DOMESTIC COTURNIX BREEDING STANDARDS
Quail_________________________Variety____________Class
_____________________________________________________
Coturnix (Coturnix domesticus)____Pharaoh___________Bantam
_____________________________(Wild Type)________Standard
_____________________________Open_____________Jumbo
Current domestic coturnix quail are the result of mixed ancestry. The Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) was domesticated as early as the 12th century, 900 years ago. The widespread Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) has similarly been kept for at least 500 years within the ranges of its various subspecies including Eurasian, African and Abyssinian. As well as influences introduced to southern hemisphere populations by the Australian Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) and Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis). Because of this intercontinental hybridization over the past several centuries, the domestically kept birds should be classified as a hybrid subspecies. In the last century, the hybrid vigor has been utilized to enhance egg and meat production. The following classes are listed for the domestic Coturnix Quail, listed as Coturnix domesticus.
Bantam Class - Average weight 4oz (Individual range 2.0 - 5.9oz) @ 6 weeks
Standard Class - Average weight 8oz (Individual range 6.0 - 10.0oz) @8 weeks
Jumbo Class - Average weight 12oz (Individual range 10.1 - 14.0oz)@10 weeks
Hens are generally larger than cocks, with corresponding hens regularly being 20-40% larger than their respective male counterparts. These average weights are based on both male and female averages and account for a 25% variance in fluctuation from the standard weight class. Weights account for a variant average within a 2oz +/- range of the class weight. Individual weights may fluctuate within this 4oz range, but the colony average should be as close to the average weight as possible for its intended class. For a colony or line to be classified, it must consistently reproduce at least 75% or higher true to its class range.
Information compiled and written by Dana Manchester
For Coturnix Breeders Association / charter members group
Quail_________________________Variety____________Class
_____________________________________________________
Coturnix (Coturnix domesticus)____Pharaoh___________Bantam
_____________________________(Wild Type)________Standard
_____________________________Open_____________Jumbo
Current domestic coturnix quail are the result of mixed ancestry. The Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) was domesticated as early as the 12th century, 900 years ago. The widespread Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) has similarly been kept for at least 500 years within the ranges of its various subspecies including Eurasian, African and Abyssinian. As well as influences introduced to southern hemisphere populations by the Australian Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) and Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis). Because of this intercontinental hybridization over the past several centuries, the domestically kept birds should be classified as a hybrid subspecies. In the last century, the hybrid vigor has been utilized to enhance egg and meat production. The following classes are listed for the domestic Coturnix Quail, listed as Coturnix domesticus.
Bantam Class - Average weight 4oz (Individual range 2.0 - 5.9oz) @ 6 weeks
Standard Class - Average weight 8oz (Individual range 6.0 - 10.0oz) @8 weeks
Jumbo Class - Average weight 12oz (Individual range 10.1 - 14.0oz)@10 weeks
Hens are generally larger than cocks, with corresponding hens regularly being 20-40% larger than their respective male counterparts. These average weights are based on both male and female averages and account for a 25% variance in fluctuation from the standard weight class. Weights account for a variant average within a 2oz +/- range of the class weight. Individual weights may fluctuate within this 4oz range, but the colony average should be as close to the average weight as possible for its intended class. For a colony or line to be classified, it must consistently reproduce at least 75% or higher true to its class range.
Information compiled and written by Dana Manchester
For Coturnix Breeders Association / charter members group
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