Questions From A Total Newb On Quail

[NeilV]

I've got laying hens and bees, but have never hatched anything out and never had quail. I am interested in quail as a way to raise my own meat. I've looked at rabbits, but they are just too dadgum cute for my wife to ever eat them. I live in town, and don't want to have a rooster, so I can't raise my own meat chickens. I'd like to have something that I can raise myself from scratch without relying on a hatchery. So quail might work.

My questions:

1. Are there any decent quail books or other resources like a Storey's Guide?

2. If you were getting an incubator that would be just for quail (since I have no roosters, I won't be hatching any chickens) what would you get?

3. Do people use movable pens for quail, like a "chicken tractor", only smaller?

4. What breed would you recommend for a beginner?

Thanks,

Neil

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:

 

[Rozzie]

Be aware (since you are in town) that male coturnix do crow. Some of them crow constantly. Very loudly. Others are much quieter and crow less often.

If in town, you may need to have them inside a concrete bunker...or at least your house. Depends on where you live and how many birds you are talking about.

 

[Wifezilla]

I live in the burbs and even though I have one loud crower, it still isn't nearly as loud as the neighbors dogs.

As for a tractor, it could be done but you would need the top to be something that wont cause a flushing quail to scalp itself. As for diseases of quail on the ground, it may depend more on region. Quail are natural ground dwellers and evolved to live on the ground. Mine are much happier, and appear to be healthier on the ground. Better feathering, more "natural quail" behavior, less broken feathers, a little more weight on them, etc...

But there are areas where diseases are in the soil and that is something you will have to consider.

I was going to tractor my quail until someone gave me a free dog kennel. That got converted in to a quail pen instead.

 

[Denninmi]

You said that rabbits are too cute.

Be aware that Coturnix quail are adorable, friendly, and have a sweet temperment. I know a lot of people eat them. But, there is a lot of pet potential there as well. You may end up with pets. At least you can eat the excess eggs if nothing else.

 

[kingmt]

Quote:
Click Here
Quote:
Need more info like how much you want to spend.
Quote:
Some but i would not for reasons already explained.
Quote:
Coturnix(Jumbo Brown). They are easy to raise, more meat, faster turn around, less cost, hardier(I'm told), easy to sex(process the males before they become noisy teenagers), & this is the only quail I have experince with.



Quote:
With my roos the ones with females rarely make any noise. The roos separated from females start crowing when they reach breading age. This is a good time for me to process them.

 

[Rozzie]

Quote:
Mine are all pets. Well, that and egg layers.

 

[pascopol]

Do not worry about coturnix roosters crowing. Anybody comparing coturnix crow to a chicken rooster,s crow or saying "they are really loud" must never be near by live chicken roo crowing. LOL

Cockatiels or Lovebirds are much noisier than coturnix roo "crow". (I have both).

Coturnix crow does not resemble chicken roosters crow neither in volume or tone, is more like chirping with no musical sound to it of all.

It sounds kinf of CHOK-AR-A-CHORPRPR, I doubt if it can be hear through closed window.

Anyway even if your neighboors will be able to hear coturnix "crowing" they will never perceive is as "crow" per se.

More likely they may ask whot kind of exotic bird sing like that?

Chosing coturnix for meat is very smart, they are the fastest growing birds, much better meat like chickens and they do not get tough with age, also eggs are plenty and deliciously nutricious and they hatch easy in only 17 days!

COTURNIX QUAIL RULES!

Yes Brinsea ECO is foolproof as much as an incubator can be, also less expensive than some styrobators.

 

[Robo]

My neighbor still thinks I have mockingbirds in my pine trees that surround the chicken and quail areas. My neighbors have chickens too so he has no idea, and he thinks I am growing tomatoes in the brooder. If he would ask I would tell him. There must be over a hundred mocking birds in those trees.

 

[joe125]

Actually, a coturnix roo crow is about the same decibel level as a chicken roo crow. It is just not as distinct, and is usually not banned by county, or city restraining orders. It is also confused by folks (Not in the Know) as wild local birds.

Put a lonely coturnix roo in your bedroom, or just outside your window, and then tell me they are not "LOUD"! They also don't grow to 16+ oz. but that's another myth I'm fighting.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for coturnix! They are just neither quiet, nor grow to 1+ pounds. They are exactly what they are...nothing more!

I have yet to find or build the perfect incubator, so I capitulate to others suggestions. I can tell you an incubator that is not good for incubating quail, but that would start a fight, so I won't.

You can do movable pens if you like...I mean... if you like moving pens. You eventually have to move pens or poo. The choice is yours

Species recommendations, are a total value judgment! It depends on what you are looking for. I'm partial to coturnix, because they suit me well.