➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[Sara L]

you do understand how big they will be and how much feed they will require by thanksgiving if you start them in the spring, right??? I recommend bronze vs white if starting earlier

If you get them earlier, you can just butcher when they reach the size you want and put them in the freezer until Thanksgiving. I raised heritage last year (poults I hatched from my own eggs!) And the toms we butchered the week before Thanksgiving were over 20 pounds dressed. They hatched at the beginning of May.

Heritage will take longer to fill out, but usually don't have the mobility issues of the broad breasted. In my experience the heritage usually have more leg meat and broad breasted have more breast meat.

 

[R2elk]

that brings to mind another “logistical” issue....this year, our scalding pot was a bit on the small side too (larger ones were inadvertently tossed in reorganization) one of the birds got a bit too hot and damaged the skin in that area. i don’t think dry plucking would work very well.....we had a very difficult time getting quills out this year even scalding

To prevent skin damage from scalding, make sure your water is not over 160°F. I use 160°F, some go as low as 140°F.

If you want to dry pluck, you need to use the pithing method.

 

[muddy75]

To prevent skin damage from scalding, make sure your water is not over 160°F. I use 160°F, some go as low as 140°F.

If you want to dry pluck, you need to use the pithing method.

thank you!! i do believe that I learn something new from everyone here everyday!!!

 

[Nabiki]

I got six eggs today!

All five of the hens in my first pen and one from my SSC batch. This is the first time I've gotten more than three.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have to use my favorite one before it disappears.

I am just counting here:

this is my dad's favorite he sends it to me all the time

As this was pointed out to Staff, I’ll just hop in here and remind folks that just because certain emojis are currently available to use, common sense and adherence to BYCs rule should dictate their use or their non use.

 

[Kiki]

As this was pointed out to Staff, I’ll just hop in here and remind folks that just because certain emojis are currently available to use, common sense and adherence to BYCs rule should dictate their use or their non use.

I was counting.
Nothing ugly about that.

 

[Kiki]

I got six eggs today! View attachment 2002704

All five of the hens in my first pen and one from my SSC batch. This is the first time I've gotten more than three.

You ate another male right?

 

[Nabiki]

You ate another male right?

The silver boy that was in with the girls the whole time. He never gave me fertile eggs, so I took him out. I'm pretty sure the two fertile ones in the incubator are from the boy I thought was a hen from my third hatch. I put a new silver boy in with them before I realized that one was a boy, but they're getting along.

I'm going to put one more hen in there so it will be six hens and two boys. It would be nice to get an even half dozen eggs/day out of that pen.

Edit: I have five males marked in the SSC pen that are going away this weekend along with crooked neck.

 

[007Sean]

I agree!

 

[Kiki]

The silver boy that was in with the girls the whole time. He never gave me fertile eggs, so I took him out. I'm pretty sure the two fertile ones in the incubator are from the boy I thought was a hen from my third hatch. I put a new silver boy in with them before I realized that one was a boy, but they're getting along.

I'm going to put one more hen in there so it will be six hens and two boys. It would be nice to get an even half dozen eggs/day out of that pen.

Edit: I have five males marked in the SSC pen that are going away this weekend along with crooked neck.

I think the sooner you off the extra males the sooner you'll get more eggs.