Quail now or wait for spring?

[rcstanley]

I have finally finished building my quail abode. I'm trying to decide if I should get coturnix quail now or wait for spring. Obviously, now would be great, but I'm not planning on providing artificial lighting and it snows here. From what I've read, if I got adult birds, I'd only have about 2 months of eggs before the quail take their break. However, I'd be set up for spring with eggs once it gets warm. There's also good deals now on adult birds as people thin their flocks for winter.

If I wait until spring, I don't have to take care of them over this winter. I'd have the whole summer to work out the quirks of caring for quail. I'd probably have to start with chicks, but in the spring, I'd be OK with that.

What would you do?

 

[dpenning]

Being an instant gratification kinda girl I would get them now. I wondered where you were saying winter is coming... In Texas we are just ramping up for the worst of the heat! When I started my quail experience I ordered hatching eggs online. It is incredible how fast they grow and mature. Really up to you if you want to do maintenance in the winter months if you get adults now you could start enjoying the eggs and it would be interesting to see how they did over the winter, and be ready to hatch your own early in the spring. I'd go for it.

 

[Dani xxx]

I got mine in November last year as I didn't want to wait till following spring but I did have to wait about 7 months for my first egg but it was worth it. I did have a few issues as a neighbours cat killed 2 of my girls but after some run enhancement all was fine. Other issue was one girl got attacked by another female so was removed once healed put her back but was being chased so the bad quail was put in solitary confinement for a week and put back and no issue since. Next issue was when came into spring male started chasing girls to try and mate them took about a week for them to calm down and allow him to mate them so I had to add netting to the roof of the run as the girls were flying upwards and 2 girls hurt their beak area they are all fine now.

 

[birdmandan]

My eggs hatched in the middle of winter. They are doing fine now. 95% of people cannot wait for 3 months when they are all equiped and roaring to go. People are impulsive. That is why there are so many tattoo removal shops.