What are you breeding for?

[protodon]

So I started with my quail in March of this year and I liked the idea that you could breed for certain things and they grow so fast you could make progress pretty quick. Well I haven't really made nay progress since I got sidetracked with other things. I was going to stop for the winter but I just grew up all my F1 generation and I think I may just keep going.

Originally I was breeding for larger eggs by hatching larger eggs. Well the F1 doesn't seem to be laying eggs that are even the same size as the P1 but then again they are just turning 8 weeks so that amy change. But I have Texas A&M and some of my F1's are all white unlike most of my P1. So that makes me want to breed for all white birds as well and also focus on size.

So what have you guys been breeding for and what are the outcomes? How long did it take to get you to the point you're at? I'm just curious to hear other peoples stories in one post.

 

[saddina]

Here it's about size. I'm a cook, and there's mouths to feed. We do have some smaller "eye candy" colors, my 9 yr old son is losing his hearing and likes the "song" (crowing) so he has his for song and colors, and mine are for effency.

Long term I may try breeding some of the other color varities larger as well. Of course it helps that the boy has 9 years before he leaves for MIT, and that Mr. Saddi excells at data tracking & research, which leaves me free to incubate, brood and cook.

 

[Kullas]

will be food for me and ti sell enough to pay for the feed

 

[becky3086]

It started out for food but now I want more colors, lol.

 

[Emilys3guppies]

Food...eggs and meat.

ETA: And FUN!!!

 

[eggsrcool]

Eggs and as pets really. All surplus males from each hatch will go to a good place. Someone elses flock or in my stomach

 

[d1]

Quote:
+1

 

[simplyscrambled]

When I replace my current ones with hatching more, I'll keep the biggest. Then I'll keep a 'quieter' roo that doesn't crow too loudly or too often!

I processed a little banty roo at the same time, and although the carcass was bigger by 2, the quail had much more meat on them! And the quail were roos at 7 weeks old, the banty 10. Quail are amazing!!

 

[Ironsun]

Hi,

I first started to keeping quail to run about the bottom of my budgie aviary, they added an intrest.
In the earlier days there was not much in the way of different colours about, if I remember rightly there were only 3 or 4 varieties to choose from.

Now I breed many more different colours and try to breed different ones hopefully finding out how the genenetic work. Last year I bred 2 red eyed white birds , but shortly after reaching adulthood, I lost the female to a hungry rat.

I also keep them both for eating and a fresh egg supply. Any surplus eggs are sold as hatching eggs.

 

[ugly ducky]

We are breeding Jumbo Browns and Jumbo Goldens, and are working for bigger size. I just love the Golden color, and was fotunate enough to find some nice, big Goldens, so now, I am crossing those with my Jumbo Browns, and getting some nice, big Golden birds. But my goal is to get to a true 1 lb bird in both colors. Not there yet, but have culled the smaller birds and am starting 3rd generation breeding. We sell most of our birds, put a few in the freezer, and sell hatching eggs. So far, we cover feed for the Quail, and part of our chicken feed, but am hoping to actually make a profit eventually.