Why You Should Consider Quail Farming on Your Homestead

Quail farming is a great way to make money on the homestead by selling eggs, meat, and live birds, no matter how small your property is.

A coturnix quail in a community quail pen.

Let’s discuss a bird of a different feather—the cute and personable quail.  Raising quail can be a surprisingly easy and beneficial addition to any homestead. But how do you know if it’s right for you? Discover their many uses for food, eggs, and even meat and the variety of ways quail can improve your homestead. With their small size, simple dietary and housing requirements, and abundant advantages, raising quail may be a great choice for you and your family. So let’s look at why quail farming might be right for your homestead.

This post is my mecca for all things related to the raising of quail. Throughout it, you’ll find links to other helpful quail-related information from my own site and other reputable sources.

On average, we have 100 adult Coturnix quail on my homestead throughout the spring, summer, and fall, as well as chicks and juveniles. We sell fertile eggs online, eating eggs at our farmstand, and we sell meat and live birds privately. I have learned a lot about quail farming in the last ten years, and I’m excited to share with you all of the things I’ve learned along the way.

So let’s see if quail farming is right for you…

Reasons Why Quail Farming Might Be Right for You

Right out of the gate, let’s discuss some of the reasons why quail farming might be right for you and your family.

The eggs are a delicacy and bring in more money than chicken eggs.

If you decide to raise quail, you’ve got to try your hand at making Little Devils and other quail egg delicacies. They’re also excellent pickled as a high-protein snack. It takes three to four quail eggs to equal one chicken egg, but that’s not an issue because quail are egg production machines, laying 300+ eggs per year. I highly recommend a pair of egg scissors so you don’t have to crack a bunch of eggs.

Quail eggs offer more iron per gram than chicken, duck, turkey, or goose eggs.

Nutrition-wise, quail eggs are a powerhouse of essential nutrients, offering twice as much protein per gram as chicken eggs. They have three times the amount of Vitamin B12 and five times more Vitamin A. Quail eggs also contain high levels of riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, and folate. Plus, they’re a low-calorie option, containing only about 14 calories per egg. Quail eggs are also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and cholesterol, both important elements for a balanced diet.

You can have male quail in your flock without annoying your neighbors.

This point is great for us that live on a non-traditional homestead. Males have a beautiful cooing crow that is nothing short of musical. Females are known for their melodic and almost whispered coos. Their calls are much gentler sounding than their male counterparts. They quietly communicate their presence with a gentle coo as they search for food or find a perfect spot to build their nest. It’s a wonderful sound to hear on the homestead.

Quail cost less than traditional poultry because they are smaller.

Quail use less feed and bedding than their larger poultry counterparts. In fact, with wire bottom cages, there is no bedding to deal with. Feed-wise, we calculated it to be about $2.10 per month to feed an adult quail. They don’t require a large area to thrive, meaning you can get the same amount of eggs from a fraction of the space. Most quail require only one square foot of floor space per bird, 1/6th the space you would need for a chicken. 

They are very low maintenance, and they’re so fun to watch.

Quail are bizarre little birds that do the strangest things. Many things they do will scare the bejeezus out of you when they first do it. Check out these odd behaviors you might see in your quail.

They’re also just as hardy as chickens and ducks. Even in rain, snow, and extreme temperatures, quail can withstand more than you might think. Ours have done beautifully, even with the extreme winters we have here in Maine.

You can sell juvenile and adult birds for eggs, meat, or hunting dog training.

From eggs, meat, or training dogs, quail provide several revenue opportunities. Most people sell an adult breeding trio for around $35 or day-old chicks for $3 each. An 18-pack of eggs sells for $7 in my area. Quail meat vacuum packed and frozen sells for about $25 for two bird packs. I’ve even seen people selling quail feathers for crafts on Etsy.

Quail lay an egg almost every day from 6 weeks on.

