Help talk me into quail (for meat)

[sniper338]

I've had quail... they dont eat grain, that post above is wrong. They eat high protein feed crumbles. Bobwhites will eat grain, but not coturnix.

They are messy... poop machines, everywhere... plan your set up around dealing with poop. They will scatter feed like crazy and scatter water.. so poop trays under pens are not a good idea.

1/2 x 1 welded wire works good. 1 roo per 6 hens, up to 8 hens depending how much he breeds... people talk about space like they dont need much... but reality is having some space does help out. They bloody each other up fast if they dont have space. Brown are easier to keep than white... because once white get blood on em its sticks out more. You will have a blood bath with coturnix if you dont have space. Id reccommend at the least.... 2sqft per bird.. 3 to 4 would be more ideal.

They grow fast, lay fast, hatch easily... they arent hard to take care of... just need to be out of the wind and set up for poop, feed and water well to not be a pain.

They dont need nest... they lay anywhere they lay... they can be kinda loud though not as much as chickens.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Talked to the local seller and we’ve set up a day over the weekend to get a couple dozen eggs! I did some figuring out on the calendar and if everything goes to plan I should have the quail set up outside by the time I need the brooder for my chickens.

Something I haven’t put too much thought into, I have a heat plate and a heat lamp but I prefer the plate when they are indoors. I’m thinking given that quail seem to like being under stuff anyways they should take to the heat plate just fine?

 

[Nabiki]

Personally I don't care for heat plates, but there are people who swear by them. I prefer a heat lamp with a reptile heat emitter bulb. That way the chicks get a regular day/night cycle and I can see the chicks so I can tell if they're comfortable.

 

[catesquire]

I use a heat plate, works fine! You just have to adjust it super low the first few days because those babies be TINY

 

[DemeterAD9]

Numbered and ready to go, just have to candle them to check for cracks by that can wait. I’ll be setting them tomorrow to let them settle from the car ride and get to room temp. Got an extra dozen spares and apparently 2 blue ones.

I’m thinking to do a dry hatch and add water during lockdown. Current humidity seems to sit around 30-40% so I think it should be fine.

 

[GoosesGeeses]

 

[DemeterAD9]

Ended up setting them last night. Had just enough room on the rollers for them so no manual turning for me. I thought long and hard about popping in a handful of chicken eggs but figured the cons outweighed the pros. Plus none of the hens I actually want chicks from are laying right now.

Incubator is an “el cheapo” I bought 3ish years ago for ~50$. Forced air and automatic turning via the rollers, 24 egg capacity. Not a fancy name brand like most of the others as I will not spend over 100$ on an incubator. Prices are crazy even for a name brand 12 egg capacity! Call me picky but a lot of the dome style incubators with complete view of the eggs seem a little iffy anyways. Just makes more sense to have at least the styrofoam insulation around the base for better temperature control. I did end up buying a backup that has yet to be shipped, a similar style to mine but one size up for 36 chicken eggs. Spent about 55$ this time.

Temp is sitting at 37.7C on the incubator display or right about 100F according to an aquarium thermometer. An old food probe says 97.8F but I’m hoping that isn’t accurate. Same temp as when I hatched chicken eggs so it should be fine right? Humidity was lower than expected w/o adding water (27-30%) so I’m going to try and keep it closer to 45%. With such tiny eggs I’m worried about them losing too much weight in a dry hatch. Weighed one dozen #13-25 at 140g and will reweigh just that group when I candle them to check weight loss.

Placed the bator on the floor tucked away in a dark corner under my desk. Everyone knows I’ll go ballistic if my eggs/chicks get messed with when I’m not around to keep an eye on things. Fingers crossed I can keep the little nieces and nephews away. Hoping for pips/chicks around the 26th! I’ll likely candle them over the weekend and remove any duds so expect an update then.