Giant Bob White Quail

[linebacker]

Quote:
I second the coturnix - go with the Jumbo types -- laying eggs in 8 weeks and completely filled out for supper in 10 weeks.

Brad

Is the coturnix meat dark or white? Gamey tasting? So if they are ready for butchering in 10 wks, do you have to butcher them then or can you wait a while or will they get tough? Does that make sense?

I am not real fond of dark tasting meat.

I raise Texas A&M coturnix and they are bred to have lighter meat. Like Teach said any quail is not like a dove or duck or even a chicken which is what most people think of when they think of light verses dark meat. Quail (coturnix or wild breeds) have a very delicate meat and I've never had even a wild harvest one taste gamey.

If I'm feeding a quail over 10 weeks old it is a production or breeding bird. I say that because a breeder needs a different diet. There is no real weight gain after 10 weeks, and the game bird grower is expensive and not worth it money wise to keep a bird eating it.

Hope this helps,
Brad

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
ah ha! i get you!

I agree completley too. I was just confused because technically tehy consider a normal coturnix meat to be "dark meat" where as A &M and english whites have true white meat. When I do eventually cull an A & M and a normal colored coturnix I'm going to be very interested in seeing the difference. I assume it's going to be a big difference sinceit's been selectively bred for for that exact purpose. So normal coturnix are dark meat, however its lighter compaired to other dark meat-ed birds which probably explains why they dont taste gamey as well...

 

[CK Chickadilly]

So the Texas A & M's sound like they might work for me. I do love pheasant but that is as dark as I go. Any of the quail meat like pheasant?

I understand now about the feeding. What is the best way to butcher quail? Male & female meat taste the same?

I wouldn't mind hatching the eggs & then have some breeders. I am thinking of being a bit most self sufficient when it comes to meat.

Thanks for all the input!