Keeping problems to a minimum

[Gonefishin]

I'm new at raising quail and will be ordering about 20-30 hatchlings this spring.

I live in a urban setting and I plan to have an outside pin on my back deck so I can have easy access to them in an outside setting. (I want to raise them for eggs and meat)

(Eventually I will breed them but I'm feeling a bit over whelmed to even think about that right now).

How many separate pins will I need to keep problems to a minimum while raising them for meat and eggs? Since I will not have any control over how many males or females Ill get.

How should I go about separating the birds as to keep fighting and other unforeseen problems to a minimum?

How would you set things up and why?

 

[Welshies]

You don't need to seperate them. If you have one male for 3-5 females you'll be okay. However, many people seperate their birds and if so you need to make pens suitable for 5 birds (so 10 square feet). One male for 3 to 4 females (extra space is never a bad idea). Each pen will need basic bedding, potentially a dust pan (unless you use sand or dirt as bedding), a high percentage feed (26-30%), and water (you can use a chick waterer). Make the height of the roof at least 2 feet high, because when quail are scared they "flush" straight up.

 

[Gonefishin]

If I have more males would I put them together in a separate hutch?

 

[Welshies]

If I have more males would I put them together in a separate hutch?

Your best bet is to cull and eat them or sell them. Sometimes males fight or try to breed eachother.
Also make sure you use hardwire cloth 1/4" holes, quail are tiny as babies.

 

[Welshies]

No need to worry about nesting boxes as they'll lay anywhere, unless you wish to put nesting boxes in. Then occasionally they'll lay in those. Even using a can or small cardboard box works.

 

[Gonefishin]

Thanks for your quick reply.

 

[Welshies]

Thanks for your quick reply.

No problem. Quail eggs are very tasty as are quail. They reach maturity at 7-9 weeks, but if you want to hatch eggs I'd suggest investing in a good incubator

 

[Gonefishin]

Since you brought it up...I just received my incubator yesterday and setting up a brooder (YouTube is a great resource).

When I decide to hatch some of my eggs, do I just integrate the chicks into the existing flock or do I keep them separate?

 

[Welshies]

Since you brought it up...I just received my incubator yesterday and setting up a brooder (YouTube is a great resource).

When I decide to hatch some of my eggs, do I just integrate the chicks into the existing flock or do I keep them separate?

Keep them seperate until they are fully feathered (about 4-6 weeks). Then I would suggest diluting them throughout the flock (try to prevent inbreeding or linebreeding), or you can sell them as chicks. Chicks are usually in high demand.
If raising them for meat or eggs just make new pens for each group of male and females. Then butcher them at 8-10 weeks or start collecting eggs (try to avoid hatching out interbred eggs, collect eggs to hatch from your original flock).

 

[Gonefishin]

So what's the going rate for chicks or how can I find out