➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[CoturnixComplex]

When will you eat them? Also, have you done the deed yourself yet?

I might be in the minority but I really like them 12-14+ weeks. I'm a fan of gamey taste, though, and I pluck so I get to keep all that extra fat they gain.

I've discovered I have a visceral difference in the way my body reacts to fat from factory farmed stuff vs. homegrown. I hated it my whole life and now I'm like yessssssss.

Edit: don't skin, I pluck!

 

[CoturnixComplex]

I ordered pearl eggs and have at least four pure yellow chicks. Will be interesting to watch them feather out. I’ll try to get individual pics as I transfer them to the brooder.

Yes yes yes pics pics pics.

I've been lazy the last few hatches about it. I have to take a bunch of pictures before I butcher some.

 

[Kiki]

When will you eat them? Also, have you done the deed yourself yet?

I will probably put the in the freezer with their buddies for now (I might ask the Mex to do it today.) and no I still have not done the deed.

 

[Kiki]

I am a big weeny. I really don't think I will ever be able to hold one on my hand and cut it's head off. It just grosses me out too much.

I might be able to get to the point where I can cut if someone else holds or if I ever get around to making a holder. I am in no hurry.

 

[Conan]

I am a big weeny. I really don't think I will ever be able to hold one on my hand and cut it's head off. It just grosses me out too much.

I might be able to get to the point where I can cut if someone else holds or if I ever get around to making a holder. I am in no hurry.

I'm not a fan myself. I'll do it, but I prefer to hold them down while someone else axes them (talking ducks/chickens here, no experience with quail). Had to mercy kill a couple old gimpy ducks yesterday. Poor things were so ready to go that they barely fought. I held them while the man wielded the ax. Then I buried them in my garden for fertilizer.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

My partner has agreed to do the killing this time if I do the butchering. I genuinely don't mind that part it's just the murderin' I hate.

 

[Conan]

My partner has agreed to do the killing this time if I do the butchering. I genuinely don't mind that part it's just the murderin' I hate.

for butchering! I'll butcher all day long if I don't have to kill em.

 

[CindyinSD]

I might be in the minority but I really like them 12-14+ weeks. I'm a fan of gamey taste, though, and I pluck so I get to keep all that extra fat they gain.

I've discovered I have a visceral difference in the way my body reacts to fat from factory farmed stuff vs. homegrown. I hated it my whole life and now I'm like yessssssss.

Edit: don't skin, I pluck!

Do you scald? And if so, how hot/how long?

I am a big weeny. I really don't think I will ever be able to hold one on my hand and cut it's head off. It just grosses me out too much.

I might be able to get to the point where I can cut if someone else holds or if I ever get around to making a holder. I am in no hurry.

I saw someone on YouTube using an old feed bag with a hole in one corner for the head (turkey). I wonder whether a ziplock bag might not work for quail?

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Do you scald? And if so, how hot/how long?

They're so much more delicate than other poultry that it's really not necessary at all to scald unless you wait too long and let them cool down. I just try to speed-pluck and get the big guys out while they're still warm.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

I would say that it triples the work but doubles the flavor, and I have so few meat critters overall it's worth it for me.