Well, I started out with a dozen to begin with, just because I thought they were neat. Nine hens and three roos. I figured I'd pickle the eggs, cuz I love them. And then.....I inherited an incubator....so I figured, well, I LOVE DOVE...I'm out there everyday during dove season trying to get my limit. Figured if I love the taste of dove....quail's gotta be good too. So I started hatching out my eggs. The first batch I kept the hens to replace some of my older ones....and we processed the roos. Haven't tried them out yet, they're in the freezer. Only had 10 males that first hatch. I have 27 from my second hatching that are 4 weeks now....giving them another 2-3 weeks, then they go to the freezer. Going into lockdown with 50 more tomorrow. I do have to keep myself distant from the groups going to the freezer...and I can't do the killing, I admit. I let my BF and his dad do that, but I do the rest. I handle all the feeding, watering, and cage-cleaning myself. I just remember they're not pets. I DO, however, pet on my breeders. They are spoiled....I enjoy taking care of all of them...they are beautiful, and just fun to watch. So I guess I get to enjoy all the benefits there are with owning quail. Beautiful birds, delicious eggs, and I'm sure great-tasting meat. (I'll know for myself in a couple weeks) Now, my question for you....Do you have quails?? If not....wanna try some?
I started out with a little Japanese Pharaoh Coturnix tossed at me in avian embryology lab That little guy is still with me today along with hundreds of others. I am a color fanatic and sell hatching eggs, live birds on occasion (more so with button quail with live birds).
The eggs & meat are delicious, but the eggs have a THICK membrane,so cracking open the eggs takes a little more time, & if you crack them over the frying pan, by the time you get all of the eggs in, the first ones are done.
Quote:just started with Coturnix but primarily i have them for pets and colors . i've always been fascinated with that aspect of birds..in the past i've had Lahore pigeons ,Budgies and Zebra Finches...all because i love the colors...LOL
