Information Needed on Quail

[Chicky Crazy]

Hi! I have, over the years, owned eleven chickens. I currently have five hens. I enjoy my hens so much and would like to try a new fowl. If this happens I would, of course, keep my chickens, but want to get experience with a deferent type of fowl. Can anyone give me information about quail? I am very interested to learn about them, whether I can let them out, if they are docile, how much they are, where to buy them, and overall advantages of keeping them.

 

[Chicky Crazy]

Someone please give me some info

 

[Bengt747]

Someone posted a similar question on the following forum, so it may prove useful as far as information goes:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/984268/anyone-have-information-on-quails

I wouldn't recommend "letting them out" of any sort of pen or enclosure as they are liable to not return. Loose quail generally return to the areas of their pens in response to the calls of other captive quail, but there's certainly no guarantee.

As far as being docile verses flighty, it would depend a lot on the species. I'm inclined to say that most varieties of Coturnix quail (Pharaoh, A & M, Tuxedo, etc.) are generally more docile than "wild" species like Mearns. I consider "friendly" quail to be birds that don't necessarily have to like being handled, but will tolerate my presence and stay relatively calm when I walk past the pen.

Quail vary quite a bit in price. Day-old Coturnix chicks may run between $1-$5 each. I have seen adult Coturnix hens run as high as $6 each in my area of Wisconsin. As far as hatcheries go off the top of my head, Stromberg's Hatchery sells hatching eggs for different varieties of Coturnix. Purely Poultry sells hatching eggs and day-old chicks as well. I would recommend checking out different websites as the prices can flux over time.

Advantages of raising quail? Coturnix quail don't require a whole lot of space and won't eat as much as a chicken will. Some have rather simple personalities, but they are entertaining to watch. The hens will generally lay lots of small eggs but rarely set, so there's not much concern for the hens going broody. The A & M varieties (as well as the others) can become rather heavy and are purportedly good for eating depending on how you cook them.

Some of the advantages of certain species of quail, however, may be absent or lacking in other species. Bobwhite require rather large pens in order to prevent picking in groups. California and Gambel quail don't have as long of a laying season as other species. Some species tend to be rather flighty and may not tame down as adults. Depending on what you want the quail to be (pets, egg-layers, meat birds) will affect the species of quail you invest in.

Hope this helps!

 

[Chicky Crazy]

Thank you! That is very helpful. I was wondering (I live in the USA) what species of quail I could buy without have to get licensed? Also what species of quail lay the best?

 

[Bengt747]

As long as the species of quail is not indigenous or native to your state (barring any additional regulations imposed by your state DNR or related entity, you should not need a permit for most species. For example, Northern bobwhite quail are native to my home state of Wisconsin, so I would need a permit to own them. However, I can own any variety of Coturnix, Button quail, California, Gambel, Mearns, Mexican Speckled or Snowflake bobwhite, Georgia Giant bobwhite, etc.

Certain varieties of Coturnix (Pharaoh, Golden Manchurian, Italian) are rather splendid egg layers. My five or six Pharaoh hens laid an egg a day rather consistently for several months. I have heard that bobwhites are decent layers as well, but I'm not as familiar with the laying rates of the various types of bobwhite. This is speculation here, but I would guess the Georgia Giant and Northern tend to be better layers than Mexican Speckled and/or Snowflake. (I'm not as familiar with the different species of bobwhite, so it might be best to get a second opinion.)

 

[The Quail Guru]

If you're looking for good egg layers I'de recommend jumbo coturnix. You don't want to get no button, king quail or anything small like that, their eggs are so tiny that their not worth eating! The jumbo coturnix however, lays big yummy eggs. The males do make more noise than button quail though, but that's usually when they don't have a hen with them. See this for more info on coturnix: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/102281/coturnix-quail-basics-information-and-pictures-galore