Coturnix Quail

Fun to have in my backyard!

So these are the first quail we've ever had, but they seem pretty jumpy. I love the coloring, but if not properly socialised every day, they turn wild. They will thrust themselves at the door of the cage, to the point I think they're gonna kill themselves!!! I haven't found an egg yet, but I think I have all males anyhow. They ( guess due to lack of females??) have a pecking order that is pretty easy to see whose on top and whose on bottom, and fighting rarely accures. Overall there a good quail, come in many different colors which is a + in my book, and can be tamed if held often.

I have just 9 coturnix quail and I just adore them! They are very friendly compared to the Bobwhites!

gosh i want a coturnix quail

Coturnix quail are part of the "Old World Quail," a term used to describe quail in the phasianidae family of birds. Coturnix Quail, the Chinese Blue Breasted "Button" Quail, and the African Harlequin Quail are classified in the "Old World Quail" grouping.

The Wild European coturnix, also classified as Coturnix coturnix (common quail), have been widely distributed throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe, along with several sub-species. The Japanese Quail, Coturnix japonica, from which our domestic quail have been developed, are sometimes considered to be a different species, but in actuality, is identical to the European Coturnix.

They are a migratory bird, dwelling on the ground. Egyptians used to capture them and keep them as pets at the beginning of the 11th century because of their "singing" capability (which is quite entertaining). By the 1900s, the small birds became popular in Japan for their meat and eggs as they mature very fast and are prolific egg layers. There is a lot of history behind the coturnix which is fascinating.


Uses: Meat, Eggs, Pets

Projects:

There are a lot of discrepancies in size with Coturnix. Many don't believe that the bird can reach a certain size, if not more. The fact, however, is that Coturnix can reach a certain mark, due to selective breeding, good stock, proper diet, and housing.

Varieties:


Jumbo Pharaoh
Texas A and M/Jumbo White
Jumbo Italian
English White
Italian
Manchurian
Tibetan (Dark Range)
Rosetta
Scarlet
Red Range
Tuxedo (in many combinations)

Many colors can be combined.

Finding a good breeding stock can be a problem as Japanese Coturnix are found in many areas and there really is no "quail blood lines" unless breeders have a proper program. The best advise I have is to seek a breeder who has tested their birds against diseases and that has knowledge about the breed. This is also with hatching eggs. Quality eggs come from quality birds, therefore ask the breeder questions.

People seem reluctant to invest time and money in the search for good stock but buying a good breeding stock is not a normal casual purchase. Starting with a good stock is the most important single factor in the success of any quail enterprise.

With any of the color varieties, one should pick up a plump, round, and fully feathered quail. The keel should not be felt right off the bat. The keel is the extension of the sternum (breastbone) which sticks out. However, if there is fat to insulate the bird, one should not feel the keel right away unless there is poking and prodding involved. If the bird is very skinny and the keel can be visibly seen, the bird is most likely sick, which in turn, is not desirable to start a flock with. Check the feathers and make sure there is no sign of mites or lice. When looking into the eyes, they should be clear. The bird should be be alert as well. There should not be any discharge coming from the nostrils. The beak should not be crossed, but even top and bottom. Make sure the feet are of good quality. If the the feet are puffy, swollen, or red, the bird may have bumblefoot, which is a bacterial infection. This is a cause of being on wire too long with no soft areas to rest, but also on unsanitary flooring (too much feces)


Quail eggs are Nutritious!

1. are a remedy against digestive tract disorders such as gastritis, stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
2. can help cure anemia increasing hemoglobin level and remove toxins and heavy metals from blood.
3. help in the treatment of tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, diabetes and vegetative-vascular dystonia.
4. have strong anticancer effects and may help inhibit cancerous growth.
5. help eliminate and remove stones from liver, kidneys and gallbladder.
6. may accelerate recuperation after blood stroke and help strengthen heart muscle.
7. are a powerful stimulant of sexual potency. They nourish the prostrate gland with useful substances, phosphorus, proteins and vitamins and therefore help restore sexual potency in men.
8. promote good memory, enhance brain activity and regulate the nervous system.
9.strengthen the immune system slow down aging of organs and increase the life span.
10.improve skin color and strengthen hair making it shiny and voluminous. That's why quail eggs are used for facial and hair care masks.

Jumbo Coturnix (Japanese Quail) a fast-growing, excellent entry level "game" bird for meat and eggs.

incubation time is very short, chicks grow very fast and with good stock and strict husbandry efforts a decent covey of birds can be propagated to produce meat, eggs and new stock.

Many different breeders have created "call names" for their birds. These, sometimes colorful, "call names" may have in time evolved into "lines" or "strains", e.g.,. XLD1, Texas A&M, James Marie, etc

Basically, the "Jumbo Browns" and "Jumbo Whites" are the larger Japanese Quail.

When looking for quality foundation stock it may be best to search out multiple breeders and split your order of hatching eggs amongst several.

If you order hatching eggs via web or mail make sure to ask the breeder several questions.

- What are the exact weights of your breeder birds?
- What is the hen to cock bird ratio?
- How fresh are the eggs I will receive?
- How big are the eggs I will receive?
- What color birds will I receive and will they breed true?
- Is there a guarantee on package shipping and delivery date?

The Quail forum is a great place to start.

Good Luck!

A very amusing energetic bird, I have now have them hand trained but it took a lot of time and patience. Very high strung and nervous. Hops very high and takes off when startled.
Lays almost daily. The eggs are about the size of a thumb nail. Look great boiled and put whole into
salads or as garnishes.
I feed them the same chicken crumble that I feed my chickens. Plus vegies and grains.

Pros: The grow fast and can lay consistently with 12 hours of light. They are not very noisy and most do not mind human contact.
They can be moved to an outside growout pen in 3-4 weeks and ready to harvest around 7-8 weeks.

Cons: Predators love to eat quail too! Must have a secure pen for quail.
Mature quail will pick on and even kill younger quail if introduced into the pen. Must keep younger quail in a different pen until they are mature.
Too many males can lead to picking and death. Must cull extra and aggressive males. I use a ratio of 1 male to 2 females and have very few problems.
They will waste lots of food if given the chance. Best option for me is to feed 2x a day to prevent excessive waste.

I love my Coturnix quail. My three are surprisingly quiet and are pretty smart. One of my hens always comes running when I get near their pen and tries to jump into my hand...just in case I have treats. The other hen seems to lay 2 eggs in a day about every 2 weeks, and they have both missed maybe 2 days of laying since I got them at the beginning of Dec. They also love to be pet and will push each other out of the way if they think I'm not giving them enough attention.

These are very easy to keep!