I have several questions about quail!

[australorp_breeder]

I'm thinking of buying a small incubator that will house eight quail eggs. I've been considering hatching and raising quail for the first time. I already have a space for them when they're older, and I have several questions. If you can, please answer them.

Getting Started

1) What is a cheap, yet productive quail I should get? I was thinking about Contunix (sp?).

2) How long does it take for quail eggs to hatch?

3) What do you feed them as chicks?


Raising / Profit

1) What do you feed them as adults?

2) At what age will the females begin to lay?

3) Do they lay all year around?

4) Can you eat quail eggs?

5) How many males should I have per number of females?

6) Will more then one male fight?

7) What is a quail's lifespan?

8) Around how much do quail sell for?

I would prefer people answering just from experience instead of showing me websites please. It's probably be easiest just to copy and paste the questions in your answer and place your answers under each quesiton. If you don't know the answer to all of them, answer the best that you can. Wow, this almost seems like a quiz... Any other tip/information would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Bettacreek]

1) What is a cheap, yet productive quail I should get? I was thinking about Contunix (sp?).
Coturnix would be your best bet. They're the most productive for eggs/meat.

2) How long does it take for quail eggs to hatch?
16-18 days

3) What do you feed them as chicks?
Chick, turkey or gamebird starter. 24% or higher, IMO. No need to grind it, they can eat it straight from the bag.

Raising / Profit

1) What do you feed them as adults?
24% Chick feed.

2) At what age will the females begin to lay?
6ish weeks, if all goes well.

3) Do they lay all year around?
Indoors and in certain areas, yes.

4) Can you eat quail eggs?
Yup, definately. They're supposed to be sweeter and healthier than chook eggs.

5) How many males should I have per number of females?
1 roo to 5 hens is the most productive.

6) Will more then one male fight?
Shouldn't, so long as there are enough hens.

7) What is a quail's lifespan?
Productive lifespan is a tad over a year I think.

8) Around how much do quail sell for?
Depends on your area. About $2-$8.



ETA: Don't buy the 8 egg incubator. Chances are, something that small is a piece of junk that won't work properly. Even if it, by some spark of magic, works perfectly, you'll still want more than an 8 egg capacity. IMO, go with the 1588 with a 1610 turner. It's trouble-free and so worth the investment.

 

[worldling]

Not to poo poo anyone's answers, but my take.

Quote:
Hope that is helpful! I only have about 3 years of coturnix raising experience under my belt, and only on a small scale. I don't know about chickens,ducks,turkey, or East Zambadizian Gutter Snipes.

 

[JJMR794]

worldling you hit it dead center! oh, btw you gonna have any them gutter snipe eggs for man to hatch this year? Got to get some of them lil dudes!

 

[peewee]

I have to go with worldling as well on this one. I couldn't answer any different. I want on the list for gutter snipe eggs too!!!

 

[chicken_angler]

Quote:
EXTRA: Quail love a varied diet. They will actually lay better if you give them treats at least once a week. They enjoy mealworms, bread, scratch grain, and some leftovers.

Good luck in your venture into quail!

 

[Kullas]

there is good info here but at the top of the quail page there is a sticky that also has alot of good info

 

[darkfur]

Quote:
tips: baby quail are masters at committing suicide. Drinkers must be shallow, brooders escape proof, heat sources safe (we have had some wedge themselves against their heat source and cook themselves). They are very good at getting stuck in crevices. raise them on chux cloth for the first few days, untreated wood shavings thereafter.
Coturnix in general have no fear. Good for the most part but they have no sense about predators. We had some escape once, one was being eaten by a cat when we found it and the others were standing around watching it. However for this reason they are good for training gun dogs i am told.
Careful when incubating that the temperature does not get too high, this will cause splay leg (spraddles). If splay leg does occur, use medical tape in a girdle around the baby bird's hips and in a band holding the legs in place just above the knees. Make sure not to cover the vent. Check daily, in a baby bird sometimes the condition only takes one or two days to improve.
If the feed is too low in protein and/or calcium quail are prone to dislocated hock joints. I do not know of a cure for this after it has happened, it is best to cull these birds.
Never breed gold (aka mexican, italian) coturnix together, there is a lethal gene that kills birds with 2 copies of the gene either in egg or as little chicks. Breed gold to pharoah (wild colour)
Check adult birds feet regularly for build up of faeces on the claws they can get balls of poo on them that make walking difficult.
We have found plastic canvas to be an unconventional but good material to build cages from. It is soft enough that they don't hurt their feed (or their heads if they jump), easily cleaned, poo falls through it and it is very easy to work with. However NZ is virtually predator free. I don't know if it is ok to use a material that could be chewed through by something determined (raccoon?) in your area.

 

[Schroeder]

Darfur's comments need to be added to the first sticky note in the quail section, so that it is all together in one place. This is good stuff!