Quail are not chickens!

[BastyPutt]

Thanks for writing this! Great information for anyone considering quail as an alternative to chickens. They are definitely not just quieter, smaller chickens! I started with coturnix because CA Valley quail are my ultimate goal and coturnix are a bit more beginner-friendly. But thankfully I knew going in that they have very different needs than chickens. And the complex rooster problem is why I have not started incubating yet... my fiancé and I have started discussing it, but I'm still hesitant, because you're absolutely right it's a different level of flock (covey) management responsibility.

What is CA Valley quail?

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

What is CA Valley quail?

California Valley quail

 

[BastyPutt]

California Valley quail
View attachment 3539820

Oh ho! The Elvis quail!

We used to have those running around about 8 years ago, wild. It was a wonder they survived with the cats in the neighborhood.

I didn't know you could raise them. I'll have research that a bit.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

Oh ho! The Elvis quail!

We used to have those running around about 8 years ago, wild. It was a wonder they survived with the cats in the neighborhood.

I didn't know you could raise them. I'll have research that a bit.

They're quite different to coturnix, because they're not good for eggs and I don't think I've heard of people eating them. They're more ornamental I guess you could say.

 

[BastyPutt]

They're quite different to coturnix, because they're not good for eggs and I don't think I've heard of people eating them. They're more ornamental I guess you could say.

This was going to be next question. Little utility, aside from bringing joy I suppose

 

[Oob Child]

California Valley quail
View attachment 3539820

They are so cute! Here's some photos of my quail
(Hercules,Spot and George)

 

[Nabiki]

Oh ho! The Elvis quail!

We used to have those running around about 8 years ago, wild. It was a wonder they survived with the cats in the neighborhood.

I didn't know you could raise them. I'll have research that a bit.

They also require a permit to keep and raise. In OR it might be that you just need a permit if you're going to sell them, but I'd have to look it up.

 

[BastyPutt]

They also require a permit to keep and raise. In OR it might be that you just need a permit if you're going to sell them, but I'd have to look it up.

I called the state recently. The "non native" species are allowable with a permit, which I verified that "cortunix" quail, in all varieties, are non native. I imagine since I used to see these running around they are native, and they specifically said Bob whites are native as well.

 

[Kimberoo]

I'm learning this but the opposite I had quail first and now raising chickens. One positive thing with quail is the quick timelines. By 6.5 weeks I have eggs with quail. Wild that I'll be waiting almost 6 months with my chickens. And quail were easy to sex but I found chicks much harder.

They are ridiculous to catch if they get out of the brooder though at least my chicken chicks were smart enough to associate being near me with treats.

 

[BastyPutt]

I'm learning this but the opposite I had quail first and now raising chickens. One positive thing with quail is the quick timelines. By 6.5 weeks I have eggs with quail. Wild that I'll be waiting almost 6 months with my chickens. And quail were easy to sex but I found chicks much harder.

They are ridiculous to catch if they get out of the brooder though at least my chicken chicks were smart enough to associate being near me with treats.

Yes to all of this. I am excited about a quicker moving production cycle. Far, far better feed conversion with quail initially. It would be interesting to see dressed weight with a quail and the associated food cost, compared to a broiler chicken. Comparatively, the chicken seemed to eat way more.

Gosh - multiple times I thought - why am i chasing this single ounce bird around like a madman, about 100 times this weekend. I nearly said forget it. I thought I'd leave it alone and maybe, like a chicken, it would try to get back into the brooder at some point. Wrong.

I had to go to the store and buy a fishing net. I have one, but the holes are too big. All and all, it was a resolve tester. No doubt.