Breeding quail on a tiny scale

[CascadiaRiver]

MyShire and Thieving Otter both have great reputations.

Many domestic species tolerate inbreeding quite well. Coturnix does not. 4 birds is insufficient.

I've also had good success with ebay eggs.

Coturnix typically ship better than most other poultry eggs. I've had quite successful hatches from shipped coturnix eggs. Every attempt is unique, but I wouldn't fear ordering eggs too much. For the price of a single shipped bird, you can order quite a few eggs.

I think I worded it badly, I don't mean just start entirely with these 4 birds that's my bad! I know you can't do that. I was wanting to hatch some just so they weren't all segregated and alone since they're flock animals. As it is, I've got a single, and a trio of 'babies' which I'll soon have to separate too. Next week it'll be two singles who can't be together and a pair of boys which is unknown how long they'll be together. I won't be able to really "start" breeding my covey until fall I'm guessing but I was just hoping to get them some friends so they aren't lonely but it seems like everyone is in agreement that I shouldn't breed these guys so I'll just wait and hopefully find some for sale in the next few months. Their sad pew-pews just break my heart but I don't want to hatch messed up babies just because they're lonely. I checked both of those websites, unfortunately it was $45 or more to get 12 eggs shipped and at least 6-8 week wait until the eggs would be shipped which is a bummer

I think I'm going to contact that local person who has the $20 quails and see if they can send some photos of their set up or if they will have eggs sooner than 2 months

 

[Zenmonkey]

I'm certainly not saying don't try. Have at it. I only meant that a long term project needs more than 4 birds. Most people Spice that by bringing additional birds from time to time.

I'm assuming that these are coturnix? I'm not sure it is had been stated a to what species were dealing with? I believe coturnix have a life expectancy of about 18 to 24 months. Just a bit else to think about.
I freely admit that mine don't usual die of old age, so I might be a bit off on their life expectancy. I see indications online that they can live 4 to 5 years, but their reproductive live is definitely shorter than that.

 

[CascadiaRiver]

I'm certainly not saying don't try. Have at it. I only meant that a long term project needs more than 4 birds. Most people Spice that by bringing additional birds from time to time.

I'm assuming that these are coturnix? I'm not sure it is had been stated a to what species were dealing with? I believe coturnix have a life expectancy of about 18 to 24 months. Just a bit else to think about.
I freely admit that mine don't usual die of old age, so I might be a bit off on their life expectancy. I see indications online that they can live 4 to 5 years, but their reproductive live is definitely shorter than that.

Oh sorry yes Coturnix! My hen is around 1.5y and my 3 younger ones are about 5 weeks, I regret now not getting more when I did but I didn't think that was the end of quail season here, I wanted to ease back into it but whoops :')

My goal is to have some nice breeders that are more pets/eggs and raise up their chicks for meat but that's a while away since well, only 4 birds haha but I'd like to get them into good sex ratios and happy flocks (and well if I can get some fun colored groups along the way then bonus points!)