Thinking about raising quail but have some questions

[K813ZRA]

I have not had a quail egg in a number of years because to my knowledge there is nowhere around here to obtain them. However they were common place in the supermarket when I lived in Spain for a number of years. What to do about it, well, raise my own quail I guess. The thing is, that leaves me with a few questions. Yes, I did read the stickies.

I am looking at raising coturnix quail. While I would like to keep only a few around for some eggs it seems that it is simply easier to order 100 of the little buggers and oddly seems cheaper than ordering 5-6...So I guess some will become meat but that is besides the point. On to my questions.

First and foremost, my boss raises Bob White quail for hunting and he swears up and down that brooding quail is very difficult because if you look at them sideways they will die by the dozen. He specifically mentions noise. Slamming the door, dogs barking etc and his quail will drop dead. Is this an exaggeration? If it is not an exaggeration is it less or more of a worry with one breed over another?

Also, another question that I have seen asked but have never actually seen an answer too is how long will quail lay eggs? I see they have a life span 3-5 years and most people on these threads seem to say more like 2-3 but how well will they lay throughout their lifespan? Are they like chickens and slow down, drastically after the first year (after point of lay)?

I would love to buy less than 100 of them though... And local if possible but I can not seem to find anyone local(ish) so it would be a plus if anyone knew of any breeders in the NW PA or NE OH area that sells grown quail or chicks.

Anyway, thank you for any and all advice you might have to offer.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Sorry, I don't know the answers...

But I do see them for sell all the time on Craigslist farm and garden section. Maybe you can advertise and see if anyone wants to split an order. Might be worth it to get the large amount and be NPIP certified stock instead of back yard questionable stuff.

I would order from James Marie farms... but looks like their web site is down.

If you order hatching eggs instead of quail chicks you could always eat the extra eggs maybe?

Hope it's a great adventure for you! Gotta love the hypo allergenic eggs!

 

[K813ZRA]

Sorry, I don't know the answers...

But I do see them for sell all the time on Craigslist farm and garden section. Maybe you can advertise and see if anyone wants to split an order. Might be worth it to get the large amount and be NPIP certified stock instead of back yard questionable stuff.

I would order from James Marie farms... but looks like their web site is down.

If you order hatching eggs instead of quail chicks you could always eat the extra eggs maybe?

Hope it's a great adventure for you! Gotta love the hypo allergenic eggs!

Thanks. I thought about hatching eggs too but I do not have an incubator and then the cost is about the same with that added in. However, I guess I could hatch my own eggs in the future, which is not a bad thing!

I was looking at some hatcheries and oddly eggs sometimes seem to cost more than chicks. I found this true of chickens as well, for whatever reason.

I might just bite the bullet and get 100 from Cackle. I am always happy with my chicken orders through them.

Still curious how hardy the little buggers are in the brooder though. I don't want to shut the door and they drop like flies...

 

[feedman77]

As stated keep an eye on Craigslist.

Once I get them thru about 2 weeks old they are very hearty.

Have never had shipped chicks for quail but would think it would be stressful and you could have higher than normal losses.

Since you don't have incubator i would say eggs off ebay.

For chicks look at kc quail farm. They sell eggs out of James Marie farms birds

 

[JaeG]

The Coturnix are easy to hatch but you do get the odd one that doesn't recover from hatching and may die in the first few days. I generally find if they are doing a lot of loud peeping with their eyes closed the prognosis is not good. Bobwhites are a lot more wild and in some cases aggressive. I've read that they need more space in the brooder than Coturnix too or they will take to each other.

My birds were still laying just as well in their third year as in their first. That was before I had rats pulling them through the half inch hardware cloth (and the suckers had tried to bite through the galvanised wire but stopped after breaking a few tines - it must've been a bit tough on the teeth). So that was horrible. I do think giving them a winter break is important, otherwise they will burn out sooner. They need 12-14 hours of light to lay and the males also need that to be 'active' and crowing. After a year fertility does start to drop off and I tried hatching eggs from mine when they were 2 years old and got very few chicks.

If you want to keep a male give him at least 4 females as they can be quite aggressive in close quarters where the females are unable to get away and hide from him. The girls will be perfectly happy without a male though.

 

[Beer can]

I know nothing about quail either but am thinking of getting a bunch, the eggs look awesome, and been dreaming of jugs full of little bitty bite size pickled eggs lol.
Really liking the idea they grow so fast, mature in six weeks and laying in eight, ready to process for meat.
@EggSighted4Life I see those James Marie meat maker quail hatching eggs on Ebay a lot cheaper.

 

[K813ZRA]

Thanks everyone. Seems that I should be fine whichever route I take. I will watch craigs list and do some thinking on whether or not I just want to order a large number and eat the extras...quail is good. Lol.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I see those James Marie meat maker quail hatching eggs on Ebay a lot cheaper

Ya, Ebay isn't really my preferred source for hatching eggs, even though some have gotten good quality... many are not NPIP certified which I don't know if applies to quail or not. Not worth the risk to my flock, most of the time. Also, I rather buy from the source then somebody who may not have done a good quality selection or culling for specific faults of their original stock, if possible. But I guess it is all dependent upon your end goal. My thought process varies and changes from time to time, it seems!

I was looking at some hatcheries and oddly eggs sometimes seem to cost more than chicks. I found this true of chickens as well, for whatever reason.

Seems pretty stupid to me... but I have seen this as well.

Even if they were cheaper by the time you take into account hatch rate, (In the case of chicks) instead of getting sexed u get at least 50% male. Might as well get sexed pullets most the time for less hassle and about the same price.

Having the incubator for future purposes is always a good (and addictive) thing. (I might have 3, we don't talk #'s!)

Biting the bullet is probably a good choice. Maybe advertise for someone who will want some and lighten your load a little. Or even someone who will help you process them out when you are ready to downsize.

Maybe your friend doesn't have the right set up?? Everything I read said to ensure the top of the kennel was either low/high enough or had netting to stop the birds from hitting the ceiling when they get startled. Breaking your neck is pretty deadly I would think.

Which, by the way... If I knew it was startling that killed the bird, and I had my wits about me (and the skill)... I would process it instead of letting go to waste. Either for human or animal consumption. Takes getting a little hard core to think that way though, when things happen suddenly.

Hope your adventure goes awesome!

 

[K813ZRA]

Yeah, splitting an order should not be an issue. My grandfather and I already do that with Cornish X. He is my hunting/fishing/farm animal partner in crime! Grandpa got me into all of these animals at a very young age by going to live stock auctions etc. He is getting up there in age so maybe a large order of quail is a good adventure to undertake as getting out in the woods and or on the lake is getting more difficult! I can do most of the leg work.

As for the incubator...well, my mother has gotten into chickens as well as myself and ducks too. Now I am looking at quail. I think it is just a good idea to pick one up!

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[DaviJones]

I know nothing about quail either but am thinking of getting a bunch, the eggs look awesome, and been dreaming of jugs full of little bitty bite size pickled eggs lol.
Really liking the idea they grow so fast, mature in six weeks and laying in eight, ready to process for meat.
@EggSighted4Life I see those James Marie meat maker quail hatching eggs on Ebay a lot cheaper.

I had been wanting to get quail but I was afraid of upsetting my neighbor. I finally push the thought out of my mind and you come up with such an adorable and delicious idea that further tempts me! There's a special place in hell for people like you! (Sorry I'm joking that's an absolutely wonderful idea)