Livestock Coturnix Quail

[kyrsyan]

I'm not finding much on raising this particular breed of quail. But looking at the possibility of raising them.
As far as I can find, they don't need much space at all.
Anyone have guidelines or somewhere I can go look to get more information. I would like to be able to use a version of chicken tractors. I just need to learn everything. It is likely that I can start with them more quickly and easily than I can with chickens but I also want it to be humane. And for some reason, my search fu, here and on Google, is not bringing me back anything other than they exist and can be raised.

 

[Border Collie Dad]

My daughter has had the same urge.
Lots of info on YouTube.

I just built a tractor for my Cornish and she wants me to build one like it for her only narrower

Here is what I based my tractor on

View: https://youtu.be/ZXENAoiw1D4

 

[Cag3db1rd]

I've been raising them for some years now. Maybe I can answer some questions.

They need about 1 square foot per bird to be happy, but will be okay with a little less for a bit if needed. If you are caging them, keep the ceiling low so they can't get enough velocity to break their necks when they get startled and try to fly or "pop-up." If you are putting them on ground, either stick with the low ceiling for a tractor or use an aviary you can stand in that they can't fly high enough to hit the ceiling. My tractor is 8 inches high. My aviary is 8 feet tall.

It only takes 18 days to incubate them. It is important to keep the incubator temp between 95.5 and 99.5. I like to keep it about 98-ish. Leave the hatchlings in the incubator until they are dry, up to 24 hours. They are still digesting the last of their yolk, so it's okay.

Hatchlings are very tender. They need 99.5 temp for the first week, warmed and filtered water for drinking, and unmedicated feed that has been run through the blender to powder it as their little beaks are too small for even crumble. I use the cloth-like paper towels at that age instead of shavings so they have enough friction to stand up without spraddling.

Once they reach adolescence, the roos' chests will turn orange. The hens will stay speckled. You need about 1 roo for every 5 hens.

You can butcher out the excess males. All you need is scissors, a pot of hot water, a source of running water for cleaning the carcass, and a probe style thermometer. Keep the water at about 160f. First use scissors to cut off head. Then hold it by the feet until twitching and squirting stops - plus about another minute-ish, trust me on this. Then dunk the body into the hot water and swirl it around a bit for about 30 seconds to scald off the feathers. If the water is too hot, the skin will tear. If that happens, oh well, peel it off and continue. Now, pluck the feathers (I hate this part. I let hubby do it.) Then, use your scissors to nip a hole in the skin just to the side of the vent and carefully insert the scissors along the spine. Cut through the ribs just next to thespine and open up the ribcage. Don't worry about the breaking ribs - the bird can't feel it. Pull the guts out all the way up to the throat. Trim around the tail and vent to remove both. Wash under cold running water and chill the carcass. You're done with that one. Now for the rest of them.

I use a mixed flock crumble for my adults without a problem. I provide a litter pan of sand for them to bathe in and a shelter to lay eggs in. I keep the feeder and waterer about as high as their back when they are standing. I love to bag my mowing (electric mower) and dump the trimmings. Watching them play in the grass is so fun.

 

[mecoastie]

I raised them for a couple years. I used lobster traps as tractors. 1 male to 5 females. Had to wrap those in 1/2 hardware cloth as the raccoons were reaching in. Moved them every day. Pros were that they were quiet easy meat and their eggs made the best pickled eggs. Cons were that they wouldnt raise their own young and the eggs were tiny. Also felt they werent rugged. I dont raise them anymore as I want birds that raise their own young.

 

[kyrsyan]

Thank you both. That's a lot of very useful information.

I may keep a small flock for meat. My original thought was for some of the known med qualities from their eggs. But it turns out that my body absolutely hates their eggs worse than chicken or duck. I can't even eat the whites.

The current plan is to clear out the small block shed that I've been storing garden stuff in. That will become home for the rabbits and some quail. Maybe worm bins as well.

Outside that shed, an area will be turned into the coop for chickens. While I will likely have a small chicken tractor or two, at night all animals will have to be inside the main fence. I'll likely do a rabbit tractor or two as well. But not quail, too many strays for them to be outside of an extra protected area.

Somewhere closer to electric will be IBC totes set up for growing fish. But that plan is further down the lone unless life somehow kicks that in the pants to speed it up. Just like the plans to add ducks.

If life goes completely insane, I'll add a goat or two and kunekune. But since that'd be risking problems with the townspeople, that's a disaster plan. Up to that point, I'll be looking for people to barter with for those things. And maybe sheep and beef.

 

[summerthyme]

I'd go with a bantam breed of chickens before quail, although the very short maturity times on the quail are a plus for them. Also, their inherent quietness... bantam roosters aren't quiet!

But if that's not an issue, once you get the cycle going with the bantams, you can have several clutches of chicks at different stages, and fresh meat every week or so.

