Dreaming of raising quail in my tiny backyard....eggs..... but....meat????!

[The Backyard Bantams]

So....it’s the middle of the night.....ok this sounds weird, but I’ve basically watched a dozen or so quail butchering videos...I’m going crazy in quarantine...

I’ve only had chickens for 6 months! I dove in head first and don’t regret it! I currently have 3 bantam hens, an (illegal) sweet (but loud) little roo (will be rehomed), and 7 chicks. They are soooo cute!

I got into all of this stuff pretty quickly! I started watching some homesteading channels...this sounds dramatic, but it might’ve changed my life! Because, not only am I obsessed with chickens and gardening, but I want a mini hobby farm when I grow up! I don’t even think it’ll happen. But it’s so cool to explore!

Idk how long I’ve been wondering, but I want quail...! Now, to put this in context:

-I already have chickens
-I’m in lockdown
-all of my money is spent on chickens lol
-my parents are supportive, but not into this thing I’m obsessed with...
-boi, i’m a kid.

HOWEVER:

-even though my parents are not animal lovers, I SOMEHOW manages to convince them in chickens. In a WEEK. I don’t even know how that happened!!!
-I already have a suitable habitat...it’s a second hand mini coop, very small, but so are quail!! We’re talking 60cm x 180cm?? Plus a sleeping and nesting area! It’s made of hardware/aviary mesh, I can add a predator apron.
-already have small feeders
-so basically all I need is food, and the quail themselves!

So yeah...probs not gonna happen anytime soon but.....my 13th birthday is coming up in a month or two... >;3

Also, I tried quail eggs before, they were quite nice! I haven’t tried quail meat though!

Now for section two of this post lol

Meat..?

So...I love animals...never killed one. Quail are adorable ;-;

My big disadvantages:

-Never killed anythibg
-Quail are cuteeee
-Don’t really know anyone to help me?? Like learning from a friend would be amazing!
-A little squeamish? Not excessively.
-Nerve twitches would probably freak me out.
-Is my family seriously gonna let me do this?? Like, NO!
-TBH I’d probably get attached
-Better not mention this to my family, they’ll think I’m phyco
-I’ll probably vly wake up in the morning and think “no, why would I want to butcher quail?”

Good things:

-I’m pretty determined, Willing to try new things
-Excess males would probably need to be culled...
-I LOVE food. Homegrown meat would be an absolute first! Butchering is sad, but I think it’s good to know where it comes from! I know what goes into my food, I know it had a happy life.

I’ve mentioned I might grow my own meat when I grow up to my family, they laugh. It is pretty unbelievable. Don’t know how is do it, but I’m determined to look into it! I love research! I’m -2357% ready to butcher a chicken, even though quails are adorable, chickens are just another level, more space, more equipment, more work , more time, and it would be WAY harder emotionally!! Also, I live in a tiny backyard! I’m definetely NEVER raising anything for meat like that, even quail is extremely unlikely.

I think killing it would be the hardest part...once it’s cleaned up I’d be relived. I don’t actually know if I’ll be able to butcher something...wonder if I’ll ever find out? Attending someone else’s processing day would be very helpful! But, idk anyone... while I’m a little squeamish, I think i would be able to process it ok.

Btw, I’m thinking a flock of 7-12?? I have a pretty small, 10 x 10m sort of backyard, in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.

There is so much against me...mainly my family not wanting to, and me being a kid who has no idea what to do! Also, killing something...I think in theory I could do it...eventually....it would take some mental preparation! I don’t think I’d raise them specifically for meat, but If some are gonna have to be put down anyway, even if it’s hard, I feel like I’d honour that life more by making use of it? I guess it’s the “if you die would you rather be used?” Because, some people would go; “what bruh no, I don’t want to be eaten/used” or; “I’m dead anyway, might as well be if use”

ok that’s way too many emojis for sure...

Anyways there’s my rant. I reallyyyyy need to sleep to endure double engineering tomorrow...

Lemme know if you care! I’d love to hear your stuff....idk, opinion? Experiences?

Ty for reading guys ♥

Quailiens I wish

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. I think it's great you're interested in keeping animals and knowing where your food comes from! I'll give you my perspective as I've kept both Coturnix quail and chickens at the same time.

Chickens will happily use a nest and lay their eggs in the same place every day. Typically, quail do not but instead just drop their eggs wherever. Chickens will roost at night but quail are ground dwellers and prefer to hide under a bush with ample room to run about during the day. Quail will require 2 or 3 deaths per person per meal and you have to hold them and kill them. Chickens require one death for a meal or two for a whole family and can be put in a cone, dispatched and you can walk away until it's over. Chickens really aren't more physical work than quail, roughly the same as you still need to feed, water and clean. It takes about 3 quail eggs to equal one chicken egg. Quail smell more than chickens.
I'm not saying you shouldn't keep quail, they are just different than chickens.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Quail are great fun! Be sure you get at least 4 females per one male, as the males mate aggressively sometimes. I would not keep more than one male per hutch. Quail can survive serious trauma, which is good because they can be brutal. I like the Texas A and M, they became quite tame for me and would hop into my hand. The Jumbo quail are great for meat and eggs. Celadons lay pretty blue eggs.

