timing replacement quail?

[simplyscrambled]

So I've read here that people replace their quail after 8 months to keep up the egg production. I was thinking that I could hatch a new 'batch' every Spring to replace them, but then my 'old' birds would be around 1 year old. Could I still process them or would they be too tough?

Thanks!

 

[thebirdfarm]

They can become a little tougher with age, but that is actually why I like to raise quail over chickens is that when they are older and you butcher them they are still quite tender and taste great.