Got my eggs yesterday!

[DoubletakeFarm]

And holy cow are these things small! I've seen pictures next to a quarter, but seeing them in person shocked me. I think they're smaller than bluebird eggs. How on earth do you candle an egg that small? And people eat these? Whatta ya do, swallow them whole?

 

[WildBilly]

you got bantamas.

 

[DoubletakeFarm]

No, quail eggs.

 

[GrandmaBird]

sounds like button quail aka Chinese Blue Breasted.

 

[SavageChick]

LOL, are they button quail eggs? I only know one person who has ever eaten a button quail egg (I can't get myself to do it yet, as it would be like eating my pet dog

.) Yet, I have heard from others that larger quail eggs are delicious (even a delicacy in France?).

 

[DoubletakeFarm]

They're bobwhites. I can't imagine how small a button quail egg must be.

 

[bbqsfarm]

are you going to hatch?

 

[underground chickenman]

Wow, starting with bobs. You're brave. Happy hatching.

UGCM

 

[DoubletakeFarm]

Yeah, they're in the incubator.

Brave no, stupid or crazy maybe. This all started a year ago when I got the idea it would be an interesting bird to raise. I think they're quite beautiful and I love their call. They used to be native here, but you never see them anymore. I think that's what really got me hooked. I haven't seen a bobwhite for ages. After reading up on them I can see why: they're small, don't fly well, have no defense against predators and lay tiny little eggs in nests on the ground. Come on birds, if you want to survive you're doing it all wrong.

So I thought: hey, I could have my chickens raise them (I know, James, calm down) and let them free range with them within my pasture. If some get loose then I'm just repopulating. How cool would that be? Bobwhite quail running around my pasture. Well, come to find out you can't keep them with chickens, you have to be licensed through ODNR, you can't release them, you have to keep them in a pen where they don't get along with each other, they're mean, flighty and undomesticated. Yes, I thought "hey maybe I better get coturnix instead" but darnnit, I want bobwhites!

 

[underground chickenman]

I hear ya. Bobs are awesome in the wild. The woods behind my neighborhood was loaded with them when I was a kid. Now it's nothing but houses. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

UGCM