what age/ weight do you cull jumbo quail?

[yallapilko]

Hi,
I've got some 6 week old male quail that I'm going to process for meat. But, I'm wondering what age/weight you cull your meat birds - jumbo quail in particular....Should I wait a couple of weeks or even 4 more weeks bringing them to 2 and a half months as some advise?
They don't seem fat enough to eat yet! My girls are around 300g but these guys are only 200 to 250g. They are too busy running around beating each other up.

 

[laseterlass]

Hi,
I've got some 6 week old male quail that I'm going to process for meat. But, I'm wondering what age/weight you cull your meat birds - jumbo quail in particular....Should I wait a couple of weeks or even 4 more weeks bringing them to 2 and a half months as some advise?
They don't seem fat enough to eat yet! My girls are around 300g but these guys are only 200 to 250g. They are too busy running around beating each other up.

How are they gonna grow more if the are running it off? My understanding is to cull them at maturity because once they become interested in the girls they will not get any bigger.

 

[yallapilko]

Well, they have not lost weight since they started running around only gained it. And like I said, they do not seem fat enough to eat . So when do YOU cull your quail and are they jumbo quail ?

 

[MrBobWhite]

6 weeks then confine them so you can fatten them up to your desired weight.

 

[laseterlass]

Maturity is 6 to 8 weeks. We cull them then because the males will start fighting if left together. and that is gruesome. Yes mine are Jumbo. Jumbo is 10oz up to a lb. I get mine from JMFs meat bird class. I am thrilled to say I have two 3 week hens that meet the Tatanka threads weight requirements. AND they are Goldens.

 

[yallapilko]

MrBobwhite - how would you confine them ? Individually? Pairs?
Overrunwithchickens - Do you have a specific day or weight at which you cull?

 

[MrNappy]

You should know that males are smaller than the females. In size and weight.

 

[yallapilko]

Thanks MrNappy - Yes I can agree with that! My girls from the same brood are 100g heavier in some cases. What age do you cull and what weight?

 

[MrNappy]

Never done, well i did once. Not for eating just had to, my gold got pretty beat up and i had to cull him. Didn't bother with weight.

Hopefully, i'm getting an incubator in about a week. I will start looking to cull once they are grown. Hopefully, i'll remember to weigh em.

 

[yallapilko]

I would still love an answer to this question if anyone could give me a straight answer.
Good luck with your new hatch MrNappy.