While quail certainly aren’t as popular as chickens, their advantages to both rural and urban farms cannot be more underscored. Raising quail is also easy, and since they are less than half the size of chickens, they do not take much space, time, or resources. On our homestead, we raise Coturnix quail as an accompaniment to our flock of chickens and learning how to start quail farming was simple.
Here are 5 reasons quail are a perfect addition to every homestead, both urban and rural.
Quail lay eggs daily, just like chickens.
If you decide to keep quail on your farm, you’ll look forward to their eggs, which can be used in recipes and eaten just like chicken eggs. Coturnix quail lay daily just like chickens, and their eggs are spotted and speckled. In many parts of the world, quail eggs are considered a delicacy. Their eggs are smaller, tiny really, so you will have to use more of them, about 3 quail eggs per one chicken egg. But their quality is comparable to chicken eggs. As the days get shorter, you will have to use a supplementary light to keep them laying. In my experience, keeping more than one species of poultry for eggs is necessary for a homestead; you never know when disease or a predator might devastate your chicken flock. Just like you would not put your entire retirement account into one stock, diversifying your egg sources is a good idea.
If you live in an urban area, one of the main advantages to raising quail for their eggs is that cities and towns that do not permit chickens might have exceptions for quail, or might leave them out of legislation altogether. Quail do not crow, instead their calls are quiet chirps and coos that give little indication of their presence, and they’re much less likely to annoy your neighbors than a 4:30 a.m. rooster wake-up call. You cannot let Coturnix quail free range like chickens (they fly very well), so they won’t annoy your neighbors like loose chickens. Nothing is worse than a neighbor who’s angry because your chickens pooped all over their yard or dug through their trash, you’ll avoid those awkward moments raising quail.
Quail don’t take up much room.
We keep our Coturnix quail in a hutch that’s housed in an 8’ x 6’ greenhouse. They live entirely out of the sight of other people, in an attractive outbuilding, but the quail are still kept out of the elements. As a general rule of thumb, quail need one square foot of space per bird. Raising quail this way means they’ll be less prone to behavioral issues, and leads to happier lives. Our hutch is 2′ x 8′, perfect for the 12 quail that live in it. It’s made of wood with hardware cloth sides and bottom, and tin roofing. I find the hardware cloth on the bottom of the hutch advantageous because their manure, excess feathers, and whatnot simply drop to the ground where the chickens can scratch through it for tasty goodies, and help it compost. Unlike chickens, quail do not perch; instead, they lay on the ground. They don’t nest like chickens either, and lay their eggs wherever it suits them. When raising quail at your home, keep this in mind as you build or purchase a hutch for them. You don’t want them living in or laying their eggs in their own manure.
Coturnix quail mature quickly.
Breeding quails is similar to breeding chickens, except quail eggs take only 17 days incubate (although you can expect hatching a little before and after). And unlike chickens, Coturnix quail, which are what we raise on our homestead, mature and start laying eggs in just 6 to 8 weeks, a blink of an eye compared to the 7 month wait period for chickens. In as soon as 3 weeks, you can begin to see differences between males and females. This is a huge advantage, because you can sell your excess roos sooner (quail chicks can fetch a higher price than baby chickens).
Quail are hardy.
Although they’re not invincible, quail are hardy birds that don’t get sick frequently. As long as their environment is kept clean from manure and they are not crowded into a hutch that is too small, quail have few health issues. Clean their feeders and waters weekly, and scrub any manure out of their hutch to avoid issues such as coccidiosis and Quail Disease, which are transported by manure. Ensure they are kept out of the elements so they neither get too hot nor too cold. Successfully raising quail is easy, and I think you’ll find them as rewarding as keeping chickens!
Are you raising quail on your homestead? If so, let us know what you like about quail.
One of the reasons many people raise quail is for meat. Quail are smaller and easier to process than chickens or turkeys. They also don't have to be plucked. If you've ever processed your own birds, you'll know how time consuming plucking can be.
One of the reasons many people raise quail is for meat. Quail are smaller and easier to process than chickens or turkeys. They also don't have to be plucked. If you've ever processed your own birds, you'll know how time consuming plucking can be.
It promotes body and brain development in children. Nutritionally, the quail eggs are on par with that of chicken eggs. Moreover, they contain less cholesterol. Quail meat and eggs are a nutritious diet for pregnant and nursing mothers.
Most chickens go broody so chicks are easy to gain. But raising chickens do take up more space and I've found they require more upkeep than my quails. If I had to go for one I would go for quail if I was living in an urban area, chickens if you have access to a larger space and don't mind the sound.
Compared to eating chicken, eating quail is better for you because quail meat is higher in vitamin C and iron. Quail gives you vitamin A whereas chicken does not. And quail also gives you more minerals and amino acids than chicken meat.
They're friendly, inexpensive, gentle and even lay edible eggs that are considered a delicacy in many countries. Before you bring a pair home, your quail will require a calm housing environment, protein-rich food, company and fresh water daily.
On average a quail will lay about one egg per day at peak production. Egg production will begin to slow down around the age of 2-3 years. Quail require about 14 hours of daylight in order to lay eggs. Their egg production can be extended by providing a light source during times of the year with shorter daylight hours.
As primarily herbivores, quail eat seeds, leaves, berries, and insects, and as they poop, they help spread seeds and expand the growth of plant life. Quail also provide an important food source for larger wildlife, like bobcats, within the food chain of their ecosystems.
Quail farming is a very profitable ven- ture. Japanese quails are compara- tively more delicate than chickens. It is hardy in nature, easy to handle and adaptable to varied environments. It requires less floor space and feed.
One advantage to raising small livestock is the ease of processing but none are as easy and quick as quail. With a little practice you can cull, butcher, clean, and bag a quail for the freezer in just a few short minutes. I also like that there isn't a lot of leftover waste to get rid of.
A quail in its first year will lay almost every day. And you won't have to wait long. Unlike chickens, which take about 5 months to start laying, quail only take 6 weeks. Sure, it takes 5 quail eggs to equal one chicken egg, but if you want fresh eggs and can't have chickens, quail eggs are a great alternative.
A: California is home to three native species of quail: mountain, California and Gambel's quail. In order to keep these species and others as domesticated game birds, a Domestic Game Breeder's license is generally required, per Fish and Game Code, section 3200(opens in new tab).
Depending on the average daily weight gain, which decreases after 6 weeks (Table 2), the optimal age of slaughter of Jumbo meat quail seems to be 42 days for both genders, 42 or 49 days for females (up to 7 weeks the weight gain decreases by only 3.44 % compared to 6 weeks) and 42 days for males (up to 7 weeks the ...
Dominating the scene with their unparalleled egg production, Coturnix quail (also known as Japanese quail) are the go-to breed for enthusiasts and commercial breeders alike. These feathered friends start laying eggs as early as 6-8 weeks old and can produce a staggering 200-300 eggs per year.
The cost of raising quail for meat can vary depending on a number of factors, including the cost of feed, housing, and other supplies. We tracked all of our quail raising supply expenses starting out and they came to about $1000. Granted, we didn't go cheap on things like the incubator.
Cost: Being smaller means they're less expensive to feed than chickens so the cost of raising quail is lower. However, game bird feed tends to be more expensive due to a more specific nutritional profile required by quail (higher protein than chickens).
Quail farming can be a profitable venture for on the homestead, even if just used as a complementary source of farm income. They take a minimal investment of resources and pay for themselves in a matter of weeks.
Button quail are very small—smaller than other types of quail. They tend to be a bit quieter (though they're still quite vocal!) and cleaner than other quail species, with less associated smell. Button quail are usually the best choice for a pet quail.
Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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