Quail on the Homestead?

[John Gusmano]

Already thinking ahead to next year. As many of you know, who follow me, every year on the homestead my wife and I are adding something new to the homestead (aka: Urban Farm”). I’ve started to really consider quail for meat and for eggs. I have brought this up on here before when just pondering the idea, but now I’m looking into it a little more seriously.

I’m leaning towards coturnix quail, but not sure. I’d like some good tempered and easy to sex, dual purpose birds. I have heard that it doesn’t take much feed to have them bulk up and that the eggs are pretty tasty as well.

I’m sure some of you on here have experience, so I have a few questions. As with any of my additions I like to research a lot before embarking on a project (I looked for a year and a half before getting my rabbits) so, I have time.

What kind of housing do they require?
What kind of incubator is needed?
What is the best breed t raise for meat and egg production?
What is an ideal feed?
How different does a brooder need to be than one designed for chicken chicks?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated fellas… Like I said, I’ve got time on this project, about a year away. However, I like to keep my mind busy and research to expand my knowledge about my homesteading projects.

[nytrapper23]

John, I used to have the courtinix or Japanese quail. Very easy to raise , I didn't raise them for meat just hobby, they lay like crazy, I believe you can start getting eggs in 8-10 wks. Food I just fed them a layer crumble from tractor supply. If you go to strombergs.com look at their birds they now have all different kinds of Japanese quail, some breed specifically for meat , you can even just buy the eggs to hatch if you want , also you can mix up the eggs that way maybe the first time you could get a few varieties and see which is best , not saying you have to get them at that specific place but you can start there. Incubators I just have two still air incubators they are the styrofoam ones you see at tractor supply, still air means no fan , has rings in the bottom you keep filled with water, and you can turn by hand or they make egg turners that fit in , these take up room so it holds less eggs if you use a turner compared to by hand. Quail are very easy to raise , you can go as easy as putting them in a wire pen similar to the one your bunnies are in or you can build something like your chicken coop so they are on the ground but they don't need it . Hope this helps a little.

[trapperbud]

Thttp://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_14275797450088&key=bbb516d91daee20498798694a42dd559&libId=i7tk2axi010004m6000DAcz8c2vxg&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fswamptalkforum.com%2Fthread%2F18787%2Fquail-video&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMOCXTmFyGSg&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fswamptalkforum.com%2Fboard%2F37%2Flivestock-poultry%3Fpage%3D4&title=Quail%20Video%20%7C%20SWAMP%20TALK&txt=www.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMOCXTmFyGSghis is a video on how I do mine . Hope it helps

[trapperbud]

api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_14275797450088&key=bbb516d91daee20498798694a42dd559&libId=i7tk2axi010004m6000DAcz8c2vxg&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fswamptalkforum.com%2Fthread%2F18787%2Fquail-video&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMOCXTmFyGSg&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fswamptalkforum.com%2Fboard%2F37%2Flivestock-poultry%3Fpage%3D4&title=Quail%20Video%20%7C%20SWAMP%20TALK&txt=www.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMOCXTmFyGSg

This is a video on how I do mine . Hope it helps .