To quail, or not to quail?

[quailmama 82012]

I love my quail. I am still a beginner, but I have had so much fun with them. They are so cute, and mine have finally started to lay eggs, which are cute looking too.
( mostly because they are so little)
They sound cool, and aren't super loud. I agree with everything everyone else has said!! Quail all the way!

 

[BFen]

I raise them for meat and eggs, and the eggs, while smaller, are extremely dense, and packed with vitamins. They are very easy to process. I can process one bird in about 3 minutes. There are many different colors, too.

This is very helpful, thank you!

 

[BFen]

Absolutly ... I can only agree to the posts before.

But you need a bit more attention and patience to get them tame.
Most chicken races getting much faster tame.

But again, they are adorable birds.

Just see the following pics:

View attachment 2123672

View attachment 2123673

View attachment 2123677

Really cute ... I love these birds ❤

Aww they are so precious!!

 

[MJ8]

Like others have said, quiet and you can have them in a suburban yard and no one knows. You can keep the roosters with the flock because the eggs don't develop and when you want more, you can incubate. They produce eggs the entire span of their lives. They arent as pet-like as chickens but I already have dogs and cats that need attention so I'm OK with them not needing me. They love new hay and meal worms and I enjoy them being happy.

 

[BFen]

Like others have said, quiet and you can have them in a suburban yard and no one knows. You can keep the roosters with the flock because the eggs don't develop and when you want more, you can incubate. They produce eggs the entire span of their lives. They arent as pet-like as chickens but I already have dogs and cats that need attention so I'm OK with them not needing me. They love new hay and meal worms and I enjoy them being happy.

This sounds great and is really making me want some quail!

 

[Quailobsessed]

This sounds great and is really making me want some quail!

If you were to get quail, do you know what species you want?

 

[BFen]

I'm not sure. What do you recommend?

 

[Claire A]

Hi All,

I was just wondering why people love quail? I have chickens and love them so much. They are so fun to watch and keep me occupied, esp. during these tough times. Plus, I love fresh eggs. Eggs are my favorite food, since they can be used in so many different ways. It got me thinking, would I love quail? What does everyone love about their quail?

Thanks,
BFen

Hi BFen,

I have both chickens and quail. Whilst my Pekins definitely have more personality, I have tamed my quail and some even fly to my hand

I love them both - for different reasons. I can say the quail are easier. They lay more consistently than the bantams - even if I do have to go in search of the eggs in the run. They are quieter and I can have males to hatch chicks - I am not allowed a roo here

I do not have to deal with broody hens - or making sure I am home to shut them in at night.

Hope this helps

 

[Quailobsessed]

I'm not sure. What do you recommend?

I would recommend japanese quails.

Here are a few reasons why.

1. They're good layers and their eggs are a decent size (compared to tiny king quail eggs. I eat their eggs too, but most people consider them too small). It takes roughly four eggs to equal the size of a chicken.

2. They're one of the most common species, so it should be pretty easy for you to find a breeder.

3. They can be used for meat. I don't use mine for meat, but plenty of people do. I don't know if you wanted them for meat or not.

4. They make good pets. They're less skittish than most other species, and they can be tamed without too much trouble. They're a decent size to have as a pet (whereas king quails are way smaller).

5. They come in a wide range of colours.

This would be my first suggestion, but it really depends on what you want them for (meat, eggs, pets...). I have owned four different species, and I think they're good for different reasons. For example, king quails and california quails are generally ornamental birds, but japanese and bobwhites are commonly used for meat and eggs.

In the end, it's up to you. If you have any more questions about choosing the species, or anything else quail related, feel free to ask. Hope this helps

 

[BFen]

I would recommend japanese quails.

Here are a few reasons why.

1. They're good layers and their eggs are a decent size (compared to tiny king quail eggs. I eat their eggs too, but most people consider them too small). It takes roughly four eggs to equal the size of a chicken.

2. They're one of the most common species, so it should be pretty easy for you to find a breeder.

3. They can be used for meat. I don't use mine for meat, but plenty of people do. I don't know if you wanted them for meat or not.

4. They make good pets. They're less skittish than most other species, and they can be tamed without too much trouble. They're a decent size to have as a pet (whereas king quails are way smaller).

5. They come in a wide range of colours.

This would be my first suggestion, but it really depends on what you want them for (meat, eggs, pets...). I have owned four different species, and I think they're good for different reasons. For example, king quails and california quails are generally ornamental birds, but japanese and bobwhites are commonly used for meat and eggs.

In the end, it's up to you. If you have any more questions about choosing the species, or anything else quail related, feel free to ask. Hope this helps

Thank you for the help, and breaking it down like that. I really appreciate it! I want them for eggs and possibly meat (but not sure if I could do that). Since I like to cute recipes in half, I love the idea of using them for baking when the original recipe only calls for 1 egg. The Japanese quail sound great, or the bobwhites. Did you mail order your birds or find them locally? Also, is it like chickens were you can keep the two different types together? And how much space do they need? Thanks again!!