Considering Quail

[cppeace]

I'm considering getting some standard color Jumbo Coturnix Quail for some meat and eggs. I'm not really positive though. I hear they're hardy, pretty easy to clean/process and of course, they grow fast, but I am still hesitant. I'm used to chickens, ducks and geese, and pigeons, but other than my mother owning a few bobwhites 20ish years ago, I've never really been around quail. Do they tame at all? I'm not really worried about them being lap-birds, but just not running when I feed and water and such.
I would be getting shipped eggs most likely as not finding any local breeders of Jumbo ones so far. Do they ship better, worse or about the same as chicken eggs for hatching?
Mine would be on our back porch which is mostly covered, only one 2 foot by 2 foot gap that would allow drafts in. Would this work or would they need a totally draft free area in winter? If I just covered the side of their cage that could get drafts would that work or would they need basically a covered nest box type thing? My pigeons were fine out there when I had them.
Any beginner mistakes I should avoid? Suggestions?
I'm only looking at keeping 5-10.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

They are actually known for being really friendly! I have wanted some as pets for a long time!

 

[nchls school]

Click on your words to see all of mine.

I'm considering getting some standard color Jumbo Coturnix Quail for some meat and eggs. I'm not really positive though. I hear they're hardy, pretty easy to clean/process and of course, they grow fast, Yes.but I am still hesitant. I'm used to chickens, ducks and geese, and pigeons, but other than my mother owning a few bobwhites 20ish years ago, I've never really been around quail. Do they tame at all? I'm not really worried about them being lap-birds, but just not running when I feed and water and such. I have several in the chicken coop. I have to be careful to not step on them. They are not lap birds. I lifted one off its nest to collect the eggs today.
I would be getting shipped eggs most likely as not finding any local breeders of Jumbo ones so far. Do they ship better, worse or about the same as chicken eggs for hatching?
Mine would be on our back porch which is mostly covered, only one 2 foot by 2 foot gap that would allow drafts in Can the gap be covered?. Would this work or would they need a totally draft free area in winter? If I just covered the side of their cage that could get drafts would that work Yes as long as they can get out of drafts.or would they need basically a covered nest box type thing? My pigeons were fine out there when I had them.
Any beginner mistakes I should avoid?Do some research. You will find a lot of information online. Suggestions? Quail can take temperatures down to the teens for short times; maybe lower, but not like pigeons that can take extreme cold.
I'm only looking at keeping 5-10.

Keep only one male with the hens.

 

[cppeace]

Click on your words to see all of mine.

Keep only one male with the hens.

Thanks!
I could likely put a "curtain" covering the gap but can't get rid of it totally as it's for my dogs to have access to the porch when they want out of the weather but not inside the house. The dogs never bothered the pigeons any so doubt they'd pay any attention to the new arrivals. They don't seem to care what changes around the house as long as it's not a new dog or big animal.
I'm sure it does get teens in there or lower when we go down to single digits at night but never do I see ice in there, even when dogs leave puddles from getting wet. A curtain would help keep the temp up, though.
Thanks again.

 

[nchls school]

If water does not freeze the temperature stays above 32F. The degree water freezes.

 

[bhaugh]

I think the comments made are referring to coturnix. You mentioned bob white which I do not consider easy to tame. I have some and they are super flighty. Stick with cots until you decide quail are for you. Buying shipped eggs and hatching is the same as any other shipped eggs.