Thinking about getting quail

[Duck_life]

I'm looking for a long living breed, well egg production (if they lay, I read they do) And good personality. I want 50 quail, mostly for pets but also to have for enjoyment, I find them entertaining and such sweet birds. I want to build a run this winter and get them whenever I can.. maybe a juvenile set but if I have to get chicks I will. What would you say the best breed of quail is?

 

[Quailobsessed]

I would recommend coturnix/japanese quails. They have a very good egg production and are not hard to tame in my experience. The only downside, they are only supposed to live for a couple of years, though I suppose it depends on how they're cared for and what they're used for (meat, eggs, breeding...).

California or bobwhite quails are also good, however they really need to be raised from chicks to make good pets. They also don't do very well in large groups as they can be quite aggressive so you'd need a huge enclosure.

King quails are very cute, but probably won't be ideal for what you're after as they're very flighty, small and generally not tame.

I have all four species and find them good for different reasons. My californias and bobwhites are more for eye candy, I don't handle them very often. My kings are in pairs for breeding and mostly hands-off admiring. My japs are the ones I hold the most and are also good for breeding. Like you I keep mine for pets and enjoyment more than anything else. Hope this is helpful.

 

[Duck_life]

I would recommend coturnix/japanese quails. They have a very good egg production and are not hard to tame in my experience. The only downside, they are only supposed to live for a couple of years, though I suppose it depends on how they're cared for and what they're used for (meat, eggs, breeding...).

California or bobwhite quails are also good, however they really need to be raised from chicks to make good pets. They also don't do very well in large groups as they can be quite aggressive so you'd need a huge enclosure.

King quails are very cute, but probably won't be ideal for what you're after as they're very flighty, small and generally not tame.

I have all four species and find them good for different reasons. My californias and bobwhites are more for eye candy, I don't handle them very often. My kings are in pairs for breeding and mostly hands-off admiring. My japs are the ones I hold the most and are also good for breeding. Like you I keep mine for pets and enjoyment more than anything else. Hope this is helpful.

Which breed would you say lives the longest? My dad has bobwhites and said they only live for 6 months, I have been looking into corturnix quail, very pretty.

 

[muddy75]

i agree coturnix would be your best option....even in large groups, they are sweet and will do almost anything for treats!! depending on your area, it may be difficult to find that many chicks or juveniles locally...... @Myshire Farm Quail (where I have gotten most of my hatching eggs) does ship live birds and is located in ohio so may be a good source for you.

 

[Quailobsessed]

I've heard that californias and bobwhites can live for several years. I don't know exactly how long, I haven't had mine for long enough to know. I would still recommend coturnix.

 

[Maiahr]

Having 50 birds of any kind for pets? I have 50 chicken and some quails but unless you are full time engaged with them they won't become peaceful and cheerful as a cat or a dog. Quails are wild by nature (way more than chicken) and if you don't spend much time with them, they'll be wild... Plus they smell more than chicken and males fight more than chicken (my experience). I have read they can live up to 6-8 years but egg production drops after the first year. The only benefit is that females (and happy males) are quiet.

 

[Duck_life]

Having 50 birds of any kind for pets? I have 50 chicken and some quails but unless you are full time engaged with them they won't become peaceful and cheerful as a cat or a dog. Quails are wild by nature (way more than chicken) and if you don't spend much time with them, they'll be wild... Plus they smell more than chicken and males fight more than chicken (my experience). I have read they can live up to 6-8 years but egg production drops after the first year. The only benefit is that females (and happy males) are quiet.

Not necessarily as pets, but something that is used to me, or friendly towards people.

 

[Maiahr]

Not necessarily as pets, but something that is used to me, or friendly towards people.

I only have Coturnix quail so I cannot compare with other types of quail and I wouldn't recommend them as pets especially so many. If they are a couple it would be much easier to break them. Have you considered pheasants?

 

[Maiahr]

But again, I cannot compare different breeds of quail..

 

[CindyinSD]

People seem to love button quail for pets, but if it’s eggs you’re interested in, Coturnix are likely your best bet to start out with. Button eggs are too small to conveniently use for food. Most quail are seasonal layers and eggs are often too valuable to eat. Cots lay as long as the days (or light supplementation) remain around 12 hours or longer. They are also a good choice for meat production. They’re usually kept in cages and only seldom go broody, but some folks do make runs and aviaries for them and see the occasional broody hen. They should be kept in a building such as a barn, three-sided shed, coop or similar in cold winters, sheltered from wind, rain, snow etc.

This is basically a book report of things I’ve learned from the quail hatch along thread and “Slightly Rednecked” YouTube channel. Quail are still an aspiration for me... in spring, if we have one ever again...