"are quail worth it" seems to be a frequently requested topic, so I thought maybe we could all do a little quail math - post it on this thread - have it added to the sticky - and be able to refer people to it from time to time.
Sound good to anyone else?
I'll start.
This first bit I already posted a few months ago before I got quail.
Are Coturnix worth it for for me for eggs?
quail eat 1/2oz food per day
8 quail would eat 25lbs of food in 100 days (8 is how many I want)
25 lbs of game bird starter costs $9 locally
4 bags of food / year costs $36
quail hens lay about 200 eggs per year (conservative estimate, with supplemental light)
8 hens x 200 eggs = 1600 eggs / year
a chicken egg is equivalent to 3 to 5 quail eggs.
1600 eggs / 4 = 400 chicken egg equivalents per year
400 / 12 = 33.3 dozen egg equivalents
a dozen eggs at the store costs about $3
33.3 x 3 = $99.9
For a savings of $64 annually, I can have the excitement and pleasure of raising quiet birds in my own backyard!
(of course, this doesn't take into account the many other costs involved with keeping quail)
Second Section - all new and exclusive to BYC!
I was asked recently by my Partner "How many quail would we need to have to eat them regularly?"
This was a good question, and not one I had thought about much.
By the next evening I had the following info for him.
Incubator = 24-26 eggs max (brinsea mini eco)
assume hatch rate of approx 75%
= 18-20 quail every 18-20 days max production
4 quail per 2 person meal = 4-5 meal every 20 days.
or approx 7 quail meals a month
each hen = 1 egg/day
each egg lasts approx 14 days before incubation
2 hens lay 28 eggs in 14 days.
hens = 2 minimum with current incubator.
Each rooster needs >5 hens to prevent violence
Should try to prevent inbreeding
= 2 roosters, 12-16 hens optimum
12 hens lay 168 eggs in 14 days
with current incubator, eat 214 eggs, incubate 26 eggs, every 20 days.
= 18-20 quail and 214 eggs every 18-20 days.
approx 7 quail meals and 321 eggs a month.
(save eggs 2-3 days before incubation)
(eating eggs = 26 chicken egg equivalent/week)
(what we will have soon)
7 hens lay 98 eggs in 14 days
with current incubator, eat 114 eggs, incubate 26 eggs every 20 days
=18-20 quail and 114 eggs every 18-20 days.
approx 7 quail meals and 171 eggs a month
(save eggs 4 days before incubation)
(eating eggs = 14 chicken egg equivalent/week)
Theoretical section
12 hens lay 168 eggs in 14 days
with bigger incubator = 126 quail every 18-20 days
4 quail per 2 person meal = 31 meals every 20 days.
or approx 46 quail meals and 72 eggs a month
(we would be eating a lot of quail)
7 hens lay 98 eggs in 14 days
with bigger incubator = 73 quail every 18-20 days
4 quail per 2 person meal = 18 meals every 20 days
or approx 27 quail meals and 42 eggs a month
(still kind of a lot of quail to eat)
Now it's your turn - post the numbers on why quail is worth it (or not) for you!
Sound good to anyone else?
I'll start.
This first bit I already posted a few months ago before I got quail.
Are Coturnix worth it for for me for eggs?
quail eat 1/2oz food per day
8 quail would eat 25lbs of food in 100 days (8 is how many I want)
25 lbs of game bird starter costs $9 locally
4 bags of food / year costs $36
quail hens lay about 200 eggs per year (conservative estimate, with supplemental light)
8 hens x 200 eggs = 1600 eggs / year
a chicken egg is equivalent to 3 to 5 quail eggs.
1600 eggs / 4 = 400 chicken egg equivalents per year
400 / 12 = 33.3 dozen egg equivalents
a dozen eggs at the store costs about $3
33.3 x 3 = $99.9
For a savings of $64 annually, I can have the excitement and pleasure of raising quiet birds in my own backyard!
(of course, this doesn't take into account the many other costs involved with keeping quail)
Second Section - all new and exclusive to BYC!
I was asked recently by my Partner "How many quail would we need to have to eat them regularly?"
This was a good question, and not one I had thought about much.
By the next evening I had the following info for him.
Incubator = 24-26 eggs max (brinsea mini eco)
assume hatch rate of approx 75%
= 18-20 quail every 18-20 days max production
4 quail per 2 person meal = 4-5 meal every 20 days.
or approx 7 quail meals a month
each hen = 1 egg/day
each egg lasts approx 14 days before incubation
2 hens lay 28 eggs in 14 days.
hens = 2 minimum with current incubator.
Each rooster needs >5 hens to prevent violence
Should try to prevent inbreeding
= 2 roosters, 12-16 hens optimum
12 hens lay 168 eggs in 14 days
with current incubator, eat 214 eggs, incubate 26 eggs, every 20 days.
= 18-20 quail and 214 eggs every 18-20 days.
approx 7 quail meals and 321 eggs a month.
(save eggs 2-3 days before incubation)
(eating eggs = 26 chicken egg equivalent/week)
(what we will have soon)
7 hens lay 98 eggs in 14 days
with current incubator, eat 114 eggs, incubate 26 eggs every 20 days
=18-20 quail and 114 eggs every 18-20 days.
approx 7 quail meals and 171 eggs a month
(save eggs 4 days before incubation)
(eating eggs = 14 chicken egg equivalent/week)
Theoretical section
12 hens lay 168 eggs in 14 days
with bigger incubator = 126 quail every 18-20 days
4 quail per 2 person meal = 31 meals every 20 days.
or approx 46 quail meals and 72 eggs a month
(we would be eating a lot of quail)
7 hens lay 98 eggs in 14 days
with bigger incubator = 73 quail every 18-20 days
4 quail per 2 person meal = 18 meals every 20 days
or approx 27 quail meals and 42 eggs a month
(still kind of a lot of quail to eat)
Now it's your turn - post the numbers on why quail is worth it (or not) for you!
