Quail for profit...

[ADVaughn]

Since the search function on my app isn't working...

I already have a small flock of chickens and they're just starting to lay. My wife and family are kinda whatever about it all. But my wife feels we might be able to make some money with a side business in quail. Perhaps a combo of selling and shipping fertilized eggs, eggs for food and mature birds for meat.

It doesn't seem like there are many sources for quail where I live. Is there really a potential market? I'm sure, like anything, it depends in part on what you out into it and marketing. Anyone tried this and succeeded? Failed? Thoughts? Go!!

 

[itsasmallfarm]

I know a few quail farmers just talked to them over the phone though. One guy raised his in cages while the other raised them cage free both raised for eggs and meat. Not sure how much they make though as there is a very little quail market here in western canada. The other guy i talked to raises bob white quail and chukkars for game farms as well as eggs and meat. I would love to get into quail but the only ones i can raise here are bob white quail with out a permit.

 

[ADVaughn]

I know a few quail farmers just talked to them over the phone though. One guy raised his in cages while the other raised them cage free both raised for eggs and meat. Not sure how much they make though as there is a very little quail market here in western canada. The other guy i talked to raises bob white quail and chukkars for game farms as well as eggs and meat. I would love to get into quail but the only ones i can raise here are bob white quail with out a permit.

I'm in Texas. There only four types of quail that require a permit to raise them.

 

[poultrymad]

There is a good market for quail. Just set your prices right and you will sell out.

 

[ADVaughn]

There is a good market for quail. Just set your prices right and you will sell out.

So, what is reasonable? I've seen the following for jumbo brown coturnix products:

Hatching eggs: $3.50 each
Infertile eggs: $0.35 each
Day-old chicks: $3.50 each
Mature hens: $15 each
Processed birds: $3.50 each.

Any of those unreasonably high or low?

 

[The Moonshiner]

No market for them here.
You'll really need to check the market thourly in your area.
I see them on CL here for around $3 per adults but....
I go to an auction once a month and they sell 300 to 400 each month. Mostly they can get $1 each for adults but a lot of times you can get some at the end for 75 or 50 cents each. Anything under full grown go for 50 cents.
Fertile eggs sell for 10 cents a piece.
You can't raise them cheaper then that.

 

[poultrymad]

Day old $1 then add $0.25 per week. Hatching Eggs $0.30 each.
the main thing is finding the type of market you have. I do well selling point of lay hens then cover costs on the Cocks. Some places have good eating egg markets, some God meat markets.

 

[MageofMist]

I raise and breed Painted Quail as a hobby and for the eggs, and I have gotten some profit out of selling some of the extra males that I didn't need for breeding as pets.

They are smaller than other quail and lay smaller eggs, but the eggs are still extremely tasty, a lot tastier than the Japanese quail eggs I brought at the market, but that is likely due to the different foods they eat. They are also prone to broodiness from my experience, even ones who I raised myself after hatching from an incubator want to sit on their eggs.

 

[ADVaughn]

Day old $1 then add $0.25 per week. Hatching Eggs $0.30 each.
the main thing is finding the type of market you have. I do well selling point of lay hens then cover costs on the Cocks. Some places have good eating egg markets, some God meat markets.

All in all, it takes volume to really make anything, especially at those prices. Finding the market may be the easiest task with a decent online presence. If it is just a supplemental hobby then the balance of time will be the biggest challenge.