Quail is my new animal venture this year. I picked up 15 beautiful 6week old birds a few weeks ago, and through culling and trading I'm down to 9, 3 roo and 6 hens. I'll be picking up 22 new a&m/Pharoah crosses here in a few weeks so add some more to the group.
I keep my birds in 2x2 foot cages. I only keep 5 birds in each hole (1 male, 4 hens)... I have them separated by colors a little bit but I like the variety difference in them for sure.
Our main goal for our quail is to have their eggs to eat. Quail eggs are small (3 quail eggs = 1 chicken egg) but they are healthier for you then chicken eggs. Google it, you'd be amazed as well, I'm sure. Any extra males we have will be sold off to meat homes or processed here as well.
My quail are fed commercial feed at the moment but I'm researching and looking into natural ways to feed all my birds. I'll be growing fodder for all my animals when I get my greenhouse bought so I'll keep you all posted
I did LOTS of research on quail before I purchased any but I'm still learning myself. I've found the birds to be almost relaxing to watch like the bunnies. I'll be posting more pictures up of eggs, hatching brooding, butchering all that jazz as we get to it ourselves... I'm super excited about this new project.
This is one of my Italian Speckled Males. I'm gonna pick up a few more of these guys for sure.
These are two of my Pharaoh or tradition, common coturnix hens. I LOVE their feathers. I'm defiantly wanting more of them too.
Lastly are the Rosettas... I have a good selection of these guys. I was told they are a mix between the red Tibetan and the Italian speckled so I'm sure I'll see lots of variety from them when I go to hatch eggs.
Enjoying a dust bath of Diatonasious Earth.