Wanting to start raising quail: how to?

I want to start raising quail, but I have no idea where to start!
I know that I want California Valley Quail.

Can you keep chickens and quail in the same yard?
How hard is it to keep them?
Can they live in a rabbit hutch?
How weather hardy are they?
Are they worth the time and commitment?


Thanks!

Becca

I don't have any experience with California Valley quail, are they around the same size as Japanese/Coturnix quail? I know that some people have successful kept Japanese quail in rabbit hutches, so maybe the same applies to them?

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Hey Becca,
You can keep quail and chickens in the same yard. I would not recommend sharing the same space or equipment... I would tend the gamebirds first, then the chickens and other yard birds...just don't cross contaminate.

I don't keep valley quail, but there said to be similar to bobs in their needs. You should be fine if you do your home work..

A rabbit butch type pen would be my cage of choice!!

Don't know where you live, but I recently asked this and was told, with proper cover they would work in Kansas. We get pretty hot and cold, so there pretty hardy...

As far as worth the time... Got a dog ya like? Is he worth it??? You got to make that call but I dig my birds. If I didn't eat them, I wouldnt have as many, but i'd still have a bunch!!! Good luck, Bill

I agree with Fatty. I tend my Quail first then I usually blow my shoes off with the air compressor. Then tend the yard birds. Are they worth it I sell what I can & eat the rest. I've enjoyed my birds. I like hearing the birds different sounds & watching them its definitely a rewarding adventure. The down side like any animal is feeding them & having to be there all the time. I have 5 different coops, pens so I'm always changing the water & adding more ice because of this heat wave that won't go away. I'll probably always have birds I've been messing with birds for around 25 years now. I just started raising birds in pens though. I have most of my experience with woodies in the wild. This site will definitely help you I have learned alot here. Don't know about California Quail. I raise Bob Whites & Coturnix. The Bob's are wilder than a March hair . The coturnix are really laid back. I like big pens to give birds alot of space especially the Bob's. I do however raise the coturnix in smaller pens. Here's two of my coops the one with the flag houses the BOB'S The one behind it houses some pullets this will answer your question on raising different species. It can be done but separate housing for sure.