➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[BReeder!]

If you are interested in line breeding, this may help.

 

[007Sean]

Inbreeding and Linebreeding

Good article @R2elk, I do the same thing with my pheasants. Following these practices I developed a Yellow golden that has very rich, deep color in their plumage while maintaining phenotypical characteristics of Golden pheasants.

 

[BReeder!]

Understood and thank everyone. I will ponder further and discuss with my egg supplier.

I don't see me keeping 5 pens. But between the breeder and I, we will get close. To our mutual benefit.

one large pen with dividers would work if by pen you mean on wire in a cage-like structure. If you have an aviary or other large open space for all your birds, I'd suggest getting a few cages just for breeding groups. you could always breed and then let them back into the flock. Only problem would be waiting long enough when setting a breeding group to ensure the eggs are fathered by the desired cock and not remnants in the hen from another cock in the flock. I plan to mark my breeding hens and cocks. the breeding hens will go to a large cage together when not breeding and the cocks will receive new mates or go to general flock in the egg layer cage (third option is the the chopping block if they are undesirable or old).

 

[BReeder!]

here's another interesting breeding chart:

 

[BReeder!]

If you are interested in line breeding, this may help.

Whats intersting in this line breeding is a generation doesn't need to breed back to the parent or grand parent and the result in the 4th generation called F2 is equal to Aabcd - It's a culmination of 4 genetic pools, meaning very genetically diverse. There's claims that line breeding will result in stock that will breed true to their characteristics also, meaning a specific strain of bird that you have developed. Dog breeders have used this strategy for centuries now to develop new breeds of dogs. You could do the same with quail. The hard part is the 4 genetically distinct hens each with traits you desire.

 

[BReeder!]

@RUNuts No pips yet?

 

[BReeder!]

Can I keep quail cocks in isolation for an extended period of time or will they go crazy? I am thinking about my breeder setup. I will have 4 breeder cages. I sort of want to keep one male in each cage at all times, even when the females are not breeding and get to go back to the layer cages. I will need to give them breaks in breeding and I will not be able to hatch constantly. I only have 1 incubator and 1 brooder. So the highest frequency for setting eggs will be every 8 weeks. There may be times I decide not to hatch for longer periods though.

I thought about a bachelor pad cage, but from what I understand (limited knowledge from reading a few forums on BYC) coturnix cocks will fight. So keeping them in the breeder cages individually while the hens are out of breeding is the next option I came up with.

 

[RUNuts]

@RUNuts No pips yet?

I’m still working. Good question though.

 

[Crazydoglady99]

So my plan was having my 1 favourite boy, with 4 or 6 unrelated girls from multiple bought egg sources.
Then each year, replace the boy with new stock from bought eggs (ideally different source). Replace girls with offspring from previous hens and roo - (?possibly hang onto any that are especially favourite?)
This of course means any hatches are all bound for freezer camp.

I was hoping that the $50-$100 investment each year finding a replacement boy would keep my gene pool nicely refreshed, and because I bred the next generation of girls that would *hopefully* mean I am keeping my 'best of' continuing to cycle.

 

[Kiki]

No I don't think you should keep one quail by itself...ever.