If you’re looking for an incredibly short turnaround on eggs, quail are the way to go! On average, quail begin laying eggs at around six weeks of age (give or take, depending on the breed). This timeframe can be slightly prolonged in colder climates and areas where supplemental light is needed in the winter, but it’s still much shorter than the 16-18 weeks chickens require.

An open quail egg with the yoke exposed surrounded by other quail eggs.

You can often have quail when you can’t have chickens.

Laws governing poultry keeping on residential properties are often more lenient regarding quail – meaning you can often have quail when laws determine you can’t have chickens. This is great for the non-traditional homesteader. If you are not permitted to have livestock, you can keep a trio of quail indoors as pets that provide breakfast.

The Difference Between Quail & Chickens

I dive into things wanting to know everything you could possibly need or want to know. Before getting my first quail, I read quite a few books, and two I really enjoyed were Urban Quail-Keeping and Quail: Getting Started

Urban Quail-Keeping is written by experienced quail-keeping veteran and breeder Nick Williams. Written in an easy-to-understand, engaging, and informative style, it introduces the reader to what it takes to look after quail and the finer details of raising the birds. Nick provides step-by-step instructions on everything from feeding and housing to health and genetics. 

Quail: Getting Started is tailored to those with little to no experience with quail farming. Although it is a small book, it is chock-full of information, from introducing quail and setting up a coop to tips and tricks for handling the birds without stressing them out. It also provides detailed instructions for housing and feeding and advice for selecting the right quail for your needs.

Storey’s Guide to Poultry also has a small section on quail. It’s a book I like to have on hand because it suits all poultry. 

Quail Don’t Lay Eggs in a Nest

I figured a quail would be like a chicken in a smaller package. In some cases, they are similar, but these are game birds, so in some ways, they are completely different.

Often quail don’t nest (see more below); they just lay an egg wherever. The negative of that is that they also rarely brood. If you plan to breed and grow your quail “business,” you’ll need an incubator. Never one to pay retail for anything or buy something I could easily make, I’ve been looking into plans for DIY incubators using recycled/upcycled materials.

The internet would have you believe that incubating and brooding Coturnix quail is difficult. I’m here to let you in on a secret… it’s not. Forget fumigation and floating techniques. It’s really no different than incubating a chicken egg. The only difference is that it takes less time, and you might as well forget about candling. You pop your eggs in the incubator and start the clock (if you have a quail egg turner, otherwise you do have to turn them).

You can learn how to incubate and brood your quail by clicking here.

Quail Are More At Risk to Predators

Quail are more at risk to predators than chickens and need reinforced enclosures. Using heavier gauge wire can make it harder for predators to break in and ensure the safety of the quail. Additional measures to consider include burying the bottom of the enclosure into the ground and using a mesh top to provide extra protection.

Which quail breeds should I choose?

There are several quail breeds to choose from. The most common breeds are Coturnix, Bobwhite, California, and Button. Cotunix quail are the most popular, the most profitable, and the one I’m partial to and raise on my homestead.

The Coturnix quail make great homestead birds because they are hardy and resilient, even in less-than-perfect conditions. Plus, they are easy to care for and live long, productive lives. Unlike other quail breeds, they are also easily tamed, making them great pet birds for children and adults alike. They also produce more eggs than other breeds and are especially suited for small spaces, making them excellent for urban farming operations. In short, they are a perfect homestead bird.

Are quail hard to take care of?

Quail are very easy to raise. If you’ve ever had a pet parakeet, you can handle quail farming. You may raise them on wire for convenience because it’s easy to clean. If you do this, I recommend sloping the floor just a bit so the eggs roll to the front for easy collection. You may prefer to raise your quail on grass instead. If you have the space, this is a great option. Allowing them to live in a more natural environment promotes several behaviors that many quail keepers believe have been bred out of them (like hatching their eggs). 

