Jumbo Japanese Quail? Guys, it’s getting worse...

[KhalSancho]

I'll be getting the same type of quail in the spring.

Woohoo, Quail Crew!!

 

[KhalSancho]

Almost you have all persuaded me to have quail!!! DH and I are discussing. What a great sustainable stock!

Sweet, we’ll get to learn together!

 

[Ebony Rose]

Almost you have all persuaded me to have quail!!! DH and I are discussing. What a great sustainable stock!

Very sustainable. Let me twist your arm just a little bit more

One chicken eats about 4 ounces of feed daily. One quail eats just under 1 ounce of feed daily.
Unless sex linked, you don't know if you have a male or a female chicken for at least a month, and you're still guessing for at least another month, or more depending upon breed. You'll know for certain if you have male or female quail by that age.
You won't see a single egg for the first half-year of your chicken's life. We'll call that 180 days... Your bird will have eaten 45 pounds of feed, plus any treats you've offered, before you get an egg.
You'll have eggs by two months of age on your quail, under 4 pounds of feed to get them to this age, and any treats you've offered.
It's important to note that quail, even those that have aged beyond their ability to produce eggs are still very tender to eat; unlike chickens without a heaping helping of slow moist cooking.

 

[ValerieJ]

Very sustainable. Let me twist your arm just a little bit more

One chicken eats about 4 ounces of feed daily. One quail eats just under 1 ounce of feed daily.
Unless sex linked, you don't know if you have a male or a female chicken for at least a month, and you're still guessing for at least another month, or more depending upon breed. You'll know for certain if you have male or female quail by that age.
You won't see a single egg for the first half-year of your chicken's life. We'll call that 180 days... Your bird will have eaten 45 pounds of feed, plus any treats you've offered, before you get an egg.
You'll have eggs by two months of age on your quail, under 4 pounds of feed to get them to this age, and any treats you've offered.
It's important to note that quail, even those that have aged beyond their ability to produce eggs are still very tender to eat; unlike chickens without a heaping helping of slow moist cooking.

Well, my chickens aren't triple purpose, only dual. They give me eggs and they entertain me. I don't eat them. With that being said, we figured our eggs cost us about $17 per dozen. And we're about to build another coop. $$$

I'm way too attached to my chickens. They are more pets than egg producers. It's my only hesitation with the quail. I have to know that I wont fall in love with them. As much as I would like to know the fowl I eat (doesn't have to be chicken) has been raised in a healthy and happy environment, I'm afraid I'll chicken out on processing day.

Like I said, we're talking it over.

 

[ValerieJ]

Sweet, we’ll get to learn together!

That would be fun. Either way, I'm bookmarking this thread. It's a wealth of information!!! Thanks!

 

[ValerieJ]

Wait...I have to revisit that math on the egg production, @Tycine1. If the quail gives me eggs in two months, but it takes 5 eggs to equal 1 chicken egg. Then it would take 5 months of quail eggs to equal 1 month of chicken eggs. Let's say your chickens start laying in week 21, by week 26 both birds will have produced about the same volume of egg. From that point forward, the chicken would be producing 5 times the product as the quail, by these calculations. Plus it will produce for 3+ years, depending on the chicken, but the quail will stop producing at 1 year.

Okay, just having fun. But, seriously, quail as a meat source sounds like a good farming plan. (As long as I can get past my issues.)

 

[Kiki]

This is a grocery store bought extra large egg.

A couple of my chicken and quail eggs.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Woohoo, Quail Crew!!

 

[Nabiki]

Sounds good.. will do, I think they’re legit though because it looks like a proper little family hatchery and produce business. Are the eggs much different in size between the two? Probably doesn’t matter much especially if the birds are close in sizeView attachment 1993028

I could package and label eggs like that at home. I don't see anything showing that they have an egg handler's license, but I'm not sure if that's required in Australia. Here in California there are specific labeling requirements showing the license, packing date, sell by date, etc.

I'm working on designing labels for my eggs. I just applied for my egg handler's license.

 

[KhalSancho]

Very sustainable. Let me twist your arm just a little bit more

One chicken eats about 4 ounces of feed daily. One quail eats just under 1 ounce of feed daily.
Unless sex linked, you don't know if you have a male or a female chicken for at least a month, and you're still guessing for at least another month, or more depending upon breed. You'll know for certain if you have male or female quail by that age.
You won't see a single egg for the first half-year of your chicken's life. We'll call that 180 days... Your bird will have eaten 45 pounds of feed, plus any treats you've offered, before you get an egg.
You'll have eggs by two months of age on your quail, under 4 pounds of feed to get them to this age, and any treats you've offered.
It's important to note that quail, even those that have aged beyond their ability to produce eggs are still very tender to eat; unlike chickens without a heaping helping of slow moist cooking.

This is a grocery store bought extra large egg.
View attachment 1993154


A couple of my chicken and quail eggs.
View attachment 1993155 View attachment 1993156 View attachment 1993157 View attachment 1993158 View attachment 1993159 View attachment 1993160

Guys! I got us a quail hutch!! My question now is this.. I’ve read in different places that you have to keep quail and chickens separated because of disease and what have you. How far away from the chicken runs should I keep the quail hutch? We’ve got plenty of room but I don’t want to go on hikes to feed the flocks if it’s unnecessary.