcium. Your birds will be ~6 weeks old and can be fed starter feed for up to two weeks after shipment to help them recover from stress due to transit and relocation.
Will my quail fly?
Domestic quail are not great flyers, but they are very good at what we call “assisted jumping”. Coturnix can jump and fly a few yards, and a small percentage can maintain flight for short bursts. Most, however, prefer to stay on the ground.