If you raise your quail indoors, they don’t need extra care in the winter. You will want to cover the housing with tarps during extreme weather for outdoor quail and provide thawed water. We’ve found it’s easiest to raise our quail outdoors during the spring, summer, and fall and move them into the garage for the worst of winter. It’s not heated, but it makes their care easier.

How long does it take to raise quail for meat?

The timeline for raising quail for meat is significantly shorter than for other poultry. The general rule of thumb is that it takes 6-8 weeks to raise quail for meat, but this time frame can vary depending on the breed of quail being raised and the environment they’re raised in. Heritage breed chickens can take up to a year to reach the appropriate weight for processing. Even hybrid meat production chicken breeds, like Cornish Cross, take 8-9 weeks, making a massive mess during that time. I’ve spent many years raising Cornish Cross, and it’s something I decided I don’t ever want to do again.

Roasted quail and vegetables in a casserole dish.

How much meat comes from a quail?

The meat you get from your quail will depend on the breed you raise. The most common meat breeds are Coturnix and Nothern Bobwhite. A standard Coturnix will produce approximately 10 ounces of meat. A jumbo Coturnix will produce around 14 ounces of meat. Northern Bobwhite quails are smaller and produce 6-10 ounces of meat per bird. 

Quail meat and chicken may have a similar flavor profile, but quail is far more flavorful and succulent. Quail has a unique flavor, a combination of duck and chicken flavors. However, the flavor of farm-raised quail will depend on how it’s raised and what it’s fed, making it more akin to chicken in taste. The bones of this bird are small and tender enough to consume for quail farmers seeking the ultimate culinary experience.

How many years does a quail live?

In captivity, quail typically live anywhere from 2-5 years, depending on the dietary and environmental conditions they are being kept in. To keep a quail healthy, a range of factors must be considered, such as the size of the enclosure, the amount of space, and the number of enrichment activities available. Additionally, the diet must be carefully monitored to ensure they receive the proper nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. The food quality and the frequency at which it is offered can directly impact quail’s lifespan and health. Fodder can expand the nutrients in your quail’s diet.

How much money can you make when starting quail farming?

Getting started with quail farming requires very little investment. If you have the skills and materials to make a quail coop or cage system, or a free rabbit hutch available, you can start with a small setup for less than $50. Starting with a quad (one roo and three quail hens), you could expect approximately 750 eggs in the first year. If you sell them as eating eggs, you can make about $290. Granted, this doesn’t account for your expenses or the eggs you might consume. Choosing to hatch the eggs instead of selling them, you can make $250-1000 for live birds depending on your hatch success rate, market, and the age you are selling them.

There are ways to make money with quail farming, but it’s not a get-rich-quick deal. As I see it, if you’re getting food from your backyard and it’s not costing you money, you’re doing well.

Where You Can Buy Quail

You’ll be better off getting your quail locally, as quail eggs and live quail chicks don’t travel well. When you’re buying quail locally, make sure to examine them closely. You should see if the birds are healthy, alert, and free of any visible parasites or illnesses. Also, look for signs of malnutrition, such as overly thin or featherless birds. Buying quail from a reputable breeder or farm ensures the birds are healthy and properly cared for. 

If you must purchase online, it’s important to evaluate the reputation and track record of the supplier. Look for suppliers with a solid reputation for providing healthy and genetically diverse quail eggs and chicks. Online reviews and customer feedback can provide valuable insights into the reliability and quality of their products.

Purely Poultry, Murray McMurray Hatchery, and Strombergs Chicks & Game Birds offer fertile eggs and day-old quail chicks.

If you’ve found value in this blog post and enjoyed reading it, why not share it with your Pinterest community? Pin the image below and spread the love!

A pinterest-friendly graphic for my post on why you should consider quail farming on your homestead.

So, backyard quail experts, do you have any suggestions or important experiences to share? Does the quail farm business sound like it might be right for you?

