Quail Processing **GRAPHIC PICS**

[becky3086]

My sons girlfriend who lives with us now asked me a few questions (she has never seen butchering of any kind before). She asked me if it bothered me when I killed them. I told her "every single time". She wanted to know if I got "grossed out" when gutting them, I told her I didn't but that the first cut into the cavity has the nastiest smell to it.
She wondered if we would eat them tonight and I told her no they had to rest a couple days. I found the fact that she watched me do some of it and her questions interesting.

I love my birds and take good care of them but they are always meat.

 

[Overeasyplz]

Quote:
OMG you are my friend in birds! I thought for sure I was one of the few who raised for pleasure AND meat.. I totally feel the same way. You are awesome for sharing! thanks very much!

 

[GraceAK]

How much do those quail dress out at?
How long do they take to grow out in full? I was thinking of raising some but the summer up here is only 12 weeks.

 

[CTChickenMom]

I've wanted to raise meat birds but we decided to get used to having our layers then try some meat birds later. I've never had quail before but the butchering process looks much simpler than doing chickens. So....you need to do a few more to make a 'chicken meal'. With the time saved (and feed I'm sure) the process seems worth it. Maybe I'll try quail instead of chickens for meat.

 

[Southerngirl]

Thank you soo much for the pics. This is our next meat adventure. In the last 2 years I have raised turkeys and broilers, quails and guineas are next! Which breed did you use? I am looking at the Jap Coturnix possibly.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

That was perfect thank you. I have my first batch of quail and too many boys. I have butchered chickens but it sure is nice to actually see the process with the quail.
I would never have thought of the soda bottle!

 

[becky3086]

I really don't know what the quail dress out at. I have never weighed them. These in the picture were the smaller males because I am keeping the large ones to breed with. These are corturnix. You can butcher them any time after about 8 weeks that you want so 12 weeks would be plenty of time. The soda bottle works great. I am trying to figure out something similiar for these roos that keep wandering around loose here(they are driving me crazy, they keep flying at me when I feed--if I find something you all will know, lol).
They are really tender and tasty great. My daughter swears they taste just like chicken but they really have a taste all their own.

I edited because I also wanted to mention that Phil and I usually eat three each at a meal, my daughter will eat one but she eats like a..well..bird, lol.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Thank you Becky,

I looked at this post and it was easy to process the 5 quail I needed to get done. I appreciated the visuals. I have processed chicken but it is always nice to see how to do something that is a little different.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I have done quail and I love them, and except the killing part, I even enjoy processing them, but I am not doing that now because I don't want to start making a bunch of cages/brooders. But I do wander if I would just make a bird trap and catch black birds, if the taste would be similar.

 

[Big George]

I raised and processed a hundred or so coturnix last year. I did scald before plucking and I think you might be happier with the results. Just takes a few seconds and dip dip. Anyway looks good and good luck.