About to get quail, tips needed

[EllaTheQueen6]

Hi, it's a long story but I'm about to get what I think is 12 Quail. I've never had quail before, only chickens and even then not for very long yet. Any tips and do's and don'ts for quail? Anything is appreciated. Please and thank you!

 

[Nabiki]

I would start here, then ask any questions you still have.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/quail.32/

 

[EllaTheQueen6]

I would start here, then ask any questions you still have.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/quail.32/

Okay, thank you!

 

[Susan Skylark]

They are addicting, take chicken math precautions immediately (assume you’ll have more birds than you ever thought possible and make sure you can handle them). I wanted 3-4 hens, maybe a rooster, a year later I’ve got a breeding flock of 20, hatch a dozen eggs a month, sell chicks and eggs, am crossbreeding for weird colors…get help early! Enjoy!

 

[PatientType]

My suggestions:
1) Spend some time on YouTube watching quail "how to" videos. Lots of quail farmers (large & small) have left useful info covering a wide range of topics. Personally, I like the posts of a guy that uses "Slightly Redneck" as his channel name. But there are lots of others.
2) Decide what your goals are in having quail. Do you primarily just want eggs for the family? Do you want to have eggs but also ongoing meat production? Do you hope to make money from selling eggs, chicks, or quail meat? Knowing what your goal is in advance may save money & unnecessary work.
3) Think about how you want to keep your quail. Quail can do very well in a relatively small cage but some people build a ground-level aviary. Whatever you choose, you'll want the enclosure ready before the birds arrive.

Will you be getting 12 hens? 12 mixed sex chick? Or a mature flock with hens and roosters?

Welcome to the site and to raising quail. I hope you have a lot of fun with it.

 

[Esc_Quaily]

They are addicting, take chicken math precautions immediately (assume you’ll have more birds than you ever thought possible and make sure you can handle them). I wanted 3-4 hens, maybe a rooster, a year later I’ve got a breeding flock of 20, hatch a dozen eggs a month, sell chicks and eggs, am crossbreeding for weird colors…get help early! Enjoy!

This is my husbands worst nightmare. I'd hoped chicken math only applied to chooks. I also have dyscalculus (dyslexia with numbers) . I wonder how many quail we'll have in a years time? @Susan Skylark you've given me food for thought. We need to move to a bigger plot for sure.