California - Northern

[chiqita]

How much work is it to process a quail? They are personal sized meat servings since so tiny right? How long until they are ready to eat?

You can eat 1-3 quail per person. You can process at 7-8 weeks, we just do it when there are enough to be worth it, so they are between 8-10 weeks by then, since I stagger hatch. I am usualy good for 1.5 quails. But they take a LONG time to eat. Its become a favorite at our house because you spend so much time at the table and get to chat and catch up .

Hands down they are easier to process, DH just skins them and that is even easier. Professionally they debone them, we don't do that.( wait, I lied we DO take off the backs and use them for broth later) He can do between 5 and 10 before chicken chores and going to work, so what's that 5-10 min each? I found a wonderful recipe in Ad Hoc at Home for a olive oil rosemary marinade, I usualy make that when we process, and put about 1/2 of them in it and freeze. That way they are ready to put on the pan imediatly, nothing else needed. They take 5-10 min to cook, fast fast.

They are emotionally easier then chickens because while they are cute, they don't have such personalities. every once in a while ill get attached adn our pens get a bit bigger, but not tons of them...

 

[Happy Chooks]

Really? Quail are worth processing? They just seem so small to even bother. I confess I've never tried quail though - they must be really good.

 

[zooweemama]

You can eat 1-3 quail per person. You can process at 7-8 weeks, we just do it when there are enough to be worth it, so they are between 8-10 weeks by then, since I stagger hatch. I am usualy good for 1.5 quails. But they take a LONG time to eat. Its become a favorite at our house because you spend so much time at the table and get to chat and catch up .

Hands down they are easier to process, DH just skins them and that is even easier. Professionally they debone them, we don't do that.( wait, I lied we DO take off the backs and use them for broth later) He can do between 5 and 10 before chicken chores and going to work, so what's that 5-10 min each? I found a wonderful recipe in Ad Hoc at Home for a olive oil rosemary marinade, I usualy make that when we process, and put about 1/2 of them in it and freeze. That way they are ready to put on the pan imediatly, nothing else needed. They take 5-10 min to cook, fast fast.

They are emotionally easier then chickens because while they are cute, they don't have such personalities. every once in a while ill get attached adn our pens get a bit bigger, but not tons of them...

I have to feed 7 for supper. So we would need a lot of quail for a meal. So we would like need about 14 per meal, likely once a week (mentally mapping it out)....so we'd need to rotate often enough to not run out but not have too many at any given time. I read they are daily egg layers- true? 5 quail eggs = 1 chix egg...so if there were a dozen laying that would be 12 eggs a day/daily = about 2 chix eggs. The eggs sound fun to eat as a tiny little snack too....hmmm....

 

[chiqita]

I have to feed 7 for supper. So we would need a lot of quail for a meal. So we would like need about 14 per meal, likely once a week (mentally mapping it out)....so we'd need to rotate often enough to not run out but not have too many at any given time. I read they are daily egg layers- true? 5 quail eggs = 1 chix egg...so if there were a dozen laying that would be 12 eggs a day/daily = about 2 chix eggs. The eggs sound fun to eat as a tiny little snack too....hmmm....

Quail eggs are great for baking too. Some people say they have less cholesterol, but I haven't read it somewhere I trust, so I wouldn't bank on it. They also have different proteins so if someone is allergic to chicken eggs they can eat quails. And quail tea eggs are fantastic!

When you are talking about eating quail, they are a bit larger. Tams and Jumbos are bigger then reg cots, and reg cots are bigger then wild quail. They also taste more like turkey then wild quail .

You want about 3-5 hens per boy to keep both fertile eggs and harmony. Also, I usualy use 3 or so quail eggs per chicken egg, but I do have smaller eggs here too. I eat more quail eggs then chicken eggs now, I incubate my chicken eggs or trade them for fresh fruit and veggies! or give them to my mum, who demands eggs on a frequent basis.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: They make great stew and as such can be stretched to feed a lot of people.

Love it!

Ron

 

[chiqita]

They make great stew and as such can be stretched to feed a lot of people.

Love it!

Ron

ok, I DEMAND the recipe! Not that I can make it now, I'm down to 2 week old quail, i sold .....36 so far this week. Its MADNESS! I was overproducing so we would have more supper quail, and some guy decided everyone in his family had to have some. extended family even.... They all want those goldens its a feeding frenzy, but not feeding me!
I Do make broth with the bones and use it instead of the TJ's chicken stock I used to use. Its nice but i need more seasoning in mine.

 

[zooweemama]

Hmmm will def have to look into this quail thing. I like how little space you need for 40 or so birds at a time. (compared to a chicken) and we often eat meat IN dishes- only once a week as an entree generally. Too pricey otherwise. We have swanky weeks where we get meat entrees more than once though. Those are feasting weeks! LOL

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Sometimes I can't quote a post. I have to copy and paste the quote in, which works but I haven't figured out how to clear the formatting so that the hi-lite color change to the correct format. When I have to do this, I change the quote to italics.

Cooper12 is getting the most amazing birds! The White Emp's are described as being Penedesencas wit a solid color. There is also a red one but they are probably not in the US Yet.

Bye the way, I just saw a flash that I got an email from my pet chicken with the Cream Legbar in it! Of to read the email....

Ron

why thank you and excited to share the breeds...

 

[Hangtown Farms]

My young Crele flock

 

[Hangtown Farms]

And a few of my Icelandic's