Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[appps]

Welcome!!

 

[Colourful]

YAy, your all coming out of the wood work.

Where has every one been?



Can any one answer weather King Quails would be good for a beginner etc?
Red and Satay suggested Japanese Quails but what about the King Quails?

I wouldn't suggest them as a first quail, personally. That said, I doubt they're hard to keep or that there will be any major problems but when I researched quails a few things came up that made them not-for-me.

Such as:
- unless you have a steady weather environment (winter temp doesn't get below 10 C and Summer doesn't go much about 35 C or so) you'll have to have a place to keep them inside. If you're keeping them inside anyway, the point is moot

- King quail hens will go broody and the broody hens (this is what I've read, not what I've personally experienced) need to be separated from the others with her mate with her. Some sites say that the little rooster should be taken away as well come hatching in case he's one of those king quails who kill their young (some do, some don't apparently).
- You can eat the eggs, but I can't imagine it being as satisfying considering they're about 5-6g ea. The chicks are so tiny they can fit through 1/4 inch wire.

That said, they come in most beautiful colours and seem like a nice addition to a good poultry collection.

Let us know what you decide

 

[megacakes]

Ou
Our school has a little stall that they run every couple of weeks at pickup time. They sell the parents eggs and things like rhubarb and spinach etc. the kids do the selling and love being so important

The money raised goes back into the school garden program.

That's a really lovely idea, and one I did raise with the principal soon after the ladies started laying. Apparently we're not allowed to sell the eggs (and weren't even really allowed to use them to prepare the kids' food in preschool, either) and in all honesty, our families are so poor that I don't think they'd stump up the money. I do sometimes give the eggs to families, but you've given me an idea...maybe I can make little egg and vege packs (we have veg gardens, too) and just give them away with a corresponding recipe. Healthy food options are an issue where I work (always interesting to see a kid arrive with nothing but a big packet of chips for the day) so that might be a way to give a little nutrition lesson while giving stuff away for free.

Pinky - I like your idea of getting the kids involved in choosing some more hens. I've looked at a few pages (thanks for the heads up on gumtree, guys), including NSW Hen Rescue, so I'll sit down with a group and see what we come up with. Whatever we choose, it will need to be a cheap option!

As always, everyone's pictures are amazing and makes me so jealous looking at your pretty girls and boys. I must figure out how to load and post some of mine...:/

 

[appps]

That's a really lovely idea, and one I did raise with the principal soon after the ladies started laying. Apparently we're not allowed to sell the eggs (and weren't even really allowed to use them to prepare the kids' food in preschool, either) and in all honesty, our families are so poor that I don't think they'd stump up the money. I do sometimes give the eggs to families, but you've given me an idea...maybe I can make little egg and vege packs (we have veg gardens, too) and just give them away with a corresponding recipe. Healthy food options are an issue where I work (always interesting to see a kid arrive with nothing but a big packet of chips for the day) so that might be a way to give a little nutrition lesson while giving stuff away for free.

Pinky - I like your idea of getting the kids involved in choosing some more hens. I've looked at a few pages (thanks for the heads up on gumtree, guys), including NSW Hen Rescue, so I'll sit down with a group and see what we come up with. Whatever we choose, it will need to be a cheap option!

As always, everyone's pictures are amazing and makes me so jealous looking at your pretty girls and boys. I must figure out how to load and post some of mine...:/

What on earth is the reasoning behind not being allowed to use them? Crazy. Our canteen uses ours.

They sell the eggs for $2 a carton so it actually helps poorer families because its cheaper for them than say Coles but they don't feel they are accepting handouts.

Oh and just an FYI in case you don't already know but Kellogg's will donate cereal to a school for a breakfast program. Thinking using eggs and cereal and making the kids cornflake cookies too

 

[appps]

Oh and get in touch with your local poultry club. That's who donated the chooks to our school.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

I wouldn't suggest them as a first quail, personally. That said, I doubt they're hard to keep or that there will be any major problems but when I researched quails a few things came up that made them not-for-me.

Such as:
- unless you have a steady weather environment (winter temp doesn't get below 10 C and Summer doesn't go much about 35 C or so) you'll have to have a place to keep them inside. If you're keeping them inside anyway, the point is moot

- King quail hens will go broody and the broody hens (this is what I've read, not what I've personally experienced) need to be separated from the others with her mate with her. Some sites say that the little rooster should be taken away as well come hatching in case he's one of those king quails who kill their young (some do, some don't apparently).
- You can eat the eggs, but I can't imagine it being as satisfying considering they're about 5-6g ea. The chicks are so tiny they can fit through 1/4 inch wire.

That said, they come in most beautiful colours and seem like a nice addition to a good poultry collection.

Let us know what you decide

Thanks. Well our summer condition don't usually get above 35 and where we are going to put them is pretty cool. And It shouldn't get below 10. I have been told that they should be fine for a beginner.

We do not plan on hatching just selling the fertile eggs and maybe eat a few ( probably just to try ).

I was told they don't go broody...hmmm. I will have to check.

Thanks again. I will see what we get. We may just have to go for Japanese Quails.

 

[Fitchook]

No eggs yet! Do they normally take a while to settle in & start laying??

They are hi-sex browns

 

[megacakes]

No eggs yet! Do they normally take a while to settle in & start laying??

They are hi-sex browns

Were they laying before you got them? I got my girls on 19th December, apparently point of lay, but I didn't get my first egg until 27th January.

 

[satay]

Love the chooks Ash. Welcome Fit chook. New hens will take a while to adjust to their new homes so you may not get eggs for a few weeks. As it is cooling off now too you may not get any for a while. What age are the new hens?

 

[satay]

Were they laying before you got them? I got my girls on 19th December, apparently point of lay, but I didn't get my first egg until 27th January.

Point of lay generally means anywhere from 20 weeks on. It depends on your breed as to how much longer you have to wait.