Quail questions

[cute chick]

I am doing some research into breeding button quail and possibly "standard" quail as well. However, quail are one of the few types of poultry that I have never raised, so I have a few questions about them. First of all, what is the market like as far as quail meat or for hunters to use training dogs? ( I am in Illinois, if that helps any.) And can full sized quail live in the same house as my chickens, or would they need their own house? I know they need different types of feed from chickens, so I am prepared to feed them separately. Also, does any one know of a good breeder of button quail where I can get live birds, either adults or chicks? Eggs are not an option right now, as my incubator is on the fritz. :/

[tinag210]

Quail are fun to raise although more difficult in my opinion than chickens, ducks or pheasants. The best thing to do would be to buy a good book on raising gamebirds and read up on all aspects, but I can tell you a few things on standard quail. I have never raised button quail but have raised coturnix and bobwhites.

I would recommend housing them separate from your chickens. As you stated you are aware they need a higher protein feed. This is very important with your adults if you want to produce eggs. It is also very important to give the chicks a gamebird starter (28-30% protein) or you will lose several. You will also want to make sure your brooder is draft-free as the chicks are very susceptible to drafts and temperature changes. Use a waterer made for quail that has a small trough so they cannot get in it and get wet.

If raising strictly for meat the coturnix are the way to go. They start laying eggs around six weeks of age and are fully mature at eight weeks. The eggs take 17-18 days to incubate. Although we do sell some of these for training dogs, most hunters want bobwhites as they tend to be more flighty. Bobwhites take about 26 weeks to mature so unless you add light this years birds will not lay until next year. Their eggs take 23 days to incubate. If raising for hunters you will need to finish them in a pen large enough they can fly (flight pen) in order to condition their feathers for flying.

I also live in Illinois and the market seems to be up and down lately. Some months we don't have enough for the demand and other months we have excess. Of course the bobwhites sell best during hunting season. The good thing is when we have too many my husband butchers and fills the freezer. They are very tasty.

I have never raised the button quail so really can't help you out there. As I said previously, purchase a good book and study up before jumping into it. I am telling you this from experience as when we first started with poultry we did not do this and would have been much better prepared if we had. Anymore I read anything I can get my hands on concerning our animals and love to talk to others with experience. Good luck if you decide to pursue this adventure.