[Shropshirelass]

I've heard quail can be a great source of eggs & meat & taste good but what do they taste like & how easy are they to keep? x

[shygirl]

we used to eat the courtenix quail and they were truly delicious. it did require a bird each for a meal though.
we did them spatchcocked and deepfried like kfc  but have seen them used as the middle of a 3 bird roast.
definitely worth a try but I believe the Texan quail are meatier.

[Sbom]

I'm also interested in having some quail, don't know much about them but saw the jumbo ones and wondered if they'd be good?
Am currently on an animal ban (OH) so just researching at the moment 

[Beeducked]

I've kept them as meat bird and thought they were great.


Very easy to hatch although chick mortality can be higher than I am used to with ducklings (which is nearly zero). They grow quickly and the girls are laying and the boys ready for dispatch by about 8 weeks. Easy to pluck and gut which is important in my house as it is me that ends up doing it. I think there is a surprising about of meat on them for such a little bird but you may need 2 per person for a main course.

[Shropshirelass]

Ok so I'm being pretty sold on them but what do they actually taste like? Are they gamey like partridge or pheasant as I like pheasant but partridge for me is too strong xx

[madchickenlady]

Also curious, do you free range them or keep them in a run?

[Clansman]

Need to be kept in or they just go vertical and disappear

I keep mine in a three tier setup similar to this

[shygirl]

I agree with the hutches, much easier than a bigger aviary, less panic too.
id say they are similar to chicken in taste.

[MAK]

Quail are very popular here in France and sold in trays of up to 12. We would eat 2 each and cook them in a pan with a sauce. They have a very unique taste and make a great change from the rabbit , duck and pork we grow ourselves.
I would keep them if we did not have enough on our patch but I have not investigated if they come with any problems.
Good luck!!

[in the hills]

We keep ours for eggs in a coop on the lawn. They can't free range as they are totally scatty and wouldn't return as hens do.

Some of ours have occasionally escaped. Some will return and go back into the coop if you leave the door open for them. My daughters favourite, 'Japan  ' went on a walkabout for 3 days but came home eventually.

Males are VERY aggressive. We have a couple living together happily at the moment but in general they will do each other serious harm once sexually mature at around 6 weeks old.

They need plenty of hens per cock bird as they are very 'active'.

They love a dust bath.

Seem to be pretty hardy and survived -19 up here during those bad winters. We did cover the coop at night with carpet.

Friend did eat hers. She said they were surprisingly meaty!

[Q]

Hmmmm  - getting more internested - Just a few questions if you dont mind.

Why is the coop (picture) separated into 6 sections? would that hold 6 lots of 1 male to 6 females in each one?

do they lay an egg per day like chickens do?

what food is best - never seen Quail food anywhere?

I thought they were a very noisy bird.

[Victorian Farmer]

We used to be a qual farm .we had 10 ft squre pens with about 80 in each the local estate sold eggs and qual for christmas .we would sell 3 for 12 pound .The breeding stock was the best hens .The food hall stopt selling qual /so that was it for qual nice  and simple .A better bet than chickins. Best food medicated chick crumbs .They do make noise but not much .Greens a must .Saw dust for the floore and yes 1 cock to 6 hens .

[in the hills]

They are in the main quiet. The hens make hardly any noise. The male 'crows' but not as loud as a cockerel. He only makes his call in the spring and summer.

Japanese quail are very good layers. Very reliable in one egg per day but sometimes the hen will lay 2 eggs per day. We have sometimes had 3 per hen per day but this is unusual. Laying is very seasonal. We get eggs from around easter to September/October depending on weather.

We feed ours on layers mash. You can get quail pellets but we can't get them locally. Did try them but can't say that the quail seemed any better on them anyway. Think the special pellets are higher in protein. Ours are on the lawn and I 've seen them gobble up little insects so they probably supplement their diets a bit.

Lifespan fairly short we have found. 2/3 years maybe.

[in the hills]

  Don't think 'medicated' chick crumbs would be good idea ..... don't think you're supposed to feed medicated food to laying hens are you ?

[Sbom]

So which type is the best all rounder?