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

[KhalSancho]

Quail are incredibly easy to process for your freezer. Tools: Sharp pair of kitchen scissors, running water at your sink, two bowls big enough to put the parts you're keeping and the parts that you're not keeping.
While holding your quail in your non-dominant hand, with index finger on one side of the head and middle finger on the other, cut off the head of the quail with the scissors and clean the bird under the running water in your sink until it quits trembling and flapping its wings (nervous system response only, the bird was killed instantly when you severed its head). Cut the wings off close to the body of the bird, and discard. There's not enough meat here to make it worth your effort to save it. At the pointy end of the breastbone, gently slide the scissors under the skin and make about 1/2 inch incision in the skin only. Cut off the feet just above the 'ankle' bone. Pull the thighs out of the skin and cut them off where they meet the back bone. Once both thighs have been removed, removing the skin (plumage and all) is a very simple process, just pull it off gently. Again, at the pointy end of the breast, slide the scissors in gently to open the abdominal cavity without puncturing the bowels, you just need to make enough room there to get your fingertips into. Now pull the breast away from the abdominal cavity and separate these two parts with your scissors. Pull the heart out of the breast cavity. Gently remove the liver from the spleen (green vein looking organ that contains bile), and save that too. Your bird is now clean and ready to cook or freeze. There isn't enough meat on the back to warrant the work needed to prepare it for the freezer, and you can, if you want, feed the raw bones and offal (cut into bite sized bits) to your chickens, dogs, cats and livestock that enjoys meat, etc.
If I'm only processing one or two birds, then I flush the wings and skin & feathers down the toilet. If I'm processing many birds at once, then I dig a hole in the back about four feet deep, put the unwanted parts of the bird into a grocery store shopping bag (they break down rather quickly once buried) into the hole, and shovel the dirt back into the hole. The hole is deep enough that I've not had anything dig it up, and is ready to use again in about four to six weeks.
As for preparing quail. I like to cut the breast in half, put both halves and two thighs onto a broiling tray (serves one person), cover with one slice of bacon, and broil for seven minutes on the first side, flip the pieces over and broil an additional four minutes. Tender and juicy every time.
Cleaning one quail takes me about 3 minutes total. Very very fast prep time.

You are a LEGEND! Done deal. Getting quail! You were so thorough I honestly don’t even feel the need to YouTube (I will though OCD lol) seriously thanks so much for taking the time to break it down step by step and then going above and beyond telling me how to prepare it! Stay tuned for quail, guys!!

 

[KhalSancho]

I haven't had issue with my chickens and quail sharing the fully enclosed patio where they sleep. My quail live in their cage, my four chickens live on the same patio with them at night, but get free 'range' time outside daily on my very large, fully fenced (half acre? I'm guessing on size as I rent) but not in cages. The chickens like to roost on top of the quail cages, and to keep their poop from getting all over the quail, I put old 'ugly' towels on top of the quail cages, tidying the towel in the morning of anything solid, and machine washing the towels as needed. I rotate quail cages... keeping one clean, prepared, yet empty most of the time (unless brooding). I then allow my chickens to 'have at' the dirty quail cage while the quail enjoy their fresh clean home... The chickens stir up the litter very well, eating grain, bugs, sometimes larva (I have a water issue with my quail, they seem to think their water dish is a swimming pool) that enjoy the moist and well nourished litter. By the time the quail are done with their dirty cage, and the chickens are done with the quails dirty cage, the contents are ready to be dumped out back to 'fry' a certain section that I call my 'weed garden'. Nothing goes to waste 'round these parts

And putting my mind at ease lol cheers

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I think we’re moving on the quail then!

As far as the davorelles, I’m really looking forward to them.. I looked for pure breeds that lay close to a pink egg and liked the look of them best. When you say nutters.. in a good way, right? Lol
The Polish is on Mama Aroras list.. and is PURELY cosmetic/vanity reasons.. BUT, we’re trying to stick away from super flighty birds (haven’t researched too much on the oddballs other than favorelles because they were my pick)
So she may have to move to another bird she likes.. I know she likes brahmas but I was a little concerned on their size compared to the other birds even though they’re docile. She likes barred rocks and dominiques, silver laced barnevelders and a few others. Oddball recommendations?

Yes, in a good way! Just seem to have loads of personality and they're still young. Can't wait to see what they're like when they mature!

I know a lot of people like the Polish breeds...maybe someone with a better experience will chime in and give you a different side of the tophats story.

My dark brahmas are one of my absolute favorite breeds. They are friendly and gentle, never the hens that are battling, good broodies, quiet. They are beefy, though! They'll come right up and stand on my boot wanting me to dole out meal worms

 

[ValerieJ]

So funny, last night I read an old thread where she was hatching or trying to hatch about eggs.. I got about 23 pages in before I went to bed and didn’t get to see if it worked though lololo glad to have you all on the team as mentors for a newb like me!!

Yes, she was trying to hatch out a balut egg!!! I got over 100 pages into that thread and finally asked her. I'll leave it to her to tell you the story...if she will.

Honestly, this is a really helpful community, but it's also just a huge amount of fun!

 

[KhalSancho]

Yes, in a good way! Just seem to have loads of personality and they're still young. Can't wait to see what they're like when they mature!

I know a lot of people like the Polish breeds...maybe someone with a better experience will chime in and give you a different side of the tophats story.

My dark brahmas are one of my absolute favorite breeds. They are friendly and gentle, never the hens that are battling, good broodies, quiet. They are beefy, though! They'll come right up and stand on my boot wanting me to dole out meal worms

Sweet, Brahmas may squeeze in, then. I let Arora know about the flightyness and immediately she says “frizzle silkie then” lol

 

[KhalSancho]

Yes, she was trying to hatch out a balut egg!!! I got over 100 pages into that thread and finally asked her. I'll leave it to her to tell you the story...if she will.

Honestly, this is a really helpful community, but it's also just a huge amount of fun!

Lol I’ll have to shoot her a message.

so funny.. I come here more than ANY social media now lol

 

[Kiki]

Street Food...my first balut baby.

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[ValerieJ]

Street Food...my first balut baby.

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[Kiki]

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• Kiki
• Aug 5, 2019
• 3

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• Kiki
• Sep 17, 2019

Day 3

• Kiki
• Jun 3, 2019

 

[KhalSancho]

Street Food...my first balut baby.

View media item 7905544

OMG was that the first one in the thread!? It worked!? Too cool.. what breed did it end up being?