Hi Everyone. I’m new to the forum. I’m interested in keeping Coturnix quail primarily for egg laying and I have a few questions.
I’m in the UK and there are a few different colours available to buy as hatching eggs over the internet. I can’t find any breeders near to me to purchase adult birds from. I’ve been looking at the Jumbo/Giant Goldens and Jumbo Browns. Appearance wise I do prefer a speckled bird and for a beginner, I have read they are easier to sex.
Firstly does anyone breed Goldens and if so how big of a problem is the “lethal gene” and does it only affect some strains? If I were to buy hatching eggs that were labelled Jumbo Golden would I see a lower hatch rate that the other colours. (How many extra eggs should I buy or would you advise avoiding this colour strain)
Is there any difference in temperament between the regular sized birds and the Jumbo/Giant? Are the slightly larger birds more placid/less flighty and do they lay larger eggs? Do the jumbos lay as often as the regular size quail or has their breeding compromised egg laying for bird size?
The person that is selling the Goldens also sells the Texan A&Ms. I was thinking of maybe buying both and keeping them together. If these two colours mix do they throw a mixed colour bird or either one or the other.
Pen wise I was thinking a wire bottom , Total dimensions of 6’ long x 3’ deep x 18”high. With a 1’ x 3’ area at the end of the pen enclosed for a nest box. Wire on one long side and one end, with a solid back and roof. How many birds would live comfortably in a pen of this size? Would it be better to make a few smaller size pens as appose to one large? Would 1/2" by 1/2" weld mesh keep out foxes as we do get them in the garden?
Inevitably with hatching eggs myself, I’ll most likely be left with surplus males. Can they be kept in a bachelor pen until I decide what to do with them/ try to sell them. If they don’t sell the only thing that worries me is the ability to dispatch birds myself. I’m not sure if I could do it. I suppose I could take them to the local butcher/abattoir and ask them to process them for me, but I’m not sure if they would accept such a low number of animals from a hobby breeder.
Sorry so many questions.
Thankyou to anyone that can help.
I’m in the UK and there are a few different colours available to buy as hatching eggs over the internet. I can’t find any breeders near to me to purchase adult birds from. I’ve been looking at the Jumbo/Giant Goldens and Jumbo Browns. Appearance wise I do prefer a speckled bird and for a beginner, I have read they are easier to sex.
Firstly does anyone breed Goldens and if so how big of a problem is the “lethal gene” and does it only affect some strains? If I were to buy hatching eggs that were labelled Jumbo Golden would I see a lower hatch rate that the other colours. (How many extra eggs should I buy or would you advise avoiding this colour strain)
Is there any difference in temperament between the regular sized birds and the Jumbo/Giant? Are the slightly larger birds more placid/less flighty and do they lay larger eggs? Do the jumbos lay as often as the regular size quail or has their breeding compromised egg laying for bird size?
The person that is selling the Goldens also sells the Texan A&Ms. I was thinking of maybe buying both and keeping them together. If these two colours mix do they throw a mixed colour bird or either one or the other.
Pen wise I was thinking a wire bottom , Total dimensions of 6’ long x 3’ deep x 18”high. With a 1’ x 3’ area at the end of the pen enclosed for a nest box. Wire on one long side and one end, with a solid back and roof. How many birds would live comfortably in a pen of this size? Would it be better to make a few smaller size pens as appose to one large? Would 1/2" by 1/2" weld mesh keep out foxes as we do get them in the garden?
Inevitably with hatching eggs myself, I’ll most likely be left with surplus males. Can they be kept in a bachelor pen until I decide what to do with them/ try to sell them. If they don’t sell the only thing that worries me is the ability to dispatch birds myself. I’m not sure if I could do it. I suppose I could take them to the local butcher/abattoir and ask them to process them for me, but I’m not sure if they would accept such a low number of animals from a hobby breeder.
Sorry so many questions.
Thankyou to anyone that can help.
