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Raising Quail
- Thread starter Mike-Mike
- Start date
boilermaker
NES Member
Are you looking for eggs? young birds? or flight ready/hunt ready?
Would like young birds.
boilermaker
NES Member
PM sent
very interested. how is your coup setup different than a chicken coup? You mentioned a tractor - same deal? Planning on letting them free range?
DitchDigger
NES Member
Sweet, Good luck with the project
Craigslist. I had to go to Bristol RI. I was thinking if people are interested we can get an incubator and we can hatch a bunch. I might do some meat birds for the cookouts, and the eggs are much healthier than chicken eggs. A hen will lay about 300 eggs a year and I have 6 of them.
you have a cock too? Thought I counted 7.
Planning on expanding the covey?
How long before they start laying?
When does production slow down? Year 2, 3?
... At what point do you turn your layer into a meat bird?
Very cool.![[thumbsup]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/044.gif "Thumbs Up [thumbsup]")
ETA: Thanks for sharing! Tried to Rep "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Mike-Mike again."
Planning on expanding the covey?
How long before they start laying?
When does production slow down? Year 2, 3?
... At what point do you turn your layer into a meat bird?
Very cool.
ETA: Thanks for sharing! Tried to Rep "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Mike-Mike again."
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boilermaker
NES Member
How old are they? At what age do they start laying?
See bold
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8 weeks
see above
you have a cock too? Thought I counted 7. Yes 2M 6F
Planning on expanding the covey? Maybe
How long before they start laying? They can lay at 5-7 weeks old. They will start when they have 14hours of light for 2 weeks. Artificial light is ok. Some people use Christmas lights on a timer to keep them going.
When does production slow down? Year 2, 3? Yes around then. So I will hatch every few years and eat the old ones.
... At what point do you turn your layer into a meat bird? see above
Also the poop is the best stuff for your lawn. They also can eat table scraps, fruit etc. just try to keep protein around 26%-30% (game feed).
Very cool.
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8 weeks
see above
boilermaker
NES Member
That is a heavy protein mix at 26%+, most game bird feeds are 20% +/- 2%. Maybe quail are different but I doubt you need such a high protein level.
Yes Quail are different. Most use game feed starter 30%
http://www.strombergschickens.com/product/Purina-Gamebird-Starter-30-Protein-50-Pound/Chicken-Feed
boilermaker
NES Member
$63 a bag?! that 30% stuff just lasts until 8 weeks right? Then you can switch to lower protein? The 20% stuff we feed our pheasants is $13.50/50 lbs so hopefully you can find more affordable feed. Also, you should check out Mississippi State's poultry info:
http://msucares.com/poultry/game/index.html
They are a very good resource. They focus more on bobwhite's but I am sure most of the info is not species' specific and can be applied to most quail.
http://msucares.com/poultry/game/index.html
They are a very good resource. They focus more on bobwhite's but I am sure most of the info is not species' specific and can be applied to most quail.
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Thanks, They stay on the starter. But yes that price sux. The people on BYC (Back yard chickens) are getting better prices.
boilermaker
NES Member
Table 1 -- RECOMMENDED NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS - Mississippi State University website
Diet Protein(%) Calcium(%) Phosphorus(%)
Bobwhite Quail
Meat-type
Starter (0 - 6 wk) 23.0 1.0 .50
Finisher (6 wk - mkt) 19.0 .90 .50
Flight
Starter (0 - 6 wk) 26.0 1.0 .50
Developer (6 - 16 wk) 22.0 .90 .50
Breeders
Starter (0 - 6 wk) 26.0 1.0 .50
Developer (6 - 20 wk) 18.0 1.0 .50
Layer (20 wk +) 19.0 2.75 .65
Coturnix (Pharaoh) Quail
Starter (0 - 6 wk ) 24.0 .85 .60
Finisher (6 wk - mkt) 18.0 .65 .50
Layer (6 wk +) 18.0 2.75 .65
you might want to look at 20% protein feed and try to add a calcium supplement. I know a lot of people think BYC is the only source, but MSU is one of 6 schools that still offers a poultry science degree. I would put more weight on their advice than others. Yes you can feed them higher protein and they will be fine, but you can save a lot of money and be no worse off. Either way, they are really cool little birds and enjoy them.
Diet Protein(%) Calcium(%) Phosphorus(%)
Bobwhite Quail
Meat-type
Starter (0 - 6 wk) 23.0 1.0 .50
Finisher (6 wk - mkt) 19.0 .90 .50
Flight
Starter (0 - 6 wk) 26.0 1.0 .50
Developer (6 - 16 wk) 22.0 .90 .50
Breeders
Starter (0 - 6 wk) 26.0 1.0 .50
Developer (6 - 20 wk) 18.0 1.0 .50
Layer (20 wk +) 19.0 2.75 .65
Coturnix (Pharaoh) Quail
Starter (0 - 6 wk ) 24.0 .85 .60
Finisher (6 wk - mkt) 18.0 .65 .50
Layer (6 wk +) 18.0 2.75 .65
you might want to look at 20% protein feed and try to add a calcium supplement. I know a lot of people think BYC is the only source, but MSU is one of 6 schools that still offers a poultry science degree. I would put more weight on their advice than others. Yes you can feed them higher protein and they will be fine, but you can save a lot of money and be no worse off. Either way, they are really cool little birds and enjoy them.
I got my feed at Tractor supply and the highest they has was 24% and it was fairly cheap. I was going to supplement with meal worms for now but might hold off and do a little more research. Either way I don't think its rocket science, if they were wild they would eat whatever they could depending on the season.
Thanks for the tips.
I was getting Gamebird and Turkey Starter for $18 for a bag at Agway in Westport, MA. 26% protein. If you go any lower your egg production will slow down.
What's the caloric content of a quail egg? Id love to raise some birds but it will be a few years in the future
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