coturnix Quail

[chickenshow]

i finally took the plunge and went and bought 4 coturnix quail 3 hens and a rooster

 

[Mrs. Glassman]

Congrats!!

I infected DH with the "fever"...HAHAHA

He had to buy him some quail! The eggs are SO darling. I keep begging for him to give me some to put in the bator.

 

[miss_thenorth]

have fun!!! i love raising quail!! they are very efficient--they don't eat alot, grow up fast for processing, and the eggs are great if you like pickled eggs. Even if you dont--they are great hard boiled in potato and noodle salad. You do realize though, that three hens aren't nearly enough? once you hatch out your first batch, keep six hens and two males, then you will be all set.

Welcome to the dark side!

 

[worldwidechick]

I have three of them that hatchced out last night! So cute. Wow, they are little too.

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
3 hens to one roo is perfectly fine

6 hens to 2 roos is really risking some head scalpings that's roo over load be careful with that ratio

The ratio should be at the least 3 hens per roo, at the most 5 hens per roo. If more thanone roo to a pen it should be around 10 hens and two roos, 20 hens and 4 roos etc

 

[chickenshow]

thanks for all of the advice on the way home one of my females laid a egg so i said what the heck and through it in the incubator with my chukar eggs

 

[miss_thenorth]

Quote:
3 hens to one roo is perfectly fine

6 hens to 2 roos is really risking some head scalpings that's roo over load be careful with that ratio

The ratio should be at the least 3 hens per roo, at the most 5 hens per roo. If more thanone roo to a pen it should be around 10 hens and two roos, 20 hens and 4 roos etc

That's what I meant--have two breeding combos--that way you will get more eggs. I started out with just three hens, now I'm up to six--two roos, two pens.

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
3 hens to one roo is perfectly fine

6 hens to 2 roos is really risking some head scalpings that's roo over load be careful with that ratio

The ratio should be at the least 3 hens per roo, at the most 5 hens per roo. If more thanone roo to a pen it should be around 10 hens and two roos, 20 hens and 4 roos etc

That's what I meant--have two breeding combos--that way you will get more eggs. I started out with just three hens, now I'm up to six--two roos, two pens.

AHHH I get you!!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

I started out with 2 females and a male, and I'm now up to 23 females and 6 males.

I agree that 3 females is not enough! Remember it takes 5 quail eggs to equal 1 large chicken egg