Suburban Quail vs. Hens

[PepeDeSilva]

Hello everyone,
My background research keeps directing me to this forum so I figured I would just go ahead and join and ask the people directly! I'm looking for the opinion of some people who have raised both quails and chickens as backyard pets on which one they prefer.
My situation: growing up we always had 3-5 hens that free-ranged in the backyard. Loved taking care of them, eating the eggs, etc. Last year I bought my first house and planned to get some of my own, but I'm in a pretty dense suburb of Detroit. The local regulations (as I understand them) allow up to three hens as long as they are cooped up and you don't get any smell complaints from the neighbors. As I started planning for the spring I came across some posts about backyard quail and got very interested in them. It seems like they would solve a lot of my space and noise concerns and sidestep some of the local red-tape. However, since I've never interacted directly with quail I'm not sure entirely what to expect.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

If the hens have to be contained in a small space anyways, quail are a GREAT alternative. They will be much happier in little colonies confined long term than chickens. My males can be loud but usually only when they're alone and calling for girls to come find them, mine are pretty quiet otherwise. Quail hens make little soft clucky chicken, frog, and guinea pig noises, they are pretty great. I get an egg a day from most of them.

Feed is more annoying to procure. That's about the only downside IMO.

 

[igorsMistress]

I have both and they are each unique.

Quail aren't as noisy, they're terribly adorable and lay regularly once they get going. However, it's takes 5 quail eggs to equal 1 chicken egg and the taste is different. I can't explain it other than they have a slightly gamey richness. Excellent hard boiled and possibly pickled btw. I also think quail stink more than chickens. More foul smelling I guess. However, you can keep several more quail in the space you can keep just a few chickens. When the roosters crow they're no louder than local birds. Quail are mature at 9 weeks and begin to lay. Chickens take 6 months or so.

The plus side to chickens for me is their personality. They are hilarious in a way that quail aren't. I think because there aren't as many I get to know each flock member and have a different relationship with them than the quail.

It depends on what you want from your birds. Food, or pets with benefits.

 

[Halfpasthen]

I have zero experience or anything helpful to add. But I'm extremely interested in this topic. Hope you get some good advice that I can use.

 

[PepeDeSilva]

Thanks for the help everyone, I am going to go with the quail and I will keep people updated. The thought of tiny pickled eggs is too good to resist. I also have a lot of experience from work breeding superworms (it's a long story) so I'm hoping I can supplement a good portion of their food with live insects.
Guess I better get this coop finished.

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

Keep us posted, i loge seeing quail chicks and their houses.

The only thing I cannot agree with in what the others said is the noise, my male coturnix quails are so noisy, I can hear them crowing thru earplugs! They are kept in my loving room or porch though so close.
They are with my hens so not calling them. And on full moon nights they can crow all night! Their crows are piercing and super loud. still not NEAR as loud or irritating as chicken roosters though! And the other sounds they make are simply adorable.

The only downside I can think of is if you have to choose between quail and chickens is there is less variety for different breeds, and they do not live as long.

You can get 22 percent chick starter from tractor supply and supplement with insects, dried mealworms especially they love them! Thwy love herbs like parslwy. Orwgano, basil, etc too.

Thats all i feed mine and they have done wonderful on it. Gets the protein up to the right numbers.