Dispatching Quail

[RossAcres]

I have some Coturnix quail that I need to harvest. I'm trying not to get attached to them, so I need to do it soon. I thought it would be easier to do since I hunt deer and turkey, but there's something bothering me about raising them to butcher. I don't hold them, play with them, etc. to make sure I don't grow fond of them. I just don't know why I keep putting it off. I got hatching eggs with the intention of butchering some, and saving some to produce more.

How do you dispatch your quail? I saw some videos and they literally wrapped a few fingers around the neck and straight up yanked the head right off of the body. Is that the best way? I'm afraid I wont do it fast or hard enough and cause them pain.

 

[igorsMistress]

That’s the best way, yeah. I totally get where you’re coming from, raising something with the intent to kill and eat it is way different than hunting where the animal has a chance to escape death. We don’t raise quail anymore because we didn’t have the heart to continually process the birds. I was allergic to em too, but the death of so many animals for one meal weighed on us.

 

[RossAcres]

That’s the best way, yeah. I totally get where you’re coming from, raising something with the intent to kill and eat it is way different than hunting where the animal has a chance to escape death. We don’t raise quail anymore because we didn’t have the heart to continually process the birds. I was allergic to em too, but the death of so many animals for one meal weighed on us.

yeah, i may rethink what my plans are for them. Maybe keeping females for eggs and selling males to people who will eat them or use them to train/feed other animals.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have some Coturnix quail that I need to harvest. I'm trying not to get attached to them, so I need to do it soon. I thought it would be easier to do since I hunt deer and turkey, but there's something bothering me about raising them to butcher. I don't hold them, play with them, etc. to make sure I don't grow fond of them. I just don't know why I keep putting it off. I got hatching eggs with the intention of butchering some, and saving some to produce more.

How do you dispatch your quail? I saw some videos and they literally wrapped a few fingers around the neck and straight up yanked the head right off of the body. Is that the best way? I'm afraid I wont do it fast or hard enough and cause them pain.

I use a pair of sharp shears to dispatch my Quail, that's the quickest way I have found. Others do pop the head..

@Nabiki wrote an Excellent article about processing Quail. Very helpful, I've read it dozens of times now, still worth reading over and over. Hope you find it helpful.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-process-your-quail-including-gory-pictures.75834/

 

[RossAcres]

I use a pair of sharp shears to dispatch my Quail, that's the quickest way I have found. Others do pop the head..

@Nabiki wrote an Excellent article about processing Quail. Very helpful, I've read it dozens of times now, still worth reading over and over. Hope you find it helpful.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-process-your-quail-including-gory-pictures.75834/

Thank you!