Cost Effective Quail Production

[GaryD]

Hi,

We haven't heard much from our quail farmers lately. Where are y'all?

We're about to re-stock for the coming season......and the Quail Hilton has been moved into its new location.

For those backyard aquaponicists who might be looking for the perfect (in terms of production cycle and scale) integration opportunity, you might like to consider Japanese (coturnix) quail.

Watch this space!

Gary

[trout scout]

Hi,

We haven't heard much from our quail farmers lately. Where are y'all?

We're about to re-stock for the coming season......and the Quail Hilton has been moved into its new location.

For those backyard aquaponicists who might be looking for the perfect (in terms of production cycle and scale) integration opportunity, you might like to consider Japanese (coturnix) quail.

Watch this space!

Gary

I finally finished my quail set up last week, and yesterday, I picked up my live birds. I bought 14, 3 week old chicks. 10 female and 4 males. They are fun to watch. I tried hatching eggs in an incubator, however their hatch date has past (by one day) and I do not see any signs of hatching. I did see a small hairline fracture on one of the eggs yesterday, and for a short period the egg was rocking back and forth, but it stopped and I have not seen any new movement or piping. I am not sure how long to leave the eggs in the incubator after the hatch date, any suggestions?

[GaryD]

Hi Trout Scout,

I finally finished my quail set up last week, and yesterday, I picked up my live birds. I bought 14, 3 week old chicks. 10 female and 4 males.

I'm assuming you're talking about Japanese (Coturnix) Quail as distinct from Californian or Bobwhite quail. If so, your chicks will begin to lay eggs in about a month to six weeks and sexual activity will commence around the same time......particularly since you're coming into spring in your part of the world

They are fun to watch. I tried hatching eggs in an incubator, however their hatch date has past (by one day) and I do not see any signs of hatching. I did see a small hairline fracture on one of the eggs yesterday, and for a short period the egg was rocking back and forth, but it stopped and I have not seen any new movement or piping. I am not sure how long to leave the eggs in the incubator after the hatch date, any suggestions?

The main reasons for a late hatch are the genetic makeup of the stock that laid the eggs......and low incubation temperatures. Thermometers are not alway accurate and it's easy to run an incubator at too low (or too high) a temperature. Even a degree too low can delay a hatch by a day or two.

Avoid the impulse to open the incubator while the hatch is happening.....it allows the humidity to escape and will impair the hatch.

Leave things alone for a couple of days more.

When the hatch is definitely over, open up some of the unhatched eggs and note the stage of development at which the embryo expired. That will enable me to help you to determine the cause of the failure.......assuming that's what happens.

Gary

[trout scout]

Hi Trout Scout,


I'm assuming you're talking about Japanese (Coturnix) Quail


When the hatch is definitely over, open up some of the unhatched eggs and note the stage of development at which the embryo expired. That will enable me to help you to determine the cause of the failure.......assuming that's what happens.

Gary

Yes, I have the Japanese (Coturnix) quail. I ended up having 2 out of my 7 eggs hatch. I opened up the 5 remaining eggs and noticed none had developed or showed any signs of advanced growth. My two remaining chicks appear healthy and strong. My larger birds (3 weeks old) are doing well outside in the aviary. I have been giving them "Game Bird" feed daily and vegetable scraps from my kitchen. I have read that it is not good to give them any bread, however I do not understand why I couldn't supplement some of the feed with stale bread. Does anyone do this?
=trout

[GaryD]

Hi Trout,

I have been giving them "Game Bird" feed daily and vegetable scraps from my kitchen. I have read that it is not good to give them any bread, however I do not understand why I couldn't supplement some of the feed with stale bread.

The only thing I can think of is that quail (like other game birds) do best on a high protein diet and that eating too much bread would dilute the overall protein level in their diet.

I would think that bread (particularly multi-grain) could replace most of the grain in a home-mixed ration. You can use meatmeal and/or soybean meal to boost protein levels.

Gary