Quail babies!!

**Missy** · 05-01-2009, 06:19 PM

These are the babies i just got. They're inside till the wether is more cooperative and they can safely go outside. Maybe I am biased, but they are cuter in person.

**frugalfriend** · 05-01-2009, 06:33 PM

They are so cute! Even cuter in person!

**dogwalker79** · 05-01-2009, 06:35 PM

Congrats on your adorable feathered babies!

**dcompton** · 05-01-2009, 11:03 PM

I've never actually seen a baby quail. They must be really tiny balls of fluff. Really cute.

**pip** · 05-01-2009, 11:33 PM

Cool, Missy!!!

**Persimmon Lace** · 05-01-2009, 11:58 PM

Cool! How many are there?

**Missy** · 05-02-2009, 02:26 PM

In that one there are 14, hard to see em all. Some white, some buff, and some brown in color. A&M's, Coturnix, and Goldens. I am so stinking excited. Today they are four weeks old Ibelieve. I have to check my paperwork. Twice i had say olds (woho were sooooo tiny and cute) sent, they perished in transit. So this different breeder and I thought it best to wait till at least they'd feathered out and were bigger. Much better deal!! they all survived!

**Sara Noel** · 05-02-2009, 02:33 PM

Are you raising them for just eggs or to eat them? Maybe you can tell us a bit about it. Like how old before you can eat them? What do they eat? Are you going to breed them and sell them? How much room do they require? Are they hard to raise? etc etc.

**pinetree** · 05-02-2009, 03:06 PM

They are so cute, I have never seen them before either!

**Missy** · 05-02-2009, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Sara Noel

Are you raising them for just eggs or to eat them? Maybe you can tell us a bit about it. Like how old before you can eat them? What do they eat? Are you going to breed them and sell them? How much room do they require? Are they hard to raise? etc etc.

In my experience...

They are super easy to raise. On average from hatch to maturity is around 8 weeks (for eating and egg production). The females lay creamy colored eggs with brown splotches on them. It takes about three or so of their eggs to equal one small chicken egg. I will send my males all off to...er..."Freezer Camp" at about 8 weeks, or when they start crowing. The females I will keep for pet and egg production. It takes around two quail per person for a dinner for us. ...well, DH takes about 4.

Providing them with a safe place to live is the hardest part of raising them. Although a sturdy rabbit hutch protected from predators is an ideal condition for our small flock. SOme people keep theirs in a indoor aviary, which is neat too. A trio of quail can be happy in a 2 x 2 cage or hutch, but the more room the better. They get about the size of a robin.

They eat game bird feed, or you can mix your own feed of chicken food crumbles, ground kitten food (for protien) and suppliment with fresh veggies and mealworms or similar. They like to dust bath, so providing them with some sand is great for that.

They also are best kept contained as they are fine flyers.

Males crow...it sounds like a B movie underwater laser gun sound. HArd to describe. But it can get annoying, especially to the neighbors, and they don't crow just when it's light out. ours did all hours of the day and night.

They are easier and faster to raise then chickens are (but, I still love my girls!!) and are as prolific layers...just smaller eggs. The eggs can be used in all the same ways chicken eggs are, you'll just need more to equal the same amount.

They can be processed for dinner in less than ten minutes each, however it's best to process them at least a day before cooking to allow the meat to rest before whatever cooking method you choose...it's my personal preference, some people butcher and cook the same day.

I would love to raise them for profit, but in my area, I am afraid my boys would drive the neighbors batty. So I will cull out all the males.

Hope that made some sense! I am happy to answer any questions about them, they have been such a fun thing for us to have. Caring for them and eating them later has become quite the experience, and the kids don't seem to mind at all, and as an additional bonus, they know exactly where their meal cam from and the work it took to get it there.