Choosing the quail to breed

[possumhunter]

I am going to attempt to process my first batch of coturnix today (wish me luck and thank you to all who have posted tutorials on here). My question is...Should I leave the largest birds for breeding, that way I can produce larger birds in the future? I really don't know much about breeding and genetics, but I'm assuming that breeding larger birds together with produce larger birds? I am only raising them as a meat bird so that is really the only purpose (assuming that I can process them again after today, haha).

 

[zaylinda]

Yep, that's the way to do it!

Make sure you have a good male/female ratio in your breeders and good luck!
-Zay

 

[Kullas]

Sounds like ya got it under control

 

[possumhunter]

Thanks for the help! It took me about 1 hour to process 2 of them

Probably because I was shaking so hard! I managed to do 3 of them and then had my husband do the last one. Hopefully it gets easier next time. I don't mind processing, just don't like the killing!

 

[Bettacreek]

Bop their heads on the counter first if you didn't already do this. It makes it much easier on yourself and the birds.

 

[possumhunter]

I did do that, thanks! But the garden shears didn't feel as sharp as I would have liked and I felt like the actually cutting the heads part was a little sloppy. Sharper shears next time! And I think it would help to start on a day that I don't already feel yucky!

 

[Bettacreek]

I was using all-purpose utility shears. They weren't super sharp, but they worked. Basically, as long as the spinal column is crushed and severed, you're good to go. I usually had an extra snip or two to do to after the main snip. That was just a flap of skin though.

 

[darkfur]

you can order things called humane dispatchers that I find make things a bit less unpleasant. they dislocate the spinal cord quickly, as opposed to you having to decapitate the bird. it upsets me less anyway

 

[worldling]

I just pinch their little heads off. They just come right off.

 

[Kullas]

Its not just the killing of the birds ya do need to cut the head all the way off not just break the neck. this way they can bleed out