Harvesting question...

[brandiscott]

I am in my 2nd year of quail. I find myself questioning whether to harvest the first generation or the 2nd.
I made two breeder pens last fall. A rare breed mix and Jumbo browns. They are a year+ old.
Should I harvest them? I worry that they will become less productive and I will miss my window.
Or rotate in the new young ones and let them be next years breeders.
I dont want to harvest the older ones and they be too tough or fatty if others have kept them as breeders for several years

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

Fertility drops after the first year for both male and female. On harvesting, I personally like the taste of older birds but my cat prefers the young ones more. Who are you to believe? Me or the cat?

 

[brandiscott]

Fertility drops after the first year for both male and female. On harvesting, I personally like the taste of older birds but my cat prefers the young ones more. Who are you to believe? Me or the cat?

I would never disagree with a cat. Scary.

 

[vall]

Tough decision. Make sure your new males are nice before culling the proven ones if you go that way. I have hatched eggs from 3 year old quail but fertility was definitely lower. My preference is to harvest at 8-12 weeks. A year is totally fine, but they won't be quite as tender.