Help me choose, bantams or Corturnix?

[SunnyAlberta]

I miss my pet heritage hens, but where I live now the bylaws disallow them. I am permitted Corturnix or I could have indoor Serama bantam hens (or such). My goal is eggs to eat, pets with benefits. I recently bought two "trios" of white Corturnix, but all turned out to be boys. I gave away four and have two living as spoiled pets with no benefits in an indoor aquarium. Their crows would annoy neighbors. To eat eggs, I'm back to the drawing board.The advantage of female Corturnix is I could keep them outside which I assume is healthier for quail and chickens plus my family.

 

[bugglesmommy]

I have both seramas and cortournix.

Cortournix will start laying far sooner then a chicken. 8 weeks as opposed to 6 or so months. They will lay reliably every day, however you need more quail eggs to have a decent meal. In my personal experience, they also eat more then chickens individually.

Seramas are neat little birds and the eggs are bigger then quail eggs but still small and they will not lay as consistently as the quail plus it will take much longer to reach maturity.

 

[bugglesmommy]

**As a note the male quail will need 5-7 females each to avoid serious fighting. Males can get along just fine without females around, "Out of sight, out of mind", but if you decide to put the males with the females, make sure you have enough for them to each claim and keep the peace.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Bugglesmommy, thank you for your kind response. You lean towards recommending Corturnix, then? They certainly don't have the personality of chickens, but maybe they're better layers. I'd keep my boy quail inside and girls outside.

 

[bugglesmommy]

I love my seramas, but it seems like the quail may be your better choice, especially if you can keep those outside. It comes down to what matters more for you, egg production and speed or more of a pet.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

I say "pet," Hubby says "food." I may push for both types of birds. I understand that even indoor pet Seramas shouldn't be kept solo. Do you agree?

 

[bugglesmommy]

Absolutely. Chickens are flock animals and would not be happy without the company of another chicken.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Thanks for your ideas.

 

[speedy2020]

I have both chickens and jumbo coturnix quails. The quails are very friendly and require less space. They live in cage, which easy upkeep than chicken. You can select and breed quiet male. If you are looking for personality, chicken would be better choice and require more space to run around.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Thankyou Speedy.