Pen raised birds will covey up. I see it all the time when birds get out of our flight pens. I have see old birds covey up with young birds. Pen raised birds can survive in the wild with food water and cover. We have a covey that fluctuates between 10 - 15 birds that hang around the flight pens. Depending on how many have gotten out recently. Most likely why pen raised birds wont survive at a particular location is the same reason why there is not any wild birds there either. We have excellent habitat around our flight pens. Lots of tall native grasses. Handful of cedars for loafing areas. And plenty of food and water from the spill over from the flight pens. The reason our liberated covey fluctuates is because of predators. In my opinion the flying variety get most of them. And I have seen a couple of plump kitty cats over the years. Loss Of habitat and predators is the main reason wild birds have disappeared and why it's hard for pen raised birds aren't very sucessfull. The main reason pen raised birds can't be expected to repopulate an area is because it's very difficult to get pen raised birds to breed set and brood in the wild. I have never seen pen raised birds join up with wild birds but I hear it pretty common and is a good way to help repopulate an area with some quail. WARNING . If your planning on trying this make sure the birds you buy are healthy. We raise our birds on wire to insure no diease is spread when our birds are released. Check out the breeders facilities are clean and that they truly care about the health of their birds. Anyways. My two cents.