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63 Comments

  1. Do you have any recommendations for good books on raising quail?

  2. Here in Louisville, KY, I usually sell quail eggs $3.50 for 12 or $5.00 for 24.

    1. Do you still sell quail in Louisville off you do what breed

  3. I’m new to quail and wanted them for pickled eggs. I now have someone asking to purchase a dozen eggs. How much do they sell for? Thanks

    1. Jessica Lane says:

      It depends on the area. Even here in Maine there is a lot of variation. I personally sell mine $5 for 30 (I sell them in those little fiber baskets you get berries in). I know my prices tend to be low for eggs.

      1. Brian Philbrook says:

        I live in northern Maine Aroostook county and I’m wondering how do the quail handle the cold? What would I need to raise chicks successfully throughout the winter? I’m considering getting quail to replace my meat rabbits.

        1. Jessica Lane says:

          They handle it just fine. We are in the White Mountains so I think we are pretty close to the extreme temperatures you see further north. Just make sure you provide ventilation without drafts. Our quail coop is solid wood. It’s taller than they really need and it has vents along the roof line, so they can hunker down out of any breeze.

  4. Rocking The Homestead says:

    We’ve been raising quail for two years now, and we tried a lot of DIY incubators, but we could never get them to hold the right temperature, and never had a single egg hatch. It was worth it for us to just buy an incubator.
    I’ve never had chickens so I can’t compare, but the quail are pretty chill birds. And their eggs are excellent for baking, as long as you don’t mind cracking 5 of them for every one chicken egg a recipe calls for.

  5. Jennifer Collins says:

    We raise Cotornix breed quail. I have one male to 8 females. They are quiet, which is good since we live in a subdivision. We eat the eggs, and also save a few to incubate and hatch out. The kids love that part. The quail are not skiddish, their wings are clipped so the kids hold them, etc. We love hatching them but yes they are born super small. A way to prevent the sway leg and other issues one commented about is to turn the eggs three times a day in the incubator so they don’t get more heat on one side. Then when they are born do not leave them on newspaper or paper towels. You have to put a wash cloth in the incubator. Just an hr or two without one after birth their legs can spread out. If they do have the leg issue you can fix it with vet wrap and put them back in place. Google that method. We love our quail and we highly recommend them for families. I run the Georgia Quail FB page, join us there for more info.

  6. there are a few things I would like to say. First you need sand in a box they love to take a bath in it and they will waste less food this way. I have raised a few types and A and M coturnix seem the best they are a meet production bird. I have found to use old bath towels for the baby’s you will have less crazy legs and equals more birds. On the pins I use 1 in by 2 in wire on the sides and top , on the bottom for the feet 1/4 by 1 in you will still have some problems with the feet but dosent affect the taste my pins are 18 in tall 2 ft wide 8 feet long holds about 40 birds each. Over crowding will result in canabulisam. Buy a goof incubator they are worth their weight in gold. You can section off some small pins from the larger ones for injuries and will be needed. Good luck don’t forget they are food

  7. Nana April says:

    Hey Jessica, just a thought if you can’t afford a incubator get a bantam hen, they are so broody and great mama’s.
    Just a thought. I have 3 girls that sit, hatch and raise them as one. Funny bantams… I also had them as a kid and they hatched duck eggs too. I am going to run the thought of quail past my hubby and see what he thinks. I know I would love them!!
    Thanks for all you share, I just found your blog today and will keep reading.
    (((Hugs)))
    Nana April

    1. Jessica Lane says:

      I love getting comments like that. I love using broodies for hatching. One of my smaller hens hatched out two ducklings early this spring. They are twice her size and she still tries to cover them at night. I know you’ll love quail. They are funny, fabulous little birds and their calls are so pretty. The girls coo and the boys have a musical crow.

