➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[H@tcher]

I will most likely never help an egg again.

I've only assisted one and never again. It was an olive egger and even though he is ok, he has a bad leg. Was on my way to dispose of the remaining eggs from the hatch and he just kept screaming/chirping at me. He was stuck in the egg and had been there too long. Took him half a day to stand and two days to straighten out. My kids called him the buzzard. I don't need another rooster and now I have to off him.

 

[Crazydoglady99]

 

[Sara L]

Ugh. I hope those all make it. As they say, chit happens.

So far they look ok this morning, they were moving around more and seem to be eating, drinking, and pooping.

 

[Kiki]

So far they look ok this morning, they were moving around more and seem to be eating, drinking, and pooping.

Is it cold there right now?
What's your weather like?

 

[RUNuts]

I’ve never tasted quail, and since you all mostly raise them for meat, what would you say they taste like?

Like dark meat chicken. Not quite as strong as duck. Firmer than chicken. Toothy/chewy in a good way.

Is there a difference between the store bought and the home grown like people say for chickens?

I say yes. Home grown gets fresh air and hopefully fresh greens as opposed to eating everything out of a bag. Also, you have no idea the age of the grocery store stuff. "best when used by date" is confusing to me. Fresh is best.

 

[Crazydoglady99]

^^^this.

Store bought meats are packed using a carbon monoxide process that sucks out the oxygen and prevents the meat from discoloring (even after it has spoiled). The often use preservatives such as sulfites (even though its illegal) to preserve the meat further.

There is no comparison to a bird that has access to fresh air, grass, nor medicated feed etc.

I haven't eaten quail yet. I'm not much of a meat eater. But I did process Mr Angry Quail the other day, as he was causing havoc.
I sprinkled some burrito spice on him, popped him in the grill. Hubby & son said it was delicious, better than chicken. Soft, juicy, and delicious- were the best description I could get from them. (I have bought previously, but neither could remember what it tastes like to compare)

 

[Morrigan]

For those raising quail for meat.

Do you have to rest it after butchering, as you do chicken?

Do quail every go broody? If not, how time intensive is the brooding process? DH likes the thought of a continuous, ready-to-eat supply of quail meat, but not the idea of continuously brooding quail chicks.

 

[Kiki]

Home grown quail meat was the best meat I have ever tasted in my life...and I don't even like quail meat....well I didn't like store bought.

 

[Kiki]

For those raising quail for meat.

Do you have to rest it after butchering, as you do chicken?

Do quail every go broody? If not, how time intensive is the brooding process? DH likes the thought of a continuous, ready-to-eat supply of quail meat, but not the idea of continuously brooding quail chicks.

I think it depends on the type of quail...I don't think that Japanese ones go broody often. I am not sure though.


I did rest my quailies before cooking but only because I wanted to cook them on a certain day. I had planned to butcher them and cook them the same day but that didn't work out.

 

[muddy75]

so sorry for your loss @Texas Kiki No matter how much we prepare ourselves for all the possibilities it still hurts!

we gave our b.b. bronze a holiday pardon but I let them out for a few minutes tonight while i spread deodorizer in the coop. “Chris” climbed up on the deck rail like usual while I wasn’t looking. I walked out and called them back and she decided to try to fly all the way across.
she evidently got hung up at the steps and he tore the webbing on left foot and i think he broke toe, foot or leg on the right. she was limping initially and then laid down. i moved her to the coop but it looks like we will be processing both of them tomorrow.