hova bator inference with any speakers.

[007Sean]

I like your style Sean, your enclosure must be pretty cool! I too don't have the heart to raise them on the wire all the way. Brooder is kind of different because of the heat lamp and hygiene issue so we're on the same page. May I ask please:

(1) what is your area per bird roughly? Would it be one square foot per bird or would it be more?

(2) do you sell your eggs for eating? If so, what do you sell them as? It cannot be caged eggs, perhaps barn eggs but that wouldn't be fair either, I was thinking of a 'aviary eggs' to differentiate myself from the others that obviously do the wire thing.

(3) New Zealand is a chicken country and quail feed is super expensive if not really hard to find. Eg I need to buy a ton, have a forklift, a big storage place. I was thinking of mixing chicken feed with horse soy meal to raise the protein content. What do you think?

Many thanks,

David

Hey David,
I like the fact your doing research, most people don't, then wonder why they failed.
My method of operation may and probable will differ from yours, there are many ways of raising quail some good, others not so much. Pick and choose the best practices from other breeders to fit your operation.
That having been said, I'll try and answer your questions the best I can.

(1) Enclosure's are 10' x 30' approximately 300sq.ft. I run 20 to 30 birds per pen. 10 to 15 sq.ft./bird. I could run more but I prefer to give my birds a better quality of life in containment. Their less stressed and healthier.

(2) I don't sell my eggs for human consumption. I sell locally/regionally as hatching eggs. I ship eggs occasionally. Mainly I hatch and sell juvenile birds.

(3) Personally, I don't like soy or corn as a primary source of protein. Mainly from a GMO factor. I have my feed made at a local mill. Using fish meal, milo, red wheat, parched barley, rolled oats, millet, krill oil, molasses and vitamins/trace minerals. It's rather expensive also, around $28/50lbs.
I understand your feed source delima. You'll just have to do the best you can for what is available in your area. HTH
Best of Luck in your endeavors.

 

[DavidFromGlenEden]

Hey Sean,

Your input is gold for anyone with internet access, including David stuck with questions in New Zealand! Thanks BYC for offering this platform!

Cheers,

David