I'll bet the grain per pound (ok, ounce!) of meat ratio is better on the bantam, especially if you can free range them. And if you buy the right breed, they WILL raise their own chicks. We had one who raised 43 chicks one summer/fall, in 4 separate batches. They were full sized chicks, too... I stole her eggs and replaced them with Slow White crosses! Most efficient dog food production ever!

Summerthyme

 

[NCGirl]

I know you are asking about quail but I suggest researching rabbits or geese. I've had all 3 and find rabbits and geese to be easy.

A breeding trio of geese can produce a couple dozen goslings who are born in the spring and can be grown out on grass if need be and processed in the fall providing enough meat for a small family for a year. I am partial to the American buffs who are good mothers and are 15-20 pounds at 6 months. They are friendly with those they know but make great "watchdogs" and are good protection as most people are terrified of them, LOL. They will protect their area so if raised with chickens will protect them if they live in the same area.

Rabbits breed like, well, rabbits, and a breeding trio will also produce enough meat for a family for a year but it is spread out over the year as they breed year round. Rabbits can live in a 3'x3' small cage and produce immediately usable fertilizer. They don't make any noise either. They can live without commercial feed if necessary.

 

[summerthyme]

I know you are asking about quail but I suggest researching rabbits or geese. I've had all 3 and find rabbits and geese to be easy.

A breeding trio of geese can produce a couple dozen goslings who are born in the spring and can be grown out on grass if need be and processed in the fall providing enough meat for a small family for a year. I am partial to the American buffs who are good mothers and are 15-20 pounds at 6 months. They are friendly with those they know but make great "watchdogs" and are good protection as most people are terrified of them, LOL. They will protect their area so if raised with chickens will protect them if they live in the same area.

Rabbits breed like, well, rabbits, and a breeding trio will also produce enough meat for a family for a year but it is spread out over the year as they breed year round. Rabbits can live in a 3'x3' small cage and produce immediately usable fertilizer. They don't make any noise either. They can live without commercial feed if necessary.

Yep... I've always thought geese would make the best self sufficient survival livestock. But you've got to have a way of keeping them out of the gardens!

Summerthyme

 

[KMR58]

I've been raising them for some years now. Maybe I can answer some questions.

They need about 1 square foot per bird to be happy, but will be okay with a little less for a bit if needed. If you are caging them, keep the ceiling low so they can't get enough velocity to break their necks when they get startled and try to fly or "pop-up." If you are putting them on ground, either stick with the low ceiling for a tractor or use an aviary you can stand in that they can't fly high enough to hit the ceiling. My tractor is 8 inches high. My aviary is 8 feet tall.

It only takes 18 days to incubate them. It is important to keep the incubator temp between 95.5 and 99.5. I like to keep it about 98-ish. Leave the hatchlings in the incubator until they are dry, up to 24 hours. They are still digesting the last of their yolk, so it's okay.

Hatchlings are very tender. They need 99.5 temp for the first week, warmed and filtered water for drinking, and unmedicated feed that has been run through the blender to powder it as their little beaks are too small for even crumble. I use the cloth-like paper towels at that age instead of shavings so they have enough friction to stand up without spraddling.

Once they reach adolescence, the roos' chests will turn orange. The hens will stay speckled. You need about 1 roo for every 5 hens.

You can butcher out the excess males. All you need is scissors, a pot of hot water, a source of running water for cleaning the carcass, and a probe style thermometer. Keep the water at about 160f. First use scissors to cut off head. Then hold it by the feet until twitching and squirting stops - plus about another minute-ish, trust me on this. Then dunk the body into the hot water and swirl it around a bit for about 30 seconds to scald off the feathers. If the water is too hot, the skin will tear. If that happens, oh well, peel it off and continue. Now, pluck the feathers (I hate this part. I let hubby do it.) Then, use your scissors to nip a hole in the skin just to the side of the vent and carefully insert the scissors along the spine. Cut through the ribs just next to thespine and open up the ribcage. Don't worry about the breaking ribs - the bird can't feel it. Pull the guts out all the way up to the throat. Trim around the tail and vent to remove both. Wash under cold running water and chill the carcass. You're done with that one. Now for the rest of them.

I use a mixed flock crumble for my adults without a problem. I provide a litter pan of sand for them to bathe in and a shelter to lay eggs in. I keep the feeder and waterer about as high as their back when they are standing. I love to bag my mowing (electric mower) and dump the trimmings. Watching them play in the grass is so fun.

Can they go in with chickens? Do they roost at night? Thanks.

 

[Cag3db1rd]

Can they go in with chickens? Do they roost at night? Thanks.

Technically no on going in with chickens unless you intend to graze your chickens under the cages like you would rabbits.

Quail are ground creatures. They "roost" on the ground at night, preferably in some sort of bedding like straw or chips. Mine like to hollow out a little depression in the wood chips I use in my aviary to sleep.

 

[kyrsyan]

A friend, who is just learning, has had them mixed with her chickens. But the chickens go inside at night. I don't know if she puts the quail in. I'll have to ask her. She and I have been sharing info. She has a much larger area that she can set up in.

