Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

Well that chicken math just grabbed me again. I just ordered a dozen Bielefelder hatching egg's from Omega Hill's Farm this time to add to my gene pool of them. I'll be hatching these for myself, but my Bielefelder flock is also laying fertile egg's.

 

[Happy Novogens]

Hi everyone, I'm looking (like so many people) to offset the egg use for my household. We don't eat meat, so this will be purely for eggs. We have a couple raised garden beds that are empty. I was thinking of emptying one out, putting hardware cloth along the top, and using it as a run for some bantams or some button (king) quail. Does anyone have experience doing something like this?

Likewise, does anyone sell bantams, buttons, or coturnix quail out in the Mesa/AJ area? Even though the eggs are astoundingly small, we are heavily leaning toward button quail because we only go through about dozen eggs a week, and many of our recipes (ramen, fried noodles, etc) call for quail eggs instead of chicken eggs anyway.

I had a pair of button quails for awhile. The female laid an egg a day, but the eggs sure are tiny. I collected 2 dozen and then poached them all at one time. I kept them indoors easily enough since I didn't have many (pic).

Later, when I was contemplating getting outdoor birds for serious eggs, I thought I'd go with the coturnix quail for the larger eggs (larger than button's anyway). Came close to doing that but ended up getting pullets instead.
I recall that one needs to be quite careful with the top of a cage with button quail (not sure if it applies to other quail) because they "popcorn" and can accidentally kill themselves if the roof is too close. Was wondering if that would be the case with a garden bed.

I recall seeing quail eggs for sale on the internet. I think it isn't difficult to hatch them. Back in '08 I was fortunate enough to have my button quail actually hatch her own eggs. I then had to remove them and put them under a warm light, etc (2nd pic).

 

[BlueBaby]

I had a pair of button quails for awhile. The female laid an egg a day, but the eggs sure are tiny. I collected 2 dozen and then poached them all at one time. I kept them indoors easily enough since I didn't have many (pic).

Later, when I was contemplating getting outdoor birds for serious eggs, I thought I'd go with the coturnix quail for the larger eggs (larger than button's anyway). Came close to doing that but ended up getting pullets instead.
I recall that one needs to be quite careful with the top of a cage with button quail (not sure if it applies to other quail) because they "popcorn" and can accidentally kill themselves if the roof is too close. Was wondering if that would be the case with a garden bed.

I recall seeing quail eggs for sale on the internet. I think it isn't difficult to hatch them. Back in '08 I was fortunate enough to have my button quail actually hatch her own eggs. I then had to remove them and put them under a warm light, etc (2nd pic).

Yes, I noticed that Amazon has a couple of fertile quail hatching egg seller's, but it seems that the few people that are selling fertile chicken hatching egg's there are from mixed breed flock's.

 

[BlueBaby]

@CaroleW Those Bielefelder pullet's that you got from me before should be starting to lay egg's next month sometime.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Hi everyone, I'm looking (like so many people) to offset the egg use for my household. We don't eat meat, so this will be purely for eggs. We have a couple raised garden beds that are empty. I was thinking of emptying one out, putting hardware cloth along the top, and using it as a run for some bantams or some button (king) quail. Does anyone have experience doing something like this?

Likewise, does anyone sell bantams, buttons, or coturnix quail out in the Mesa/AJ area? Even though the eggs are astoundingly small, we are heavily leaning toward button quail because we only go through about dozen eggs a week, and many of our recipes (ramen, fried noodles, etc) call for quail eggs instead of chicken eggs anyway.

I have bantams and could sell some, but I'm in Tucson so you might be able to find some closer. I don't know a lot about different bantam breeds except the ones I've raised. For egg production I'd stay away from old English bantams... beautiful birds but poor layers. I have those and Olandsk Dwarfs. The dwarfs are decent layers of small eggs. They get pouty about having their eggs taken and fake eggs help. They also go broody off and on. Still, they keep our family of 4 in eggs with enough to give some away and hatch some. I'm a fan of the dwarf chickens as practical and useful bantams.

I'm guessing there's a thread somewhere on here that'd help you choose a breed you'll be happy with.

On the raised bed as a chicken run... it'll be important that it has good drainage during monsoons and good shade and air flow during summer heat. I'm worried that the solid sides might act as a water trap and/or heat trap. As long as there's good drainage, good airflow, good shade and storm shelter though...

Hope you get your birds and enjoy them

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi everyone, I'm looking (like so many people) to offset the egg use for my household. We don't eat meat, so this will be purely for eggs. We have a couple raised garden beds that are empty. I was thinking of emptying one out, putting hardware cloth along the top, and using it as a run for some bantams or some button (king) quail. Does anyone have experience doing something like this?

Likewise, does anyone sell bantams, buttons, or coturnix quail out in the Mesa/AJ area? Even though the eggs are astoundingly small, we are heavily leaning toward button quail because we only go through about dozen eggs a week, and many of our recipes (ramen, fried noodles, etc) call for quail eggs instead of chicken eggs anyway.

I’ve raised coturnix quail in a covered area outside. You’ll need to provide shade and protect from rain. Good drainage is mandatory during monsoons. Super easy, but hunting eggs wasn’t exactly fun. I had a huge area for them so if I were to do it again it would be smaller. Or a few smaller areas depending on how many quail I kept. Mine loved to be under plants and such more so than any hides hole that I made. Fair warning, when it’s hot and muggy during monsoon season they stink to high heaven. You’d want one male to five females and or more, and they’re little dolls when they hatch so you can replenish your layers. They lay every day reliably except in winter, but not forever so you will need to replenish.

 

[CaroleW]

View of the snow covered San Fransisco Peaks (just behind the dispy-do peak by the clouds) in Flagstaff from Chino Valley...

There is more snow on surrounding mountains and Bill Willams Mountain too.

 

[CaroleW]

Yes, I noticed that Amazon has a couple of fertile quail hatching egg seller's, but it seems that the few people that are selling fertile chicken hatching egg's there are from mixed breed flock's.

WOW I didn't know Amazon had hatching egg sellers. I think the online sellers of hatching eggs are very brave to offer them. Seems like most sellers don't actually say NPIP or have to offer refunds like ebay or Amazon usually require of most sellers.

If you are in the market for hatching eggs I'd get them online before there is a crackdown for whatever reason. Otherwise you just have to drive to get them locally if available.

 

[igorsMistress]

View of the snow covered San Fransisco Peaks (just behind the dispy-do peak by the clouds) in Flagstaff from Chino Valley...
View attachment 3379612
There is more snow on surrounding mountains and Bill Willams Mountain too.

That’s a pretty view!

 

[igorsMistress]

WOW I didn't know Amazon had hatching egg sellers. I think the online sellers of hatching eggs are very brave to offer them. Seems like most sellers don't actually say NPIP or have to offer refunds like ebay or Amazon usually require of most sellers.

If you are in the market for hatching eggs I'd get them online before there is a crackdown for whatever reason. Otherwise you just have to drive to get them locally if available.

I don’t think I’ll ever take a chance with shipped eggs unless they are shipped fairly locally and don’t have to fly here. The success rate for hatching can be pretty terrible. I know Bluebaby has had a lot of experience with that as well. Makes for expensive birds.

I don’t like adding to my flock these days unless I get birds from my son, I’ve never had issues where eventually my whole flock gets sick by going that route. Otherwise, chicks from a hatchery will be it unless I let someone go broody.