 

[TurkeyTheQuail]

So....it’s the middle of the night.....ok this sounds weird, but I’ve basically watched a dozen or so quail butchering videos...I’m going crazy in quarantine...

I’ve only had chickens for 6 months! I dove in head first and don’t regret it! I currently have 3 bantam hens, an (illegal) sweet (but loud) little roo (will be rehomed), and 7 chicks. They are soooo cute!

I got into all of this stuff pretty quickly! I started watching some homesteading channels...this sounds dramatic, but it might’ve changed my life! Because, not only am I obsessed with chickens and gardening, but I want a mini hobby farm when I grow up! I don’t even think it’ll happen. But it’s so cool to explore!

Idk how long I’ve been wondering, but I want quail...! Now, to put this in context:

-I already have chickens
-I’m in lockdown
-all of my money is spent on chickens lol
-my parents are supportive, but not into this thing I’m obsessed with...
-boi, i’m a kid.

HOWEVER:

-even though my parents are not animal lovers, I SOMEHOW manages to convince them in chickens. In a WEEK. I don’t even know how that happened!!!
-I already have a suitable habitat...it’s a second hand mini coop, very small, but so are quail!! We’re talking 60cm x 180cm?? Plus a sleeping and nesting area! It’s made of hardware/aviary mesh, I can add a predator apron.
-already have small feeders
-so basically all I need is food, and the quail themselves!

So yeah...probs not gonna happen anytime soon but.....my 13th birthday is coming up in a month or two... >;3

Also, I tried quail eggs before, they were quite nice! I haven’t tried quail meat though!

Now for section two of this post lol

Meat..?

So...I love animals...never killed one. Quail are adorable ;-;

My big disadvantages:

-Never killed anythibg
-Quail are cuteeee
-Don’t really know anyone to help me?? Like learning from a friend would be amazing!
-A little squeamish? Not excessively.
-Nerve twitches would probably freak me out.
-Is my family seriously gonna let me do this?? Like, NO!
-TBH I’d probably get attached
-Better not mention this to my family, they’ll think I’m phyco
-I’ll probably vly wake up in the morning and think “no, why would I want to butcher quail?”

Good things:

-I’m pretty determined, Willing to try new things
-Excess males would probably need to be culled...
-I LOVE food. Homegrown meat would be an absolute first! Butchering is sad, but I think it’s good to know where it comes from! I know what goes into my food, I know it had a happy life.

I’ve mentioned I might grow my own meat when I grow up to my family, they laugh. It is pretty unbelievable. Don’t know how is do it, but I’m determined to look into it! I love research! I’m -2357% ready to butcher a chicken, even though quails are adorable, chickens are just another level, more space, more equipment, more work , more time, and it would be WAY harder emotionally!! Also, I live in a tiny backyard! I’m definetely NEVER raising anything for meat like that, even quail is extremely unlikely.

I think killing it would be the hardest part...once it’s cleaned up I’d be relived. I don’t actually know if I’ll be able to butcher something...wonder if I’ll ever find out? Attending someone else’s processing day would be very helpful! But, idk anyone... while I’m a little squeamish, I think i would be able to process it ok.

Btw, I’m thinking a flock of 7-12?? I have a pretty small, 10 x 10m sort of backyard, in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.

There is so much against me...mainly my family not wanting to, and me being a kid who has no idea what to do! Also, killing something...I think in theory I could do it...eventually....it would take some mental preparation! I don’t think I’d raise them specifically for meat, but If some are gonna have to be put down anyway, even if it’s hard, I feel like I’d honour that life more by making use of it? I guess it’s the “if you die would you rather be used?” Because, some people would go; “what bruh no, I don’t want to be eaten/used” or; “I’m dead anyway, might as well be if use”

ok that’s way too many emojis for sure...

Anyways there’s my rant. I reallyyyyy need to sleep to endure double engineering tomorrow...

Lemme know if you care! I’d love to hear your stuff....idk, opinion? Experiences?

Ty for reading guys ♥

Quailiens I wish

ayy we're around the same age! I only have quail though, planning on getting chickens in the near future, (maybe even this spring!) I have 8 hens and 6 roos so eventually I'll have to cull a few for food. I did actually get close to killing one but I just couldn't do it, It took a LOT of mental preparation just to get that far. I'm not saying you won't be able to do it but killing your first quail is easier said than done. Goodluck with whatever decision you make!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Ir helos of that first onebis one that draws blood. Makes it a bit better simce those have to go

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

As someone who started processing chickens just a short while ago, the first time is definitely the hardest. Learn as much as you can before you make the attempt, as the goal is to ensure the animal suffers as little as possible (preferably not at all). Hesitation and doing things improperly can make things real bad real fast. Having a knowledgeable helper that can step in if you freeze can be super helpful, but may not be an option. Just be sure to give yourself plenty of time, and relax as much as possible. Have everything you might possibly need set up and within reach, in case you start to panic. And don't beat yourself up if you feel bad afterwards. You just took a life to help sustain your own. Respect their sacrifice but know that every meal that comes from an animal requires the same--and if someone you don't know is doing it, there's no way for you to know if they gave the animal a good life with a painless end.

