5 Coturnix Per Square Foot?

[LapisLazuli]

Is is true that if you are raising coturnix for meat that you could keep 5 per square ft. with the feeder and waterer outside? And 4 per square foot if the feeder and waterer are inside? I read this in this article.

 

[HappyDuckie]

I just googled it, and multiple articles suggest 1 sq foot per bird, and more than that is better.

 

[HappyDuckie]

Its possible is different for meat birds, but they could get crowded and stressed with that many birds.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

I'm halfway through reading the article and already noticed many things that go against the little I've learned about raising quail over the last week, from multiple sources.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Happy birds produce better tasting meat. Give them the space and they'll more than pay you back in egg and meat production.
I had to quit reading that article that you linked; a few good bits of information there, but mostly filled with incomplete info or outright misinformation. One example; the article doesn't mention that crowding 32 to 40 birds onto 8 foot of floor space is going to STINK to high heaven, causing respiratory distress to you and your birds, and that their nitrogen rich feces will be waded in by your birds until they're of butchering age, causing burnt, sore feet and stench, and a high likelihood of disease. It's also much harder to CLEAN a cage that hasn't anywhere for your birds to move to (away from you) as you try to do the housekeeping. I raise quail for meat and eggs, but treat my birds like pets until their purpose is fulfilled. It is possible to care for, even love your birds, and still (eventually) eat them.
I use 2'x3' cages and build a partial second floor to put their food and water. The type I use have the deep pan on the bottom (like hamster or rabbit cages meant for indoor use). These can be stacked. They house about 40 chicks (the upper floor not used with chicks and some of the floor space used by SHALLOW watering & food dishes), about 12 juveniles (pre-6-week olds), or 5 adults (one cock, four hens).
The larger area for them to live/grow makes cleaning up after them MUCH easier for you, and much healthier for your flock; enabling you to raise antibiotic-free eggs and meat.

 

[The Moonshiner]

2 per square foot is pushing it.

 

[FloorCandy]

Most people try to keep about 1-2 per sq foot. I think with meat birds people often think, well you won’t be keeping them very long, so they don’t need much space. I mean you will keep them in the brooder until 3-4 weeks and by 6-8 weeks youre eating them, so it’s a short time for certain. But personally, even though I eat my extra males, I feel like I want them to have as many good days as possible before that last bad day. For jumbo sized meat birds I would think their lives would be most comfortable at 2 or less per ft. Beyond that and it’s basically commercial conditions, and that’s fine for a lot of people. I buy commercially raised chicken at the grocery store so it’s the same thing really.

 

[Quailobsessed]

5 per square foot is, in my opinion, just cruel. A lot of people agree on a minimum of 1 square foot per bird. Even that, I don't like.

 

[Kiki]

Is is true that if you are raising coturnix for meat that you could keep 5 per square ft. with the feeder and waterer outside? And 4 per square foot if the feeder and waterer are inside? I read this in this article.

Please don't believe everything you read.
Just because someone is a blogger on Word Press does not mean they know what they are talking about.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Is is true that if you are raising coturnix for meat that you could keep 5 per square ft. with the feeder and waterer outside? And 4 per square foot if the feeder and waterer are inside? I read this in this article.

Most people say 3 or 3.5 per square foot