Quail?

[SummerHill202]

Does anyone know if quail are worth it? Are they expensive to keep? I'm more interested in them for eggs and as a hobby.

 

[HUGHES555]

I really enjoy them. I believe they are worth it. But if you are keeping for eggs get yourself a pair of quail scissors. They are a must for cracking the eggs.

 

[Dani xxx]

I have them for eggs and as pets and I love them ! X they are pretty cheap really if you buy all the essentials in big bags e.g. Food, sand for dust baths, mealworms & bird seed (optional )and fine oystershell & grit. My biggest expense was the chicken coop they are in but I got a eglu from omlet website as will last forever, mites can't live in it as plastic and looks good but

most people use rabbit hutches with few problems. There are lots of pictures if you search quail housing
This is my quails house

 

[007Sean]

Does anyone know if quail are worth it? Are they expensive to keep? I'm more interested in them for eggs and as a hobby.

Depends on what you mean by "is it worth it?" As a hobby, it can get expensive, because your going to want more and more as time goes by....it also depends on how many different species you want to keep/raise. Some species of quail are expensive...as in purchasing, time wise and special demands of the species:ie; Mearns quail, Bensons quail.
If you just want eggs, the Coturnix quail will be your best bet.
If you only want a few birds, then it won't be too expensive but then again, that depends on what you think is or isn't expensive? Is it worth it? YES

 

[SummerHill202]

Thank you! I was completely unaware of scissors for quail eggs.

 

[SummerHill202]

Thank you! Your quail house is amazing! A rabbit hutch sounds like a perfect idea for my yard.

 

[SummerHill202]

Thank you for your response! I've done a little research on coturnix quail and I think that's what I'll be getting.

 

[DanielleInUro]

I'm a few months in, and I absolutely love it. I got into them for meat and eggs (ducks were my gateway drug, but I'd eat my own feet before I'd eat a duck) and the ease of keeping them alive and happy plus the reward of sitting in my aviary surrounded by happy little puffballs and then the deliciousness of the eggs and the meat...I can't believe I didn't do this sooner.

 

[cornsmack]

Thank you for your response! I've done a little research on coturnix quail and I think that's what I'll be getting.

I have a pair of coturnix quail that are almost two weeks in now. Before I raised other poultry such as chickens, ducks, pheasants and geese.

The quail chicks were in sort of rough shape when I got them so it's been a lot of work just to get them healthy, but I think if you got them from a reputable breeder it would probably be a lot easier. Right now, I feel like I have spent more work on these birds, then any more other poultry I have raised

Honestly though, I prefer my birds more tame and less skittish, so if you are looking for a small poultry that is super easy to raise I would actually suggest bantam chickens, I used to raise rosecombs, buff brahma bantams, and mille fleur bantams. All small birds, around quail size, and in my opinion much easier to raise, more friendly, and all mine were decent egg layers

 

[Irajoe]

I enjoy reading the opinions..for our family it's altogether worth it. I've never done a cost analysis but consistently read that quail are more efficient egg producers than chickens. Regardless, our coturnix quail are very interesting, hardy and curious birds - - a great addition to our farm.