  8. Hello there Jessica! I’m loving your blog and all your great posts! I hope you don’t mind, but I featured your quail post in this week’s “Pinterest Link Up” over on my blog (linking back to you, and giving you credit, of course). It was just too good of a link to not share! 🙂 If you want to check it out (not looking for traffic. LOL. Just want to give you the full heads up) the link is: http://lifeatmennageriefarm.blogspot.com/2015/07/pinterest-link-up.html

    Happy homesteading,
    ~Caity

    1. Jessica Lane says:

      Wow! Thank you! You really should consider them They’re pretty awesome. I’m kind of smitten with them already 🙂

  9. Hi Jessica,
    I love your site. Amazing articles! I am getting my quails tomorrow but I would love to incubate some. I tried doing that with a home made incubator but it was a total failure. Do you have pics of yours or any description of how you made it? I saw millions online but I am curious about what you did as I value and respect your opinions a lot! Thanks!
    Julio

    1. Jessica Lane says:

      I wish I took pictures of it before I disassembled it this year. I will have it put back together this fall when I “freshen” my flock. I’ll be sure to snap some photos then. Thankfully, quail are pretty easy to hatch. Most DIY incubators can handle the job. If you can fit in an egg turner, I highly suggest it. Set and forget seems to be the motto with these guys. Congratulations on your new quail and be sure to share pictures on our FB page. I love seeing the tiny chicks 🙂

    2. RICK O,MORTIS says:

      Incubators don’t have to be expensive buy direct from Chinese factories on eBay they will sell you any amount starting from 1 incubator at trade price with free postage to any where in the world. There the same top brands that are many times more expensive from online stores. Great small investment that will hatch your eggs. Just remember to turn the eggs at least 3 times a day. I keep my incubators in the kitchen every time I make a hot drink for my self I turn the eggs. To stop your birds getting splayed legs I use antislip mats used for ornaments & many other uses. It’s sold on a roll that you cut to size, buy it from any £1 or $1 store it has tiny rubber mesh that enables chicks to walk easy use it from when chicks are 1 day old change & wash daily is what I do with great results.

  10. Beth Rose says:

    Do you have a reliable source for ordering quail?

    1. Jessica Lane says:

      I don’t have experience with any online breeders. If you happen to live in Maine or New Hampshire, I highly recommend Quail Tale Farm in Biddeford. I just purchased eggs from them and now have a whole slew of beautiful quail chicks residing on my piano.

  11. I don’t know if anyone else asked you this – but do quail help with keeping the tick population down? We were considering guineas, but decided against it after reading so many negative things about them. Quail sound interesting!

    1. Jessica Lane says:

      I wouldn’t say they are well known for it, though they may grab a tick from time-to-time. The problem comes from the fact that you can’t free range quail and they are awfully small birds. Guineas are really the only domesticated fowl I know of that takes care of ticks, though chickens I’m sure help regulate the tick population.

  12. Just a heads up– if you are buying or raising youngsters, you have to be very VERY careful. We had a disappointingly high mortality rate with ours because apparently they are SUPER sensitive to even remotely slippery floors and three out of our six went splay-legged and died because they couldn’t move around. Put them on tightly-stretched rags; even paper toweling slipped too much. Once they get past that nerve-wracking stage, they are extremely flighty and hard to handle, a disappointment for the younger kids (who are used to hand-raised chickens and muscovy ducks, arguably the most docile poultry in existence). However, they are prolific layers of adorable little brown-speckled green eggs (we had cotournix quail), which we hard-boiled and turned into delightful little ‘bites’ (we had no outlet to sell the eggs from our two remaining quail after one escaped). Going off of that, we made the mistake of keeping ours in the same area as our other poultry. We put them with the chickens first (DON’T do that! Chickens only aggravate the quail’s already-high anxiety levels), and one escaped through a gap that even our smallest bantam didn’t have a hope of squeezing through. After that adventure, we moved the last two in with our muscovies (the most chill ducks you could imagine), and it settled down quite nicely. Don’t get me wrong, quail are great birds, just be prepared 🙂

    1. Jessica Lane says:

      Hi Kat,

      Thank you for the real world advice. I am certainly a bundle of nerves about our new adventure into quail. I appreciate all the feedback I can get. Our quail setup is at the far end of the poultry run and elevated 3′ off the ground with a completely separate run. Do you think that would still be too high stress for them? I was thinking of using bath towels in the brooder (since I had heard similar things about slippery surfaces). Would that be a good option or would nails get caught in the terry?

