Optimal age to process Coturnix ?

[quailbrain]

Does anyone have a prefered age to process Coturnix? Is there a reason why? Does this differ between the sexes, mutations, jumbos, a&m, or any variants?


Thank you for the help!

 

[monarc23]

12 weeks for any size bird IMO coturnix aren't filled-out until 12 weeks. Ofcourse you can butcher at 6 or 8 weeks but you're missing out on some extra meat.

Again that's for any color/variety or size (pharaoh or jumbo).

 

[quailbrain]

I do see a lot of different thoughts to this so I am glad to know the why's. Thank you.

Can I ask.... when do you pick out breeding birds. Although I have a love for Tuxedo marked birds I think I will be working with Jumbo's soley for this part of my project. Is it best to picked out the breeding ones at 12 weeks as well. I would be breeding as texas a&m did on breast size not "bird" size and not based on colors (for these meat birds anyways

)

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
If you're going for meat birds I'd deffinatly wait until your jumbos are 12 weeks old before you decide. I know my jumbos at 8 weeks old are scrawny birds with a pointy chest, but once they have that extra few weeks to fill out you get a big meaty bird

I'd pick your biggest roo and biggest hens. When I was going off of biggest birds I weighed everyone and kept the biggest. I breed for color as you know, but I also pay attention to weight on the colors that I'm getting enough of the same that i can. Like my tuxedos right now im keeping any nicely marked tuxedo and not paying attention to weight (or sex for that matter) but by the end of this summer OR by next spring breeding season I will be focusing on the biggest over the smallest. I'm still not breeding for meat birds but if in teh future my birds are sold and someone is just wanting flashy meat birds then they'll have that with my tuxedos. But I mainly just personally think teh bigger birds are more docile. I unintentionally bred the jumbo gene into some of my original tuxedos, and the hens from that are the sweetest ever they know when im coming and come right to me and want to see what im up to while everyone else is heading for the hills

 

[tumra]

I find that i typically processing my quails at 8-10 weeks. Not because they have reached their preimum weight, but i find that i can't afford to feed them for an extra 2 weeks!!!!

 

[Isablahblah]

love all this info! thanks for everyone because i have seen poeple that keep it as a secret!

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
It aggrivates me when people keep things a secret that's why I posted that huge educational post and why Im *very slowly* working on a book for coturnix. I personally think theres WAY too much *SHHH* in coturnix as well as exaggerating. that URKS me lol. I like to be fair and helpful and get to the bottom of things and im always willing to learn more to help others

 

[quailbrain]

I'm glad for that too. I can use all the info I can get and I don't know anyone in the area who I can personally ask. This is a great way to get that info!

 

[Isablahblah]

that is why i LOVE this place! i have become addicted to this place! i check all day long!

 

[quailbrain]

I find myself checking from work WAY TO MUCH