Does anybody make money with their quail?

[GBov]

I am trying to convince the mister that I could make a little bit hatching and selling jumbo quail chicks but it suddenly occured to me to ask if anyone actually makes money on their hobby?

My plan was to hatch for my table and sell any extra chicks but to also sell from the birds raised for ourselves 4 hens and one roo groups for , I was thinking, $50. I know I would rather start with breeding age birds rather than buying heaps extra to be sure of a good male to female ratio and if I didnt get any sellers they could just as easily be eaten or be used as more breeders by myself.

Before we moved I was hatching our chicken eggs, raising the birds for about 12 weeks, selling the hens and then fattening the roo's for the table. The proceeds from the hens paid for all food and the roo's were free meat. It was great so was hoping to have as much fun with the quail but with a bit extra money comeing in from it.

Whacha think?

 

[saddina]

There's some info here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=192312

 

[monarc23]

It honestly depends on your area, and your selling abilities i guess

Here in PA, its a challenge to sell them, people don't seem to see the worth in them.....though they have so many uses they are worth A LOT! Food money and eggs! What can be beaten there!??!!

I've only sold about $30 worth of quail locally....and tomorrow for the first time locally im swapping coturnix for pure bred pigeons! Finnally they get me something i've really wanted!

So far though all my quails have done is paid for their own feed. Which is all I ask

They also lower my dogs feed bill by the excess calls going to her to eat.

 

[Bettacreek]

Honestly, I'd doubt that you could sell a group of five breeders for $50. Granted, it may depend on your area, but, I bought 5 hens, an A&M roo and like six jumbo brown roos from Sam for $25 if I remember correctly.

Excess roos for the table won't sell for as high as breeding groups or hens. You'd probably get lucky selling them for a buck a piece, simply because most people would rather buy a breeding group and raise their own birds for the table because of cost efficiency.

You could also sell the eggs though... Hatching or table eggs should bring in enough to cover the feed costs, if not more.

 

[Teach97]

I don't cover feed bills myself but I have a few! It does pay for other eggs to hatch. I have never gotten that much for my birds. The most I have gotten is $6 a bird at an auction...young ones bring less. Folks don't really understand them around here. Might work in your area but I would suggest doing a little research into the matter. Check with local auctions and such...just an idea

 

[macnugget]

I'm making money selling eggs and baby chicks I would say it really depends on your area like others have said. However if you have a good population of Asain folk you are sure to sell alot of eggs. At this time I have enough full time people buying eggs that I don't have enough birds to keep up with egg demand... I love this problem. I have been selling alot of hatching eggs to hunters. This is what I did i called around to all the Asian stores to see if they carried quail eggs then asked what price they charged. I'm selling mine for 2.00 doz for eating eggs which is what the stores are selling them for however I really sell 2 doz and the plastic egg carton for $5 and then give them 1 dollar back if they return the egg carton. It seems to be working well I selling local, I'm recycling, and I'm making bank! oh I mean I'm green lol

 

[cawooduck]

If you get $50 for 5 breeders, i'll send my whole flock for you to sell for me!! You will be lucky to get $20 for the five, but who knows.

I have put out some feelers to see if eggs would sell in my area, i got a couple hits, but no money exchanged yet, so i decided to set about 80+ eggs in the incubator tonite and i will set whatever is laid tomorrow as well and see if selling chicks would be a better route, especially since a lot of people around here dont have incubators.

I have had a few people ask if i had chicks, so i have a good feeling about it!!

 

[robbie34]

i raise jumbo bobwhites and texas a&m sell my grown birds for 5.00ea the ones that i make the most off of is pahro /texas a&m it takes 17days to hatch and 7weeks there laying the bobs take 6mounths to lay i make enougf to suport 1000 pharo /a& m birds and my other birds there good money in them if u get in with a hunt club becaus the pahro can be hunted year round

 

[dave3877]

you can try what im doing. down here in texas there are game ranches galore. while some do haVE thier own setup for quail and other game birds some do not. i am getting my my flock tested and certified this monthso that i can sell to these big game ranches and too individuals and feed stores. your local feed store can be one odf your biggest resources for bird sales. my feed store guy sees it like this he says. he will let us post signs in ther windows,sell day old's in the store if you have the bird flock testing done andit benefits him because the chicks are a draw for him to sell feed waterers vet health etc. also flea markets and trade days are a great resource. its all in what lengths youre willingto go to.

 

[erthymom2]

i will hatch upon request eggs for others in my Sportsman cabinet incubator and usually charge $1.00 per egg for pheasent or rare breeds, 75 cents per egg for regular breeds.
Sometimes i'll swap for feed or other barter goods - like homemade butter, gallons of goat milk, used wood, fencing, services like plumbing, electrical light work, plowing.
You can usually work out a barter that gets you more "gain" then straight cash.