Question....Why the desire to hatch and raise quail???

[Pick-a-LilyFarm]

This may sound stupid, but I am wondering why so many people raise quail? What do you do with them. Is it because they are cute? Do you raise them as pets, or food? Maybe I am missing out on something really good, so please explain

 

[NashChic]

I think many raise them for food (eggs & meat). My husband wants me to hatch some for him. He was raised on a ranch in TX and misses the soothing sounds they make. We'll be keeping them as pets and use the eggs. That's my interest in quail. I'm curious to see what others say.

 

[sandyj]

I don't know about eating the bird itself, but the eggs are delicious!

sandyj

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

"buffalo" quail leg 1/4's

Steve in NC

 

[AHappychick]

food, eggs, and because they are cute

I don't really consider them pets like I do my chooks though but they are pretty cool. I have heard if handled enough they can have a similar personality to chickens. Mine see to like and trust me. I can open their cages and they wont fly out and are calm when I reach in to get one or grab the eggs. when they are injured and I care for them they seem grateful and enjoy being held, when they are all better they are a little more frisky but still sweet. The most common injury is having a mean or badly balanced roo that pulls to hard on them when mating causing the skin to rip at the head. I fix with the proper stuff and pull the mean ones and cull, so it does not happen often. They are pretty easy to care for and fun to hatch, so small.

 

[Isablahblah]

I love the meat, eggs and for fun i love hearing them sing!

 

[luvarabhorses]

We keep quail because we like to listen to them. We only have 6 Bobs. I hope to have more Gambels some day but it is more of an investment thing. Gambels are nuts!

 

[monarc23]

The original reason I got coturnix was for training my cocker spaniel puppy on.... then I started seeing how pointless it was as the birds were too tame in most cases (wouldnt flush and the puppy would almost hurt them). So I ended that reason almost immediatly and started looking into the genetics of them and that sparked my desire to get other colors. I personally breed for genetic reasons, I sell eggs to pay for their feed and excess birds are either sold or culled for us to eat (rarely as I'd rather feed them to my dog) she gets them as a raw suppliment.


So my main reason... Genetics. I have various colors and patterns

 

[Emilys3guppies]

Oh Steve...those look like they'll be delish!! How many birds contributed to that meal?

My reasons for keeping quail are a few...I originally wanted chickens but my town doesn't allow that. So, in my search for a legal bird that can be used for meat, eggs and entertainment, I came across quail.

They are small, perfect for an urban setting. I'll get edible eggs and meat. They're my ideal pet, from the sounds of it.

 

[NewToQuail]

I'm raising mine as pets. I love birds and quail seemed easier to keep in a suburban area than chickens.

I don't eat meat, and could never eat something that I raised, so that's out of the question. I guess I'll use the eggs, but I don't even like eggs, so who knows.