Can Quail Be bred to be Smaller?

[jackbolton3]

First post so sorry if this is in the wrong spot if it is please let me know I'll move it

So this is an idea that has been bugging me for some time now. Through selective breeding we are able to increase the size of our birds over generations. Is it possible that the reverse can be done as well? If you were to breed the 2 smallest quail together over and over would it result in a miniature version of that bird in the end?


Mind you I don't think I would be inclined to try this as I feel internal organ issues would arise from it. I cannot find any info on this ANYWHERE!! If anyone does know anything on this subject I truly appreciate it

 

[RiverOtter]

Yes, of course. That's how chickens got bantams.

But you guess the exact problem you have to be careful with - internal issues. Mainly, eggs and laying. Bigger eggs hatch robust chicks, but are harder for the hens to lay, so you have to choose for egg size as well.

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

I imagine it's possible, although like you said health issues could pop up. Plus quail are already fairly small : D I imagine one of the reasons it hasn't been done is because most quail are used for eating or eggs, and smaller birds provide smaller eggs (possibly less eggs) and smaller meats

 

[JacinLarkwell]

You can, just breed the smallest females to the smallest males. Provided they're healthy as the others are

 

[Nabiki]

You could... But if you want tiny quail pets, you might just look into getting some button quail.

 

[jackbolton3]

Yes, of course. That's how chickens got bantams.

But you guess the exact problem you have to be careful with - internal issues. Mainly, eggs and laying. Bigger eggs hatch robust chicks, but are harder for the hens to lay, so you have to choose for egg size as well.

I did not know that although it makes sense! Yea egg size is something to watch the first batch of quail I ever hatched there was one that laid a 2 yolk for its first egg. its *cough* ynow practically fell out..

 

[FloorCandy]

I think James Marie farms lists bantams on their sales page, you could probably contact them and ask about their health and size.

 

[jackbolton3]

I imagine it's possible, although like you said health issues could pop up. Plus quail are already fairly small : D I imagine one of the reasons it hasn't been done is because most quail are used for eating or eggs, and smaller birds provide smaller eggs (possibly less eggs) and smaller meats

Makes sense I've heard that if some eggs are small enough it doesn't even have a yolk its just white. I originally started raising them for meat but I have taken a really fond interest in the genetics aspect of things like color patterns n such.

 

[jackbolton3]

You can, just breed the smallest females to the smallest males. Provided they're healthy as the others are

Yep that was my thinking. I've looked into runts and from what I can see their just lacking at the start do to bad egg placement in the womb. Be it birds dogs cats etc, with human intervention they'll be just as healthy as it's siblings albeit a little smaller.

 

[jackbolton3]

You could... But if you want tiny quail pets, you might just look into getting some button quail.

Actually what started this was I was sitting around one day and I thought could you breed an already tiny bird like the button quail to be even smaller. I pictured a little quail the size of a golf ball XD

Obviously if it were even remotely possible to do that there's no way it would survive. That's kinda what sparked this whole thing tho haha.