Pros and Cons of quail?

[The-White-Elephant]

Sorry for so many questions!

But are you keeping them on the floor, or elevated?

 

[Silkie Princess]

Sorry for so many questions!

But are you keeping them on the floor, or elevated?

On the floor= on the grass
I would hate if they were "caged"

 

[The-White-Elephant]

On the floor= on the grass
I would hate if they were "caged"

Ah, good! Then you shouldn’t really worry about them having bumboefoot. The males do crow often though. But it sounds nice

Be careful of too many males, they’ll “rip” the feathers off the females.

 

[Silkie Princess]

Ah, good! Then you shouldn’t really worry about them having bumboefoot. The males do crow often though. But it sounds nice

Be careful of too many males, they’ll “rip” the feathers off the females.

I might have to make a meal ot of the males if there will be too many Not the killing though

 

[The-White-Elephant]

I might have to make a meal ot of the males if there will be too many Not the killing though

Quails are tasty. But it’s 98% just breast meat

 

[Silkie Princess]

Ah, good! Then you shouldn’t really worry about them having bumboefoot. The males do crow often though. But it sounds nice

Be careful of too many males, they’ll “rip” the feathers off the females.

The crowing? No problem. I already have a restless rooster rock band

 

[Nabiki]

Pros:
Quiet unless you have unhappy boys
Will lay almost daily as long as they have at least 14-16 hours of light
Only need about 1 square foot per bird
Great if you live in a place that doesn't allow chickens
Poop is great for compost
Tasty
Quick to butcher/clean
Perfect single serving size

Cons:
Small eggs compared to chicken
Not a huge amount of meat
Poop machines
Will destroy any plants in their enclosure

You can find a lot of good information here, and if you have more questions, feel free to ask!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/quail.32/

 

[Silkie Princess]

Pros:
Quiet unless you have unhappy boys
Will lay almost daily as long as they have at least 14-16 hours of light
Only need about 1 square foot per bird
Great if you live in a place that doesn't allow chickens
Poop is great for compost
Tasty
Quick to butcher/clean
Perfect single serving size

Cons:
Small eggs compared to chicken
Not a huge amount of meat
Poop machines
Will destroy any plants in their enclosure

You can find a lot of good information here, and if you have more questions, feel free to ask!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/quail.32/

Thanks! I already have 45 chickens and a lot if roosters so noise level is not a problem

 

[FloorCandy]

Thanks! How many males can you keep together? They would have a nice large run...

I have 6 males in my long term male jail which is about 11-12 square feet, and I have 12 younger males in 24 square feet. Once I get more, I take them to the auction, but I had a predator strike and I’m still recovering, 12 males might get me $35 if I’m lucky, and that’s not worth a 2 hour drive each way to the auction. So they’ll be enjoying each other’s company for a while longer. You will want to keep extra boys separate from hens, and as dark as possible. They are less aggressive in low light and times of shorter days (winter) because it isn’t breeding season. My long term males live in a small hoop pen, and it’s covered in a sun reflective tarp, facing away from the sun, toward the woods. In winter I can plop new boys in, but in summer they sometimes team up on new boys. During summer they will designate one as the female lol.

 

[yakitori]

I'm going to maybe hatch quail this year!


I need birds that actually LAY eggs because I have a ton of broody bantams already


Soooo I'm thinking about Celadons and Pharaoh quail. Are they good layers? And what are the benefits of quail eggs?

I won't keep them for meat. But what to do with males? I will breed them but not over breeding. Do you just have to butcher the males? I could sell them but I'm afraid nobody will be interested And can you have batchelor pads? Or are they just too canibalistic?


And do you think a Serama-sized hen would hatch quail eggs without damaging them? Though I don't think I'll let her... I really want to hatch them myself


And are there any things I should know BEFORE getting them? I would hatch 15-20 eggs. They would be raised in a quail tractor in my backyard


Thanks!

omg omg omg I’m so excited for you!!!
please link me when you have a thread up

I haven’t had them too long, so I have a limited pros and cons list, haha.

Pros of coturnix quails:
- quiet (they make cute little piggy noises when I bring them food in the morning!)
- smaller footprint needed per bird
- lays eggs in just 2 months!
- will lay an egg every single day when conditions are ideal

Cons
- they. poop. so. much.
- Skittish. Even if you manage to get them to be somewhat tame, they will become skittish again after a few days of decreased interaction.
- will not return if accidentally let out of their enclosure