Tatanka Breeders Club: Meat Quail project with history, discussion, pictures and videos

[dt1958]

Nice size hen, and laying a nice size egg as well !

 

[MobyQuail]

got some more nice layers coming along almost ready to set some of these for a fall hatch.
these are 15g+




gave these to a friend in trade for some chestnuts. carton weighs 55g. eggs avg 14.6g

 

[SSTupperware]

Nice eggs, last I traded I got lobster tail.... mine seem to 12.5 mostly...

 

[speedy2020]

What is the largest quail size egg that you guy/gal got it to hatch?

 

[AfricanDream]

Greetings from Africa. I want to thank everyone here for being prepared to share your knowledge. I've been breeding these little birds for just over a year now and could not get any help or ideas from any breeders, especially commercial guys. Unfortunately in South Africa we have very limited bloodlines( most seem to originate from one original importer). Most of these birds are small with the Browns average 200g at 8 weeks and the Goldens at 180g. They have been bred just for the sake of multiplication as the meat market with such small birds are very limited.
From the start I've been trying to get my little ones bigger. After reading this thread and re-reading some parts again and again, I decided to get weighing in my cages. I found only 3 hens( 195,220,222g) and one roo(188g) at 42 days. Seems I'm still a long way of. At least about 50% of the eggs my hens lay are now 12g.I have just set 52 of these so lets see.

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

it may take u a few years but i think it will be worth it for u... if u are the only breeder breeding for size i think once u got larger birds you would pro have a great market for them... if you have limited bloodlines to work with i would start breeding 2 or 3 lines and keep them separate and then cross them every 3 or 4 years to avoid inbreeding to bad...

Greetings from Africa. I want to thank everyone here for being prepared to share your knowledge. I've been breeding these little birds for just over a year now and could not get any help or ideas from any breeders, especially commercial guys. Unfortunately in South Africa we have very limited bloodlines( most seem to originate from one original importer). Most of these birds are small with the Browns average 200g at 8 weeks and the Goldens at 180g. They have been bred just for the sake of multiplication as the meat market with such small birds are very limited.
From the start I've been trying to get my little ones bigger. After reading this thread and re-reading some parts again and again, I decided to get weighing in my cages. I found only 3 hens( 195,220,222g) and one roo(188g) at 42 days. Seems I'm still a long way of. At least about 50% of the eggs my hens lay are now 12g.I have just set 52 of these so lets see.

 

[speedy2020]

Greetings from Africa. I want to thank everyone here for being prepared to share your knowledge. I've been breeding these little birds for just over a year now and could not get any help or ideas from any breeders, especially commercial guys. Unfortunately in South Africa we have very limited bloodlines( most seem to originate from one original importer). Most of these birds are small with the Browns average 200g at 8 weeks and the Goldens at 180g. They have been bred just for the sake of multiplication as the meat market with such small birds are very limited.
From the start I've been trying to get my little ones bigger. After reading this thread and re-reading some parts again and again, I decided to get weighing in my cages. I found only 3 hens( 195,220,222g) and one roo(188g) at 42 days. Seems I'm still a long way of. At least about 50% of the eggs my hens lay are now 12g.I have just set 52 of these so lets see.

It is possible that the feed. We feed them very high 28-30 % protein here. What do feed them over there?

 

[AfricanDream]

The best I can do feed wise is 22% protein with an Ostrich pre-starter. I am looking into getting my hands on Turkey feed or possibly having my own feed mixed to increase to at least 26%. I also have very weak hatches... I've never achieved more than 40% hatch rate. Could this also be due to the low protein?

In the mean time I'm looking into importing hatching eggs from you guys in the States so that I can make sure I have more than just one bloodline to breed from. For now I'm still just working through the bureaucracy to find the requirements. My dream would have been to become a Tatanka steward but that would be impossible as we have Avian Influenza in South Africa, so no birds or eggs from here will be allowed in to the USA.

 

[speedy2020]

The best I can do feed wise is 22% protein with an Ostrich pre-starter. I am looking into getting my hands on Turkey feed or possibly having my own feed mixed to increase to at least 26%. I also have very weak hatches... I've never achieved more than 40% hatch rate. Could this also be due to the low protein?

In the mean time I'm looking into importing hatching eggs from you guys in the States so that I can make sure I have more than just one bloodline to breed from. For now I'm still just working through the bureaucracy to find the requirements. My dream would have been to become a Tatanka steward but that would be impossible as we have Avian Influenza in South Africa, so no birds or eggs from here will be allowed in to the USA.

The climate over there is very hot with low humidity so many factors contribute to the problem. The weather here (Washington) is getting cold at night. My quail currently eating, laying, and mating much less. As far as import go, it hard to import or export bird due to the law restriction. Good luck for what you plan to do.

 

[chickvic]

where can i get a start in these quail now that i joined the site here can any one offer me some eggs ?