 

[Melody102]

Hello! Glad your chicken and quail adventure seems to be going well. I thought I’d jump in about the quail culling. I was also super squeamish, thought I’d never be able to kill one but I watched like 20 YouTube videos of how to humanely dispatch different farm animals and another 5 or 6 specifically on how to cull a quail. I have successfully killed and frozen 9 quail so far for some very delicious dinners and I can say I was way more torn up over a quail we had die than the ones I thanked and killed for dinner.

Alright so jumping in: quail are small but if you have small hands they are still a pretty big handful and some of the videos show you can hold the quail in one hand and cut swiftly with the other. (Male farmers and their giant work hands right?!) Well let me tell you, that is really hard with small hands. Also you can’t hesitate when you get close with your garden scissors, they can feel your anxiety without a doubt.

What has worked for me was that I found a video from a woman who stunned her quail first, basically gave them a really solid smack on a wooden block(wooden cutting board on the counter is what I use). That way you can firmly hold your little quail keeping it calm with both hands and then smack it and then do all the cutting. It makes me feel much better doing it since I know I can hold my bird safely without it freaking out and flapping and also, that tiny bit of worry that it could feel the scissors is gone since it’s knocked out and won’t suffer.

Random things:
The nerve reflexes are weird and stronger than you probably expect, you’ll likely need 2 hands until it’s stopped. Knocking the bird out first also makes me feel better knowing the nerves are just that, nerves, and not the quails reaction. Be aware that the quail doesn’t really smell like anything until it starts to cool, then it smells like cutting up meat (I don’t like cutting up meat so to each their own). Try not to get any of the blood or ice water in your hands because their feathers get all over your hands if you do. And skinning them is really surprisingly easy! I weird out my fiancé by calling it “taking off their pajamas”, it just comes off so easily.
Just my two cents, best of luck!

 

[Mellowmalt]

13 is a good age as you won't be taking them to college and it sounds like your parents would not carry on looking after them after that.
180 x 60 might seem big but to put it in perspective, that is 30% smaller than your bed. The hutch should be that big with 5 times the space to roam on top. Your coop and run would be good for 2-3 small birds.
Since that is not enough to be remotely profitable the idea of butchering them - if it isn't for money, ie making a living - seems pointless.
A nicer idea is keeping them as pets.

 

[artbykarenehaley]

You are well spoken (written?) For your age! I would not give up on your dream of one day owning a homestead. It can happen. There are many ways to go about it, from applying for new farmer grants to joining a youth future farmers type group. You mentioned Australia so I don't know if there is an organization like that, but I am willing to bet there is. In the US there is a program called Future Farmers of America. If you take the program seriously, they can give you grants that help put you through college. In highschool I was a member of both FFA (horticulture, livestock judging, and poultry) and 4-H (raising and showing bearded d'anvers chickens, dutch and mini lop rabbits). I highly recommend getting involved because you get to experience so many things that teach you skills you will use on your future homestead. I would guess your parents will be happy to see you getting as much out of your chicken keeping experience as possible (I don't know them personally and obviously can't actually speak for them haha).

Keep hanging on to that dream. Don't Tell yourself it isn't going to happen, it totally can. I didn't think I'd get to have my own homestead or farm either and here I am twelve years after graduating, after moving around the country with my husband, we settled down in the suburbs. Not my grand idea of a farm and definitely not like the family farm I grew up on. but it's what we can afford. I have what I'd consider the beginning of an urban or backyard micro farm. All those things I learned way back then, I am remembering and utilizing now. Honestly they were the best thing I could have done, because I too feel like I'm being called to raise my own food and become more food independent.

Anyway I just wanted to offer encouragement. You got this, you can do it! The knowledge of raising healthy animals and gardens is so valuable, and everyone who eats owes their thanks to the humble farmer. The world needs more of them.

So! Did you end up raising quail? I raise buttons and chickens and am saving up to build a flock of egg layer Coturnix. We eat so many eggs but have a chicken limit, including no roosters. Our daily egg consumption needs mean that we still have to buy store bought eggs even though we have chickens. This is why I will be adding Coturnix to my little backyard farm. I don't plan to raise for large amounts of meat but need to bridge the egg consuming gap.

 

[raingarden]

The best thing about quail is they don't take much space and mature/start laying so quickly. Plus, they only live about two years.

Just focus on the eggs at first. With a small inexpensive incubator you can hatch some of your own eggs and expand the flock at will. It will not take many adults to lay more eggs than the family will eat.

When you are over-run with eggs and birds the decision to start butchering them for meat comes naturally. The only difficult one is the first one.