Recommendation on source for quail eggs?

[FatherFalcon]

Maybe some of the reasons quails lay fewer eggs in winter could be the reduced availability of light, fewer insects, seeds, and sources of calcium in the wild during colder months...

On one side, If you house your birds in a controlled, enclosed environment, you could provide a 20-hour light cycle to encourage egg production.

Offering a more natural light cycle on the other side to support healthier bloodlines.

Since my quails are reaching over 510 grams, I plan to establish eight breeding groups, each consisting of five hens and one rooster (40 hens, 8 roosters). Most likely, I'll maintain a natural light cycle in sync with the changing seasons so as not to stress the hens.

 

[pac]

Reduced light is what I read. Just like chickens.
Although my hens would give me an egg or two each week through winter. So maybe this is where the individual color (species?) might come into play that was mentioned?

For chickens, I read that they only have so many eggs in them, so increasing their winter production only burns them out sooner.
Not sure about quails.

But the source I spoke with said his younger quail just started producing. So maybe it's even age related.

 

[CliftonQuail]

Regarding burnout, quail are the same as chicken. Adding supplemental light in winter to get them to continue to lay decreases their lifespan.

As I mentioned before,I can't recall if MyShire uses supplemental light, or not. Being a large scale commercial operation, I suspect the answer is yes, but even with the extra light, the birds will naturally reduce laying a bit in winter.

Coturnix typically begin laying as early as 6 weeks old, but I typically wait until they've been laying for a couple of weeks before trying to incubate their eggs.

 

[Zenmonkey]

I'm a little late to this party. I hope those birds do spectacularly for you!

Last year I bought a boat load of pharoah quail from kingshatchery2013 on ebay. He's located vaguely in your area, central PA as I recall. Hatch rates for me were high 80s for both the regular and the jumbo. Prices this year are about 50% higher than what I paid a year ago.

MyShire is where I intend to buy my next eggs. In his youtube live stream he's mentioned that his birds are all indoors, so I suspect he uses timered lights.

 

[pac]

Thanks!
I will keep them in mind.

 

[FatherFalcon]

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• Specialties: Specializes in Coturnix quail eggs and meat.
• Overview: One of the well-known producers in the Southeast, offering both quail products and live birds for sale.

2. Quail Hollow Farms (Ohio)​

• Specialties: Offers quail meat, eggs, and game bird services.
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3. Murray McMurray Hatchery (Iowa)​

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• Specialties: Focuses on both quail farming and game bird hunting.
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• Specialties: Game bird breeding and quail meat production.
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• Specialties: High-quality quail eggs and live quail.
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• Specialties: Game bird farming, including quail.
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8. River Bend Quail Farm (South Carolina)​

• Specialties: Game bird and quail farming for eggs, meat, and hunting.
• Overview: Located in the Southeast U.S., they produce quail eggs and meat, and they also sell live birds for hunting clubs.

9. Spring Hill Quail Farm (Tennessee)​

• Specialties: Focuses on Coturnix quail and eggs.
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10. Eli's Game Bird Farm (Arkansas)​

• Specialties: Game bird breeding, including quail.
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11. Texas Quail Farms (Texas)​

• Specialties: Produces quail for both meat and hunting.
• Overview: This farm provides high-quality quail for game preserves, hunting operations, and culinary use.

12. Peacock Ridge Quail Farm (Indiana)​

• Specialties: Breeds Bobwhite and Coturnix quail.
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13. Blackwing Farms (Ohio)​

• Specialties: Specialty game birds and quail for meat production.
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14. Timber Creek Game Birds (Tennessee)​

• Specialties: Focuses on breeding and selling live quail.
• Overview: Provides high-quality quail for meat, eggs, and live bird sales, particularly to hunting clubs and private estates.

15. Stonebridge Farms (North Carolina)​

• Specialties: Premium quail meat and eggs.
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16. Northwest Game Birds (Oregon)​

• Specialties: Specialty breeding and quail farming.
• Overview: Offers a variety of game birds, including quail, focusing on sustainable practices and high-quality meat production.

17. Pine Creek Quail Farm (Georgia)​

• Specialties: Offers quail eggs and meat.
• Overview: A well-established farm in Georgia that provides quail for both commercial and private customers, with a focus on meat and egg production.

18. Hickory Hill Game Birds (Missouri)​

• Specialties: Bobwhite and Coturnix quail.
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19. Vaughn’s Quail Farm (Alabama)​

• Specialties: Produces Bobwhite quail for meat and eggs.
• Overview: Known for quail farming with a focus on producing healthy and quality quail for the Southern market.

20. Wildlife Game Birds (Kentucky)​

• Specialties: Specializes in breeding quail for both hunting and culinary purposes.
• Overview: A well-regarded farm in Kentucky, they produce quail for game preserves, hunting clubs, and high-end restaurants.