Newbie in WV, interested in quail

[GSCforester]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the best breed for me to raise would be, I was considering bobwhite but read a lot of negatives on here about them, so I am considering others. The traits I would like to have are as follows:

1. Ability to live in an outdoor pen w/ an enclosure all year, winter here can have temps in the single digits and highs only in the teens. I may keep lights in the pen for laying, but not for heat.
2. A somewhat large bird, for eating.
3. A good layer, for eating eggs, as well as hatching eggs.
4. A docile attitude, not that I would be worried about myself, but for the safety of the birds.

I know there may not be a breed with all of these traits, but what would you suggest?

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

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Coturnix or Bobwhites are the best.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

O, and

from WI!!

 

[Robo]

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Coturnix or Bobwhites are the best.

Coturnix hands down, they are a very good bird for beginners and are much more efficient than bobwhites. They are also less aggressive. If you want some really good meat and will break the bank for superior taste go with bobs. If you do go with bobwhites I would recommend keeping them in pairs, but others have sucess in colonies.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Yes!!
I forgot about bobs aggresiveness

 

[GSCforester]

I may be mistaken, but isn't there several varieties of Coturnix? If so would any variety be okay?

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Yep!

 

[Robo]

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You left out a VERY important part there.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

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You left out a VERY important part there.

YES, VERY important

 

[Robo]

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There are some issues with breeding that you might run into like if you cross two Manchurians it could kill a big part of your offspring because they posess a lethal gene. You want big birds right? If you get some little birds that have been bred for color you wouldn't have as much meat. If you are looking for meat and eggs I would get some jumbo browns because they are usually quite large, and are easier to sex, and you can separate your males and females at a very early age o you know wich ones go to the meat pen.