Is it even possible?

[shelleyd2008]

I would think moving them inside and out would be worse for them, not to mention the fact that the change of scenery would probably make them stop laying for a while.

The females are not loud at all. The males aren't either, if you have enough females with them.

You'll want jumbo browns, or A&M, as they (out of the coturnix varieties I have) lay the biggest eggs. They will lay an egg almost everyday during their 'season', which is from about March to October/November here. If you keep a light on them 14 hours a day in the shorter days, they should lay year-round.

The down-side to this is that it will shorten their life span. All my quail are young (less than 8 months old), and I have read that they slow down on laying after 1 year old.

Their poo does stink, but a little sand and gravel under their pen, or a bit of lime sprinkled under it once a week or so, will take care of that. Of course, you would have to clean out underneath the cage, but quail poo makes good fertilizer.

You would probably want to have some kind of mister when it's really hot, or put some ice bottles in their pen, to help them cool off.

As for how much it costs to feed them? I have 29 adult coturnix and a 50# bag of feed (about $14-$15) lasts them about 3 weeks. But I get almost 2 dozen eggs a day.

 

[Bossroo]

Just a thaught... have you considered the SIZE of the quail egg in comparison to the chicken egg? I can easily eat a dozen+ of those eggs for breakfast alone.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
But it's easier to get away with keeping quail, rather than chickens. I think chickens would be kind of obvious.

 

[Bossroo]

My point is, if I need a dozen eggs just for my breakfast, It would take a dozen female quail to provide that. She didn' state how many people in her family...ie., she would need a dozen hens per family member to supply the necessary eggs for a meal. Too, not every hen will lay an egg a day year round. By the time the hen reaches a year of age her egg laying ability will be reduced and will have to have replacement hens waiting in the wings.

 

[ksukristin]

Hello there USAmma! I live in Mesa and I'm going to get a few Cotournix quail myself! There are plenty of measures you can take to keep your birds comfortable outside in our arizona heat.

Some people put mister systems near the enclosures, along with fans and the frozen bottles. If you keep reading you'll find lots of information, or feel free to send me a PM and I'll gather some more information and send it to you!

I have been reading for months in preparation of getting my flock started, so although I lack the practical experience I can share what has worked for my friends in dealing with the heat

p.s. I'm working on that experience part!

Congrats on wanting to get started- you've found an amazing resource here at BYC

This website is so addicting!

Kristin

 

[QuailKeeper]

Quote:
true, but 3 quail eggs= 1 small chicken egg, 5 quail eggs= 1 large chicken egg, 1 day= 12 quail eggs= 4 chicken eggs, 2 days=24 quail eggs= 8 chicken eggs. also, unless eggs are really popular in their family, they wont be eaten everyday for breakfast

 

[quailbrain]

The quail can produce a pound of eggs on 2 pounds of food were as a chicken takes 3 pounds of food to produce that same pound of eggs. If you aren't eating them every day and only every few days a few quail eggs would add up.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I've read that quail are pound for pound on feed and eggs?