About Raising Quail for Self Sufficiency
If you are exploring the idea of raising quail for self-sufficiency, you’ve come to the right place! If you discovered this page through our book, the Beginner’s Guide to Raising Coturnix Quail, this where you’ll find supplemental videos for Chapter 1: Coturnix Basics.
Top 10 Reasons To Raise Quail (vs Chickens)
1. Quail hatch faster than chickens
Coutrnix take 17-20 days to hatch (vs chickens 21 days)
2. They grow out faster
Coturnix chicks are fully feathered by 3-4 weeks (vs chickens 6-8 weeks). They don’t need to be in a heated brooder as long, which saves you money.
3. They lay eggs sooner
Coturnix lay at 6-8 weeks (vs 6-8 months for chickens, depending on breed). This means that you would get about 100 quail eggs (or 18 weeks worth of eggs before you’d get your first chicken egg.
4. They lay a LOT of eggs
Coturnix lay 250-300 eggs a year, about the same as backyard chickens.
5. They can lay all year
With supplemental light, Coturnix can supply you with eggs all year long.
6. They take up less space
Quail need ⅓ of a square foot in cages (vs chickens 8-10 sq ft). Quail cages can be stacked and will fit in a shed, patio, or tiny backyard.
7. They are extremely hardy Quail can handle extreme heat and cold very well, with proper precautions. Based on our experience (and the experience of many other quail raisers), Coturnix are less likely to get sick than chickens.
8. They are easy to butcher
You don’t need special equipment to butcher quail – just a pair of scissors and a couple of buckets. And it’s fast. Way faster than chickens. We also like that you can butcher quail at any age. With meat chickens, you have to process them during a certain time frame, which means less flexibility.
9. Their eggs and meat are delicious
Quail eggs taste just like chicken eggs. The fact that they are fun-sized is a bonus with kids. Quail meat is all dark, but not gamey tasting.
10. There are fewer regulations
In general, there are fewer regulations regarding quail. In most places, you don’t need a permit to raise them because they are non-native game bird.