Raising Quail

Well, maybe you want to raise chickens but you don't have the space, it's not allowed (if you live the city), or you can't keep roosters but you want to raise chicks, or maybe you just want a fun and educational pet. If so, you could try raising quail.

Many websites like this one http://www.hometrainingtools.com/quail-eggs-incubators/c/161/ and other school/ home school science supply sites have chicks. For a rather low price ( $31 on this site) you get either four Pharaoh (also called Cortunix) or four Bobwhite quail eggs and an incubator.

It might seem hard to hatch chicks, but you can do it. First, since the eggs are dormant, you can leave them alone for about eight hours to 'settle'. The most important things to remember are: make sure the heat stays constant, keep it humid, and turn the eggs. You have to turn the eggs at least twice a day, but some people say every four hours. About four times a day should work.

It is recommended to mark an X on one side of the egg and O on the other. Also, you are less likely to damage the fragile eggs if you roll the eggs with your finger instead of picking them up to turn them.

When the chicks hatch, they will first poke a hole at the oxygen in - then sleep (they are exhausted), then they will peck some more, often sleeping. When they have hatched, leave them alone for at least eight hours or until they get active. Them, pick the chicks up carefully and but them in a brooder (a cardboard box or aquarium with a heat lamp, lined with newspaper or rodent shavings). Try not to handle them much for a few days (they are very, very, very tiny!).

After a few days, you can hold the chicks very gently (otherwise they will be very skittish when full grown).

Quail chicks can eat normal chick starter made for chicken chicks. My Aunt had quail as a girl, and she fed them oatmeal, I think. Chick starter is probably better.

When the chicks are full grown, they need a cage. They are small enough to keep indoors, and actually, many people do this. If you keep them indoors or in a garage or shed, you can use a wire guinea pig cage. Other wise, you can use a rabbit cage. Either way, they should have space to fly. Or, if the wings are clipped (for indoor quail and tame quail that you handle) they should have a run.

By the way, the website says that usually only two or three eggs hatch. If none of them hatch, you can get four more for two dollars.

The incubator is reusable, so if you have more eggs (if you have a cock and hen, you will have plenty) you can hatch them. If you want eating eggs, sell the cocks or keep them separate.