Coturnix quail processing

[PineBurrowPeeps]

I too am thinking about raising some next year instead of chickens. The idea of quickly being able to kill them with kitchen shears is really appealing to me.

There is someone locally selling them for $6.50 each, adults. Is that reasonable?
Will the females hatch their own eggs?

 

[DLS]

when do they start laying? when are the youngs eggs fertile? how many weeks to butcher? I have some that will hatch out next week.
what about feed? , what about water? same as chickens? how hot should the brooder be?

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

That's why I like them - so far, anyway. I hate processing chickens and this seems to be so much easier and faster.

I don't know what the going price is; I've sold mine for $5 each and that's from newly hatched chicks up to 3 weeks old. Haven't sold any older ones, but they eat alot, so I don't think $6.50 would be unreasonable, unless you were buying alot.

I don't think the females hatch their own eggs. I've never even seen mine sit on them.

Mine started laying at 6 weeks and lay at least one egg a day. I have 3 laying hens so far and one day I found 4 eggs. The eggs seem to be fertile immediately; the males start practicing early, around 5 weeks.

I feed mine chick starter although I hear the gamebird feed with higher protein is better for them but I can't find that here. I supplement it with cat food every now and then. They like that. I use a quail waterer and feeder - the feeder is the long one with the holes in it. Otherwise they waste more than they eat. Brooder is the same as for chickens only these feather out alot faster so the heat lamp isn't needed as long.

Whew...I think I answered them all?!

 

[sandspoultry]

Quote:

There is just the 2 of us at home now so we cook about 10 breasts per meal, When you take them off the bone you get 20 pieces. The only bad thing is there are no leftovers. lol

Steve in NC

 

[SandraMort]

So if you plan to eat quail twice a week, breast on one day and leg/thighs on another, you need to raise 5 birds per person. At an 8 week turnaround time, that means you need to raise 40 per person. Does that sound right?

 

[becky3086]

I have no idea what you are talking about. I never even saw my males fight with each other and there were several in the cage with the females. My suggestion is leave them until they are old enough. Never had any sort of problem with mine.

 

[Mrs MIA]

You must be the exception then, Becky, because I've had to remove several males from my groups for fighting. They have plenty of room, but when fighting for the females, they show no mercy. Starts about 6-8 weeks, too. They literally scalp them.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Well, after two more males got scalped, I've decided today is "the day". I'm heading out shortly to buy poultry shears (and an apron!) I'm hoping that when I come back, someone will have answered these last few questions I have!

This is how I'm planning to do it - PLEASE tell me if it's right, if there are any better ways, or anything I am forgetting!

Remove head with shears. Hold securely while bleeding out. Pluck (I'm hoping this can be done because we like skin). I also want to keep them whole, so I'm assuming cutting down the back is the best way in? Remove internals (are the lungs tricky like with chickens?) Remove wing tips and legs/feet. Wash wash wash then soak in ice water. Repeat.

Do I need to let them rest in the fridge or can I freeze them right away?

Please tell me if this is right - thanks!

 

[BaronRenfrew]

A few things,

separate the males from the females so they don't see each other and the fighting should stop

price is normally $3 each for normal type coturnix, if you can get more, so much the better (hatchery sells them in the spring at 6 weeks old for $2 each, they're supposed to be jumbos but haven't weighed them)

An idea from book on quail from Marsh farms, birds kept in a dark place eat more (getting 20% heavier than they otherwise would) and don't fight

this works with either restriciting daylight hours (8, breeding birds need around 14 to lay) or putting them in a darker place in the shed

good eating

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I just processed my first one. I tried my best to pluck but ended up skinning it. I cut it down the back - is there a better way to get inside without cutting all the way down?