Quail

[MaryN]

I'm considering starting to keep a few quail. Does anyone already do this and is it difficult? What conditions do I need to consider?

Any info gratefully received.

[NorthernRaider]

Got nothing on quail in my archives sorry Mary

[Steve]

Not difficult to keep, but need some maintenance as they lay their eggs all over the place and forget where. You must make sure that your location is proof against predators as rats, stoats, weasels etc will come in and wipe them out. My sister kept hers in a very large greenhouse with mesh ventilation at both ends, double door at one end so that they didn't escape as she came in. Predators were still a problem though, she lost a load. You can either grow large plants or put in dense branches, they spend most of their time on the floor but like to get off it at night.

[Devonian]

Not really got any direct experience, but when I was a kid, my Dad kept them in the bottom of his aviaries, they were used to clear up all the spilt/dropped seed on the floor of the aviaries which the other birds (parakeets) discarded.

As Steve states they are pretty easy to keep, but from a source of food/egg perspective, they are pretty limited on what you can get from them!

[Tigs]

[SecretPrepper]

Considering this myself. There are loads of videos on YouTube. They seem skittering but also seem to have lost the ability to forage or to care about their eggs

[Stewart]

I'm considering starting to keep a few quail. Does anyone already do this and is it difficult? What conditions do I need to consider?

Any info gratefully received.

check out home farmer magazine.article on them in latest copy(jan)

[MaryN]

Thanks for the info about sites and articles. It appears that quail are only just more batty than chickens. I hadn't thought about keeping them in a greenhouse - great idea that. I realise that they are really only mouthful of meat on each bird, but i LOVE quail eggs. I shall talk to OH about the possibility of constructing a secure run.