Quail Beginner Questions

[2boys1homestead]

Alright, so I've never raised quail, but I was thinking about it because why not. We're working toward the whole "homesteading" and self sufficiency thing and I would like to eat something other than chicken and pork for the rest of my life.

Anyway, back to business.

1) Do you know of any good books on raising quail?

2) Are they particularly hard to breed or will they go "broody" easily? I imagine they do since they are game birds.

3) Why are all quail pens not on the ground? If I protect them with hardware cloth, can they have a patch of dirt like chickens?

4) 8 weeks to eating size right?

5) Any special considerations? Are they particularly difficult in any way?


Thanks for all your help everyone! You guys are great!

 

[The Quail Guru]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2boys1homestead

Alright, so I've never raised quail, but I was thinking about it because why not. We're working toward the whole "homesteading" and self sufficiency thing and I would like to eat something other than chicken and pork for the rest of my life.

Anyway, back to business.

1) Do you know of any good books on raising quail?
I'm not sure of any good books but there's plenty of helpful info online.
2) Are they particularly hard to breed or will they go "broody" easily? I imagine they do since they are game birds.
Depends on the breed. I find coturnix and button quail go broody easily. I actually have a pair of button that keep hatching out batches of chicks that I had to stop them.
3) Why are all quail pens not on the ground? If I protect them with hardware cloth, can they have a patch of dirt like chickens?
If your talking about wire cages it's because quail poo is high in ammonia which can cause a lot of problems. That's why the bedding is underneath the cage so the dropping just fall and it is easy to clean. It's your choice whether you want them in wire cages or not, just make sure the holes in the wiring aren't too big so that the quail's feet can slip through.
4) 8 weeks to eating size right?
I don't keep quail for meat so I'm not so sure about this but I know that coturnix mature at about 8 weeks.
5) Any special considerations? Are they particularly difficult in any way?
I don't think quail are so difficult, it depends how you raise/care for them. Besides, many people get quail because they are 'easy' birds to care for. As a beginner I had a lot of problems with quail but I think that was just because I didn't know anything about quail and treated them as if they were just like chickens.

Thanks for all your help everyone! You guys are great!

 

[kingmt]

Coturnix are easy for most people & reach their peak at 8 weeks of food to meet ratio. But I actually like to wait 10-12 for a better tasting bird. Letting a bird be broody is counter productive since you want them laying every day. It isn't likely to happen anyway.

 

[James the Bald]

Alright, so I've never raised quail, but I was thinking about it because why not. We're working toward the whole "homesteading" and self sufficiency thing and I would like to eat something other than chicken and pork for the rest of my life.

Anyway, back to business.

1) Do you know of any good books on raising quail?

2) Are they particularly hard to breed or will they go "broody" easily? I imagine they do since they are game birds.

3) Why are all quail pens not on the ground? If I protect them with hardware cloth, can they have a patch of dirt like chickens?

4) 8 weeks to eating size right?

5) Any special considerations? Are they particularly difficult in any way?


Thanks for all your help everyone! You guys are great!

2B1H, Here are some answers to your questions. While you didn't say, I'm assuming you mean Coturnix Quail.
1. Here is a great book for raising quail. You may think it's pricey, but it covers everything.
2. I've raised quail for going on 3 years, and I have never had a hen go broody.
3. It's a preference. Some want to kep their quail on the ground. I keep mine in cages on 1/2" x 1" welded wire (which is pretty sturdy) with a drop pan below the cage to collect droppings for my compost pile. I have a tractor (similar to this one) that I put my quail in when I clean their cages. I move it from place to place, and they like to "scratch" the grass.
4. Coturnix, yes. I keep my hens foe eggs and butcher the males. Bobwhites a little longer.. I think 26 weeks, but it's been a while.
5. Considerations...

• Read as much as you can before you buy any eggs.
• And get those eggs from a reputable breeder.
• OH, and be prepared to make more cages than you think you will need because once your have your own hens, you will want to incubate your own eggs and raise more and more.... and more.
• Use the search tool at the top of the page to find the answers to any questions you may have

Good luck guys,
James

Edited to add: One issue with any cage that is kept outside and on the ground are the many critters that also have a taste for quail... raccoons, stray cats, hawks, owls, fox, coyotes, etc. The quail are at the levels of the predator, and can easily reach in and kill a quail.

 

[kingmt]

I forgot to tell you keeping quail on wire helps protect them from parasites also.