What are the main uses for Coturnix (Japanese) quail? Meat, eggs, training dogs, or just pleasure?

[Mtn Margie]

Hey there, so I am thinking about quail as well but what would be the best way to process the birds? I have raised meaties and turkeys but the quail are pretty small...

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Hey there, so I am thinking about quail as well but what would be the best way to process the birds? I have raised meaties and turkeys but the quail are pretty small...

I was looking that up - Since they are so small the most common method I have seen is people just pulling their heads off. I'm not sure I could do that, but I also heard you can take a clean pair of really big scissors or sheers and cut off their head.

Here are some links:
http://www.howtoraisequail.com/hp_phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=207

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/129174/processing-quail-pictures-warning-graphic#post_1554953

http://www.thatquailplace.com/smf/index.php?topic=2983.0;wap2

http://www.squidoo.com/growingquail


You can find tons of videos on youtube, but you need to have an account so they know if you are old enough to be watching the videos. Some are blocked, but I did find one, I just can't find it again.

 

[chrishel]

When my husband processes them, I have him tell the bird thank you (idea from another member here, which I really like) first.

Sorry, a little graphic here. (WARNING!)

He knocks their heads on the counter and snips their head off with kitchen shears. He holds them for a bit in the sink and then snips either side of the backbone and skins them. He said it takes about a minute.

There are a few videos on youtube which are very good on the processing. That's how we learned to do it (where to cut, etc.) There's also posts here under meat birds with pictures as well.

You could scald and remove the feathers, but they are so small, it's not worth the effort. Just wrap them in bacon when you cook them instead!

 

[Mtn Margie]

Great information you two! Thanks. I think I'll be starting quail in the spring.

 

[myfinefeatheredfriends]

Ugh... I think I'll just raise mine as pets. I couldn't eat my quail, it would be like eating my cat or dog. DH doesn't even eat chicken eggs or anything with egg in it, like mayonaise. I haven't gone that far. I still eat eggs but not poultry meat. DH doesn't eat either.

 

[chrishel]

It takes a change in mindset. We hatched for pets. And when you hatch for livestock, you have to go in thinking you are hatching livestock. My DH loves the eggs and meat, so our deal is I raise them and he processes them. I don't spend more time with them than necessary. That's for my mental/emotional protection vs. their well being. I still talk to them when I come and go and care for them just like I do with my cage birds (budgies and lovebird) but I save most of my time and interaction with my pets. It just makes it easier that way.

 

[Pineapple]

This will probably sound weird, but I have been a vegetarian since the 1990s, and it doesn't bother me to kill or eat an animal on an ethical or personal level, I just think it's gross to put dead animals in my mouth.

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

This will probably sound weird, but I have been a vegetarian since the 1990s, and it doesn't bother me to kill or eat an animal on an ethical or personal level, I just think it's gross to put dead animals in my mouth.

Sometimes I think twice before eating chicken... I guess I am just used to it. But it IS weird knowing what it is and used to be...

 

[Kylesquails]

i have only eaten my extra roos, i found it hard at first ,but they are really easy to process and bloody tasty!

 

[laseterlass]

Once your roos start fighting and raping the hens, you will happily kill and eat them. I have 18 in a green house. 4 males. At proper ratios on the ground they act alot like chickens. The males court the ladies and they make nests for them to lay in. Its funny whenever I am short in eggs I can aleay count on White BOY to be hiding a few under him! He is an older A&M About 2 now. I have had to save his life twice now. Once when I thought he was a hen and the other roos attacked him, he spent a month in the hospital shed. And then I found him hanging upside down soaking wet and covered in poo behind the sand bath bucket when it was 15 below. That timeI I set hima under athe light foron a fewfew hours. He will never be eaten. We have been thru to much and all the hens love him. My DH pulls the heads off over the kitchen sink. Skins them and I like to make them into soup.