Quail, which breed is right for me?

[Chicky Crazy]

I am interested in Quail, and although, I am uncertain how long it might be if I decide to get Quail, am wondering what breeds would be right for me? I don't know much about Quail, but would like a docile species that lays very well and that I could buy without getting licensed, (I live in Florida). If you could also list hatcheries that sell Quail with minimums around five, and shipping under $20 I would appreciate it.

 

[TwoCrows]

I would start with Coturnix Quail. They are a great beginner quail, are the most docile and friendly of the quail species, easy to raise and mature up very quickly.

You might order from James Marie Farms at jamesmariefarms.com He has the best quality birds in the land. Lots of members here have ordered from him before and have had great luck with healthy good quality birds. I don't believe he sells chicks however and you will need to incubate eggs instead. You might give him a call and chat with him about this.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Im in LA and also interested in messing with quail. Did you know that theyre eggs have serious pharmacutical value? Im getting my bird cage today!

 

[mixedUPturk]

I am interested in Quail, and although, I am uncertain how long it might be if I decide to get Quail, am wondering what breeds would be right for me? I don't know much about Quail, but would like a docile species that lays very well and that I could buy without getting licensed, (I live in Florida). If you could also list hatcheries that sell Quail with minimums around five, and shipping under $20 I would appreciate it.

I got my quail i went with texas a and m as how im going for health benifits with my eggs and theyre currently being used in cancer research. I have them in a brooder though, theyre super tiny blond things. Im very pleased with my purchase. I also found out that NPIP testing is free and my birds were tested, even though i bought local and were mostly safe of the flu, (to me is south LA) its good to have peace of mind that theyre safe to bring home.

 

[dc3085]

I got my quail i went with texas a and m as how im going for health benifits with my eggs and theyre currently being used in cancer research. I have them in a brooder though, theyre super tiny blond things. Im very pleased with my purchase. I also found out that NPIP testing is free and my birds were tested, even though i bought local and were mostly safe of the flu, (to me is south LA) its good to have peace of mind that theyre safe to bring home.

'Texas a&m' is a color not a species. Theyre just jumbo white coturnix.

 

[TwoCrows]

Quote: Congrats on your new birds!

 

[mixedUPturk]

Thanks for the congrats im still very happy! U know i dont want to be rude, so please from a questioning standpoint: it has been my understanding, as explained thoroughly by the breeder that i got them from, that my a and m Are a seperate breed. i have pure blood from the texan college, and theyre actually a cross of two Type of coturnix, the pharoh and the jumbo. At least thats what he said at the poultry swap. Arent there are like a dozen or so different sub-species of coturnix? I do alot of research on my animals so that i can provide for them to the best of my ability. I have specifically started to fool with the quail because of the pharmacutical value of the quail eggs, i dont keep birds for show or as pets per say.

 

[TwoCrows]

The Texas A&M quail has been developed by professors and extension specialists, including Fred Thornberry, from Texas A&M University. The quail was selectively bred during the early 1990’s in pursuit of a heavier muscled bird weighing around 10-13 ounces. The specialists also focused on developing a bird that would mature within 7 weeks. Regardless of the rumors, these birds are not a genetically modified or hybrid bird.

The Experiment Station researchers and Extension poultry science specialists sought to improve the quail industry by genetically enhancing the blood lines of selected heavier meat birds. The resulting Texas A&M Gourmet Quail were developed by Extension specialists, including Fred Thornberry, who received several eggs from a Japanese quail producer.

For 2 years and six generations, Thornberrys birds were crossbred with each other to eliminate carcass abnormalities and make them more uniform in size. These quail were genetically selected for large body size, conformation and increased meat yield at 6 to 7 weeks of age. With the goal of enhancing the quail for the gourmet industry, Thornberry was able to improve the birds breast musculature while maintaining their optimum egg production.

More recently, Extension specialist Lee Cartwright crossed the recessive white gene into the improved line to yield a large-bodied Japanese quail without the unappealing pigmentation in the skin and internal membranes.

 

[dc3085]

Thanks for the congrats im still very happy! U know i dont want to be rude, so please from a questioning standpoint: it has been my understanding, as explained thoroughly by the breeder that i got them from, that my a and m Are a seperate breed. i have pure blood from the texan college, and theyre actually a cross of two Type of coturnix, the pharoh and the jumbo. At least thats what he said at the poultry swap. Arent there are like a dozen or so different sub-species of coturnix? I do alot of research on my animals so that i can provide for them to the best of my ability. I have specifically started to fool with the quail because of the pharmacutical value of the quail eggs, i dont keep birds for show or as pets per say.

The original stock from the university is long gone. It has been "recreated" in recent years by a few breeders but the chances of your birds actually being related to the A&M birds is incredibly slim. There would be no way to tell any line of A&M from another so you could start a line from a couple of jumbo browns that are recessive white and work it out for a few generations then tell everyone they were the original line and who could prove it? As far as that goes the original "A&M" line was brown (the thornberry line). There is just a lot of scattered information and misinformation about them on the net and in the world. Most people also believe they have white meat. I've promised to continue eating them until I find with white meat, but I'm several hundred in and every last one has been dark meat. At any rate I'd have an even harder time believing they were from the original line given his lack of genetic knowledge of the species.

There are no subspecies of coturnix only different color phases. Some color phases possess genetic anomalies that prevent them from retaining certain characteristics (for example you can't breed certain color phases past a certain size and still have them breed true). These genetic anomalies are nothing more than the result of selective breeding, but often people inaccurately assume that they represent a different species or subspecies. Basically they're just color mutations, nothing more.

ETA the origin of the birds really plays little role in their potential for you so i wouldn't be too worried about where they came from. How you select your breeding stock from them in the future is really all that's important.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Thanks for the info! Im still very happy with my quail, i wouldnt change my purchase, although the guy may have lied about some things, he may have Needed to make the sale and mislead me, i was at a swap snd you never know why some things happen, although its probly his misinformation, if i were to guess, which is sad but also exactly why i take note to all of this that i can. Exactly y i joined BYC!

Also in case theyre sick i Alwaz Quarantine!