Are these the right quail?

[smilingmama]

Hi we found a Quail breeder locally that breeds Japanese coturnix quail. We want quail for eggs and meat. I was told to get the giant ones. Are these the giant ones? If not where is a good place to get quail from? Her ad for eggs has a picture of them if that helps: http://medford.craigslist.org/pet/3821097339.html
Thank You!
Brianna

 

[Sycamore27]

Coturnix(Japanese) quail are ideal as a multipurpose quail. Jumbo browns are the "extra large" version of these. Finding out the weight of this breeders adults is the only way you'll really know if they are jumbo browns or standard browns as they look nearly identical except size. Simply breeds of the same species.
Jumbos should weigh 10+ ounces at nine or ten weeks old I believe, with preference into the 12-16 ounce range. I have standard browns right now so I can't give too many details on the jumbos from personally experience. If they are not jumbos and you don't want to have eggs shipped the standards are fine for meat birds too, it just takes more to make a meal. And you can always breed for size yourself if there are not jumbo producers in your area.
You might have the breeder weigh the adults in front of you to see if they are jumbos if they aren't sure, bonus if you have a certified accurate scale (or they do). Maybe someone else can weigh in if they are normally a certain minimum size height or girth wise to judge visually?
James Marie Farms have been recommended several times here for jumbos, that is where I will order from as soon as I have a turner for my incubator.
Good luck!
Jessie

 

[Reedgirl20]

I can tell you for sure those are not jumbos. I sold that person her chicks a few months ago so they are from my stock. When I ordered my first eggs almost a year ago they were supposed to be jumbos but they were from eBay and after hatching hundreds of chicks from this stock I have not gotten many over 10 oz. they are nice birds but I wouldn't call them jumbos. I plan on ordering from James Marie farms probably this month so I can get the real deal this time around.

 

[Reedgirl20]

Also, not to say you shouldn't go with those birds or anything. The standard browns lay great, lots of eggs 12 grams or more and the eggs and meat taste great.

 

[veggiecanner]

can you cross the 2 sizes?

 

[Sycamore27]

can you cross the 2 sizes?

You can, but you'll end up with all average sized quail because you'd be essentially selecting for smaller size. If you're going for size you'd be better off to keep them separate and only breeding your jumbos.
Cheers,
Jessie

 

[veggiecanner]

You can, but you'll end up with all average sized quail because you'd be essentially selecting for smaller size. If you're going for size you'd be better off to keep them separate and only breeding your jumbos.
Cheers,
Jessie

On a management point of veiw I can see that. But could a cross hatch out with out complications. And would there be difficulties With them sharing the same cage?

 

[smilingmama]

I can tell you for sure those are not jumbos. I sold that person her chicks a few months ago so they are from my stock. When I ordered my first eggs almost a year ago they were supposed to be jumbos but they were from eBay and after hatching hundreds of chicks from this stock I have not gotten many over 10 oz. they are nice birds but I wouldn't call them jumbos. I plan on ordering from James Marie farms probably this month so I can get the real deal this time around.

Oh. Do you live locally? I want the jumbos but we can't afford an incubator this year and I don't want to have babies shipped to me. Maybe I'll do these ones and add jumbos when we can get an incubator next spring.

 

[Reedgirl20]

I'm in eagle point. I'm trying to order the James Marie eggs. Have left a message regarding the eggs but no answer yet. Will call again this week. I have standard brown coturnix and California quail coming out of the incubators on Tuesday. Depending on when I can arrange the jumbo egg shipment I will either put them in next or I have 90 eggs of my standards to go back in the incubators later this week. I'm not sure how many of the jumbos I will be selling right off. I plan on replacing all 12 of my breeders and then have some family members who want second pick of them. I may certainly have some left for selling depending on the hatch rate.

 

[smilingmama]

I'm in eagle point. I'm trying to order the James Marie eggs. Have left a message regarding the eggs but no answer yet. Will call again this week. I have standard brown coturnix and California quail coming out of the incubators on Tuesday. Depending on when I can arrange the jumbo egg shipment I will either put them in next or I have 90 eggs of my standards to go back in the incubators later this week. I'm not sure how many of the jumbos I will be selling right off. I plan on replacing all 12 of my breeders and then have some family members who want second pick of them. I may certainly have some left for selling depending on the hatch rate.

Please let me know! I would really prefer the jumbos. I'm looking at getting a dozen babies. I want to make sure I get them before summer starts to wrap up. We plan on keeping them outdoors in the winter and I want them to be big enough to withstand the cold. Do Standards and California quail provide big enough eggs and quail for eating? If your willing to sell some babies then maybe I'll start with those this year add jumbos next year. I'd love to get some babies sooner. Waiting another 2 weeks seems like forever. I feel kinda like I did when I was prego and waiting for my son to arrive. LOL, I'm counting down the days until I have baby quails. Plus it also sounds like you've been doing this longer and that makes me more comfortable about who I'm buying from.