I'm in Texas and I see people keeping quail on the ground...when it comes to disease and worming...what is everyone's thoughts on meds and how often? Can the eggs and birds still be ate? And is antibiotics the norm or only when sick?
You can definitely keep quail on the ground in Texas for most, if not all, of the year. What you need to do is tractor them around your property, moving them every day or three. The number of days you can leave them all comes down to stocking density. If you've got 6 quail in a 2x3 pen, you'll want to move them daily, but 6 in a 3x6 pen might be OK with moves every third day. The issue you will run into is having enough land. You shouldn't move the quail back on to the same ground for at least 4 months, though 6 months to a year may be better. That gives the land time to integrate the fertility you've deposited there and, more importantly, breaks the parasite cycle.
Keeping them on the ground with frequent moves will also keep you from dealing with poop. The birds put it where you put them and they'll scratch it in. You won't have to collect and compost the poop in order to get the benefits. You'll want a wire bottom, most likely, in order to deal with snakes.
Commercial meat is raised with a constant supply of low-grade antibiotics. That allows the animals to spend less energy fighting off sickness and more energy putting on weight. It works, but it has severe ramifications. By giving a constant supply of antibiotics, you don't kill all the bacteria and viruses. This allows for antibiotic-resistant strains of those bacteria and viruses. You also load the animal with the antibiotics. Even though there is a withdrawal period before slaughter (though I'm very skeptical that it's always followed), you'll end up with some of those antibiotics in the meat and bones. That means that we eat a constant, low-grade antibiotic diet if we eat meat from conventional farms.
The antibiotics are also passed through the animal in the urine and feces, going into the environment and medicating our wildlife. If you do medicate, I'd suggest only doing it when you have a sick animal and you'll have to follow the directions carefully, both to kill the virus and to make sure it's cleared before you eat the eggs or meat. I'd also give it more time than they say.
Good animal husbandry will virtually eliminate the need for antibiotics. I use only unmedicated feed and I've only had to use antibiotics once. That was when I moved, integrated two flocks and the weather turned brutally cold. The chickens were upset by the move and the integration and the weather was a contributing factor. I was letting them moult, so I had lots of time to let it clear their systems. I know farmers who have grassfed beef who haven't had sick animals for years. The cows are always outside.
In the end, you'll have to decide how you want to keep the animals, from both a housing and medication standpoint. The birds would be much better off in wire cages if you don't have the room to tractor them properly and they end up on the same ground every month. The parasite loads will build up, your birds will be overwhelmed, and you'll need to constantly medicate.
I know you were hoping for a longer answer, but this is all I've got at the moment
You should listen to this podcast:
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/quail-q-n-a
Jack's just outside Ft Worth and he's got a lot of experience with birds.
Good luck.
