Processing Quail?

[Pokes79]

More of my A&M eggs hatched than expected. I have about 60 in the brooder and would like to thin them down and keep about 30 for eggs and breeding. My question is first how do I sex them because I would like to keep more females than males. Also what age is best for processing and should I feed them anything different before processing? I am feeding them the starter stuff right now.

 

[pixie74943]

I dont know.. but I'd like to

 

[miss_thenorth]

I don't know about sexing the A&Ms, but processing usually is done around 8 weeks. You could check out Monarch's sticky at the top of the QUAIL section, she has info on A&Ms.

ETA, I feed mine gamebird starter their whole life--it's 30%protein, and they need high protein ( above 24%)

 

[al6517]

There is a video here on the BYC made by a member who raises alot of quail and has alot of knowledge. if you do a search I am sure you can find it, I saw it a long time ago and it was great and informative. Basicly it showed how to vent sex the males by a foaming vent. Try the search I think it will help you.

AL

 

[miss_thenorth]

For vent sexing, you need to wait until they are sexually mature which is around 6 weeks. but of course I had one batch that didn't start until close to 10 weeks.

 

[mamawolf544]

The males have a lump by their earhole, very hard to see tho. I just keep some zip ties near their pens and when they crow I mark their leg.

 

[Kullas]

here is alot of info its a sticky at the top of the quail page

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=102281

 

[canter6]

If it crows, it's a roo, if it lays an egg it's a hen. That's how I sex my A&Ms.
The whole "VENT" thing is complicated and creepy to me. I just don't have the eye for it.

Now, the little browns are easy for me to sex at around 4 weeks by their brest color, but the white brested birds are a challange.
Some times the hens like to trip you up. I have one pen of A&Ms. 4 hens and one roo. I know there is one roo in there because he crows, and does his other "roo stuff", but I get 5 eggs out of there every few days.
The hens are taunting me!

Never heard about the lump by the eare hole, but is less creepy than a vent. I should check that out.

 

[TechEdFireman]

Vent sexing is the only way I know to sex A&M's. They have to be over 6 weeks old, and "sexually" active; meaning they need to be crowing and day length needs to be long enough to have them "interested". I have A&M's right now I don't know what they are they turned of age in the last few weeks and the day is under 12-14 hours and too cold so if I try to vent sex them they don't have any foam.

 

[PetersonD]

Do you know about what the weight is on your breeder A & Ms?