Thinking about getting into Quail...

[John Gusmano]

Hey guys, I’ve got a question. I raise a few chickens for eggs, and I’d like to keep them around for that purpose. However, I have been thinking about getting into raising some quail for both meat and egg production. I am not really sure where to begin, so if any of you have any tips on what I should get to get started, I would greatly appreciate it. I would like to breed them to keep a self-sustaining flock. Any and all information is more than welcome!

Basically if you were to give someone a “Quail Starter Kit” what would be in it???

Thanks Again!

[nytrapper23]

I have bobwhites , and used to raise Japanese . They are very easy to raise. Bobwhite chicks are a little more fragile but not to bad. They both produce eggs like you wouldn't believe. I'm not sure what a starter kit would get you.

[John Gusmano]

By saying “Starter Kit”, I was only asking what all would I need to purchase to get started into quail. How large of a cage do I need? What type of feed to use? What is the ratio of males to females I would need to keep a healthy population to consistently feed a family of four? Things like that.

I’ve heard that Bobwhites are nice to keep! Keep the info coming guys! Thank you all!

[nytrapper23]

I keep mine in an outside pen aprox. 5' x 10 ' and 4' high . I have 5 females and 1 male,bobwhites you have to separate the males during breeding season or they will kill each other. I have even had males and females gang up on other females. The Japanese are very docile and I never had this problem with them. I just feed mt bobwhites the same layer crumbles I feed my chickens.

[strongriver]

Look up gqfmfg.com thats how I got started

[patricimo54]

I have raised quail with some success, but only the Japanese varieties. Starter kit would be incubator and egg turner . Both can be obtained from TSC. I use a 40 gallon water trough with hardware cloth over the top and heat lamps for a nursery for my chicks. Metal chick feeder bases that allow a fruit jar attached work well for feeders after they get a little size to them, a jar lid works well for newborns, they are about the size of bumble bees. I use 24% protein crumbles for feed. There are cheap inexpensive water bases made for quail that allow a fruit jar to attached to them, again a TSC buy. Housing for chick for meat, I use a 3'x8'x2' high.

This may not be the best height because, when startled they will fly straight up and often break their necks. Increasing the height of the pen may lessen this, or stretching a section of cloth netting, towels, sheet material to act as a buffer below the ceiling of the pen may prevent this. I try to keep a 2 or 3 to 1 ratio hen to rooster. I have a 2'x maybe 6' by 2' high with an enclosed box on the north end. This unit houses 9 to 12 breeders.

The meat is good the pickled eggs are the best, with a little practice and knowledge shelling is easy. Look thru the archived threads in livestock and poultry, mucho knowledge there. Fellow swamper TrapperBud has helped me a lot. You might consider looking at his threads.

You are on a great quest, keep up your pursuit.