 

[Cag3db1rd]

If she has a very secure run that is basically predator proof, then I guess she could do that. I have a former friend that kept buying quail from me, but was just letting them run loose in her livestock yard with all her other birds. She just couldn't understand why they kept disappearing at night. Needless to say, I stopped selling her birds to feed to her predators.

Our friendship ended on an unrelated situation. She's lazy and wanted me to drive the hour to set up her whole homestead for her. She has 4 adults in her house. No.

 

[kyrsyan]

If she has a very secure run that is basically predator proof, then I guess she could do that. I have a former friend that kept buying quail from me, but was just letting them run loose in her livestock yard with all her other birds. She just couldn't understand why they kept disappearing at night. Needless to say, I stopped selling her birds to feed to her predators.

Our friendship ended on an unrelated situation. She's lazy and wanted me to drive the hour to set up her whole homestead for her. She has 4 adults in her house. No.

Oh wow. No, couldn't do that either. I'm just starting to move forward again after dealing with illnesses for a few years. I'm grateful for getting help every few weekends for an hour or two, when it can happen. I try to make sure to save projects that need extra hands for then, and have as much prepped as possible so we can get the most done in the limited time available.

Right now I am the overflow location for any eggs, chicken and duck, that she cannot sell and/or her family does not eat. Something for which I am very grateful. She is my overflow location for garden veg or fruits, especially hot peppers. Her family loves hot peppers.

Her new coop is relatively predator proof. They've been dealing with things for a while. Right now, she's got the quail with the chickens. But she is holding on that at the moment because they were gifted with two dwarf milk goats and she's working on that situation. By spring, we both plan to bring quail "online" in a larger way. Her for eggs and meat, because the eggs sell for a miniature fortune here. Me for meat. I don't want to deal with the fees to sell either. I will happily barter with folks instead. And there are people to barter with if she doesn't want to barter.

I would prefer barter than outright selling for multiple reasons. But the fees the state charges is one of them.

 

[Cag3db1rd]

I don't want to deal with the fees to sell either.

Fees? I share some of the profit with the dairy at which I sell, but I refuse to pay the guv a penny.

 

[kyrsyan]

Fees? I share some of the profit with the dairy at which I sell, but I refuse to pay the guv a penny.

Here there is a state fee, $600 iirc, to be able to sell quail eggs. I don't know if it applies to other eggs. I tripped across the info as I was looking for info on raising them, and would have to research further to know more. Knowing the background of some of the state laws, I'd say that the fee is likely to prevent wild harvesting of eggs to the point of killing off native bird populations. But I may be wrong given that I'm pretty sure there are regulations on most animal product sales in the state.
So I'd check your local state regs. Your guy at the dairy may be paying some of those fees. Now if he's going to have to pay them anyways, I wouldn't change my policy. But if he's having to pay them solely to offer your products, then I'd at least want to make sure that his share of the profits was enough to cover those fees and the "counter space" he's giving to the product.

 

[John Deere Girl]

Here there is a state fee, $600 iirc, to be able to sell quail eggs. I don't know if it applies to other eggs. I tripped across the info as I was looking for info on raising them, and would have to research further to know more. Knowing the background of some of the state laws, I'd say that the fee is likely to prevent wild harvesting of eggs to the point of killing off native bird populations. But I may be wrong given that I'm pretty sure there are regulations on most animal product sales in the state.
So I'd check your local state regs. Your guy at the dairy may be paying some of those fees. Now if he's going to have to pay them anyways, I wouldn't change my policy. But if he's having to pay them solely to offer your products, then I'd at least want to make sure that his share of the profits was enough to cover those fees and the "counter space" he's giving to the product.

Have you thought about raising rabbits? They are really easy to raise, reproduce quickly, and are quiet.

 

[kyrsyan]

Have you thought about raising rabbits? They are really easy to raise, reproduce quickly, and are quiet.

Yes. Rabbits will be in the shed with the quail. Part of my focus is to give us more than one meat source from sources that can be raised on a very small homestead in the middle of town. Small, quiet, and unobtrusive are big elements of that. The town regs don't say anything at the moment and I don't want them to have to start saying something.

 

[ktrapper]

Thanks for this thread. Been looking at raising quail as well. I know about chickens and rabbits but never raised quail. Sounds simple enough.

 

[KMR58]

Technically no on going in with chickens unless you intend to graze your chickens under the cages like you would rabbits.

Quail are ground creatures. They "roost" on the ground at night, preferably in some sort of bedding like straw or chips. Mine like to hollow out a little depression in the wood chips I use in my aviary to sleep.

Our chickens go into their coop at night. Their attached run is very large and definitely predator proof. We live in an area with all kinds of creatures that love to eat chickens, etc. Thank you for the info. I have the winter to think about this because we are already in the 20's at night here so I don't want to start anything new right now. Again, thank you for your input.