Coturnix Quail Basics- Information and Pictures Galore

They can live and lay for 5-7 years if you don't use artificial light, and do every thing right. TwoCrows who mostly helps out in the new members section these days had a few that were more than 5 years old. 2-3 years is the average life span though, with egg production dropping off after the middle of the second year. Like QJ I usually turn over my producing birds every year. Not so much because of egg production dropping but because most animals will generate their healthiest offspring while in their prime and I hatch most of my eggs.

If you are concerned with having thrifty birds, I would change them out at least every 18 months.
 
They can live and lay for 5-7 years if you don't use artificial light, and do every thing right. TwoCrows who mostly helps out in the new members section these days had a few that were more than 5 years old. 2-3 years is the average life span though, with egg production dropping off after the middle of the second year. Like QJ I usually turn over my producing birds every year. Not so much because of egg production dropping but because most animals will generate their healthiest offspring while in their prime and I hatch most of my eggs. 

If you are concerned with having thrifty birds, I would change them out at least every 18 months. 

just want eggs to hatch healthy babies.
 
What is the link to the new members section?

What if anything do you do before you process quail?

Right now I have the 3 hens and one roo in the rabbit cage and the 8 other roos in a lg dog kennel. I got 3 eggs yesterday so I think they are all laying.
 
What is the link to the new members section?

What if anything do you do before you process quail?

Right now I have the 3 hens and one roo in the rabbit cage and the 8 other roos in a lg dog kennel. I got 3 eggs yesterday so I think they are all laying.
Kill them.


(you might want to stop their food and water 4-6 hours before, personally I do not, it seems cruel.)
 
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Lol. I meant am I supposed to feed them anything different before I kill them to fatten them up. I'm feeding them game bird starter/grower now.
 
Lol. I meant am I supposed to feed them anything different before I kill them to fatten them up. I'm feeding them game bird starter/grower now.

Thats about as good as it gets, I suppose you could add anything you want, but a high protein
starter grower should pretty much cover it. That's what I feed my roosters that are going to quail heaven.
 
What kind of winter housing do they need? I'm in the North Georgia mountains. We get some snow, freezing temps, and ice, but rarely negative temps. Getting ready to build them outside housing as they are beginning yo get stinky in the garage.
 
What kind of winter housing do they need? I'm in the North Georgia mountains. We get some snow, freezing temps, and ice, but rarely negative temps. Getting ready to build them outside housing as they are beginning yo get stinky in the garage.

My pens are all indoors, out in the quail jail.
 
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Imoved all the boys to a 3' dog kennel. Now one is almost bald. Do I need to srperate him alone or split them half and half again. There are 8 total.
 

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