  13. Nicole @Little Blog on the Homestead says:

    Great information! I’d never really thought about raising quail, honestly I don’t know if I’ve ever eaten quail eggs. I’ll definitely have to try them. Thanks for sharing at the Homestead Blog Hop, hope we see you there again this week.

  14. This is very interesting!! I thought about raising quail once, but haven’t really thought of it again. (Got caught up in chickens, turkeys, goats, etc) I would love to make a bit of a profit farming this year, and maybe quail would help? Worse case scenario, I’ve heard they’re delicious!! Thank you for sharing this!

    1. Jessica Lane says:

      It really depends on your area. I plan to sell quail eggs in my roadside stand as well as through our local health food store. Depending on how you feel about it, adult birds can be sold to hunters as training birds and juveniles can be sold for breeding birds.

  15. I’ve had Coturnix quail for a few months now. I guess one of the things I would recommend is make sure you are ok with dealing with any overly aggressive birds you might end up with. One of the first hens I bought would peck the other birds to the point they were missing most of the feathers on their backs and then she would peck till they were bleeding. None of the remedies I read on chat forums worked. I finally turned her into dinner as I felt it wasn’t fair to let her keep making the other birds miserable. After she was gone the rest of my birds grew their feathers back and seemed a lot less stressed. So I guess if you purchase your birds as adults and see one that has perfect feathers among many missing feathers avoid that perfect looking one, she’s probably the reason the rest look so bad.

    1. That is a great recommendation and it applies to all poultry. If you are going to take on the responsibility of keeping animals or any kind, make sure you are prepared for all aspects of husbandry.

      Thank you for chiming in Mary.

  16. is there a way you can show better pictures of the pens. I couldn’t make out how it was designed? I am very interested in your research. thanks for sharing? also would enjoy seeing other peoples pen ideas thanks to all.
    DAVE

    1. My original drawing seems to have gone missing. I suggest hopping on Pinterest and searching “quail pen”. I saw one made out of electrical spools that looks really neat.

  17. Anonymous says:

    So I hear people saying that quail are a great option for small properties with close neighbors. I’m not sure where everyone is getting this idea. I raised 25 Bob White quail this last spring. They have a couple of distinct calls. The first one seems to be a sounding call that they develop(both male and female) at about 5-6 weeks old and gets louder as they mature. The second is the “Bob White” call. Both were loud enough that my neighbors took notice.

    1. You certainly have a valid point. Bobwhites are quite a noisy breed. Coturnix tend to be much quieter. As with any fowl, the quantity, breed and disposition of the birds makes all the difference.

  18. We have both quail and chickens but we started with quail for eating as well as dog training but we bought the chickens (silkies because they are very broody and will sit on anything) to incubate our quail eggs and as a secondary side to it we get eggs from both and meat from both and chickens in the long run in our opinion will provide more from the money we spend on them than if we bought the size incubator we would need

    1. That sounds like a great plan. Mine is similar. I have an Australorp who is an excellent mother. I just worry she might be a bit heavy for tiny quail eggs. She’s a big girl.

      1. Christina Dorrego says:

        My Australorp and buff Orp both had a chance to lay on quail eggs. broke every one of them.

        I have yet to buy actual birds. Not sure if I want to.

        1. Jessica Lane says:

          Quail eggs are best hatched in an incubator. If you have a turner in your incubator they are ridiculously easy to hatch.

