Farm to Table: Raising Quail with a Purpose

Quail aren’t very common, but they’re our favorite poultry to raise! These amazing little birds hatch in only 17 days and start laying eggs by six weeks old. That is impressive compared to chickens and ducks, which start laying eggs between 5 and 6 months. Although they are small, their production is amazing. 

Why We Raise Quail 

We raise Coturix quail, which are a domestic breed that comes in a variety of colors. Coturnix quail are larger than most of the wild species. Originally, we started raising quail as an added protein for our dog’s diet. They are perfect for this purpose due to their quick growth rates and how easy they are to process. We freeze the birds whole, and our dogs eat them as whole prey. Keeping them frozen gives the added benefits of extra teeth cleaning, a longer eating time, and a cool treat in the warmer months. 

Quail Behavior

Compared to chickens, quail are quieter, less messy, and definitely less friendly. We don’t mind the less friendly aspect because of their other benefits. Quail also require less housing than other poultry because they are smaller, and they cannot be free-range. While chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys can be “trained” to go back in a coop in the evening, quail can not. Consequently, escapees quickly become coyote or fox dinner around us. There are way too many local predators for them to stand a chance. 

Quail also do not lay eggs in a nest box like chickens. So, we get to have a little Easter egg hunt every day! This is our toddler’s favorite activity. 

Quail Eggs

The quail lay tiny, gorgeous eggs. Each one has a unique pattern, which makes collecting them even more entertaining. A quail egg is about ⅓ the size of a chicken egg. Although you have to crack a dozen or more to make an omelet, they are wonderful hard-boiled, and the perfect size. 

How the Cycle Works

We fill the incubator about every 3 weeks with 4 dozen quail eggs. By 6 weeks old, the quail are laying eggs and/ or ready for butcher. Don’t ask us how many quail we have, because this quick cycle means we never truly know! But we collect about 50 eggs a day. 

The ratio between hens and roosters is crucial, or the birds will begin picking on each other. When the birds start becoming too crowded, or there are too many roosters crowing, we cull roosters for dog food. It has been interesting to play with genetics by purposely culling certain colors more than others, so we can keep a variety amongst the flock. This genetic variety adds even more diversity in the patterns of eggs we collect. Some have small flecks while others have big splotches, and sometimes, we get a blue egg without any markings at all. 

Quail as Livestock

Rabbits are our favorite animal to raise in terms of simplicity and production, but quail are a very close second. We much prefer them over chickens, and we don’t ever plan to not have them! Soon, you will find various quail products in our store, and we can’t wait to share the goodies these little birds produce!