  19. I have had Coturnix for a year and a half and they were doing quite well. Then they went into the fall molt. About a third of them did not ever come out of the molt and retained their “bald but look” and did not lay anymore. They were starting to come out of it and were laying quite well when the cold weather (20 deg. daytime; 10 deg. night time). My thirty birds have virtually stopped laying. They are in cages of 4-6 hens/one male. They are in an unheated, uninsulated building with plenty of sunlight and electric light to make up 14 hours of light per day. They are fed a 16% layer mash with they occasional shredded potato/carrot mix treat. Do you have any ideas what I can try in order to get my production back up. I have a sushi bar that depends on me for 3 or 4 dozen eggs per week. Enjoyed the article. Look forward to hearing from you, Jim

      1. You need to feed them a higher percentage feed. At least 20% protein.
        Good luck.

    1. Anonymous says:

      They need at least a 22% feed as layers but everything else you’re doing right! 🙂 Fresh bits of Romaine lettuce could be added and mine also get oyster shells. The extra lighting you’re doing is also very important.

    2. As Anonymous said, up the protein level of your feed or supplement with foods high in protein. 16% layer ration is not nearly high enough in protein for quail, especially when they are going through a molt. Feathers contain a high percentage of protein, so during their molt, birds need extra protein to grow back healthy feathers. Try feeding them freeze-dried meal worms. It will also help their overall health if you add some leafy greens such as kale, cabbage and Swiss chard to their diet on a regular basis as well.

      1. Jessica Lane says:

        Have you tried Tasty Worms? We have used their mealworms for a while, but I was just introduced to their solider flies. The poultry loves them!

  20. Homestead Lady says:

    Plus, the babies are so cuuuuuuute!

  21. countrygal says:

    don’t you have to have a license to keep quail?

    1. Good questions. In most cases, no. Some states require a license for native breeds. It is always wise to check with your local code enforcement first.

  22. Great post! I will be looking for that DIY incubator post.

    1. It’s coming soon, I promise! So many ideas and so little time. After the ducks hatch and I’ve had time to clean it up a bit, I’ll share my incubator with the world.

  23. Quail are on my someday list too. One of the biggest things stopping me is not having an incubator, so looking forward to anything you find out on DIY incubators!

  24. I haven’t taken the plunge of quail or rabbits (it may be postponed to next year due to the addition of a huge new garden needing my attention), but eventually I will have both. I do have my ducks living in the coop. From them I have learned that you have to observe and modify accordingly. Ex: The ducks would trash the feeding and watering area, but the chickens wouldn’t go out to eat or drink due to snow. I took down the roost over the nest boxes (they all use the one on the other side anyways) and use the poop board as a feeding station. The chickens can eat indoors and the ducks can’t reach.

    1. Asking for forgiveness here LOL. I thought your comment was for the post on multi-flock housing. Hence my going on about ducks.

      Anyways, I have no experience with quail, but I’ve done my homework. I’m doing two unrelated “quads” so I can refresh the bloodlines as needed (I’ve been told every four years). I’ve chosen the coturnix because it lays well, is a good sized meat bird (for a quail) and they are popular for training hunting dogs. I wanted a species I could market in various ways and coturnix seemed like the best fit.

      1. Mike @ Gentleman Homestead says:

        All that sounds like some excellent planning! Can’t wait to read about it as I know almost nothing about quail.

        1. There may be a quail post in your future 🙂 I’m thinking beginning of May. Maybe after my “special feature” on Swales LOL.

    2. I worked on a farm that processed 10,000 quails a day, not a fun experience. Quails are about the same size and taste the same as partridge, never tried their eggs though.

      1. Jessica Lane says:

        We like to boil or pickle them and enjoy them as a high protein snack. A lot of times when I finish off a jar of homemade pickles, I’ll boil up the eggs we have on hand and pop them in the leftover brine. They are yummy!

  25. Mike @ Gentleman Homestead says:

    Still catching up on all your old posts. Glad I came across this one. Have you taken the plunge? I’m strongly considering quail and it’s between them and rabbits. 🙂

    1. Quail eggs are much more popular than rabbit droppings 😉