Friday, April 27, 2007
Raising Bobwhite Quail.
These birds are a lot of breeder's choice of quail. Well known for the bobwhite call of the males. They also adapt well to the captive environment. They can be raised on wire or ground pens. The bobwhite quail mature at around 16 weeks of age and start laying eggs between 21 to 25 weeks of age. When they start laying, has to do with environment and management.
Your breeding quail can be separated as pairs, trios and some breeders will also do colony breeding with the bobwhite quail. If you choose the colony method for your breeding quail. You should really keep an eye on the bobwhite. The males are prone to fighting during the breeding season and often killing or injuring one another.
I think it is best to have pairing cages for the bobwhite. You should start pairing, about 4 to 6 weeks before expected laying. You should also start these quail on a breeder diet at this time. Depending on your climate for raising these quail the breeding season will usually start sometime in April and go through September. Your bobwhite breeding stock should not have to be rotated for 3 years.
If you are thinking about raising quail or are trying to decide on a specie of quail to raise. I would highly recommend the bobwhite.
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To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
The Beginners Guide to Raising Quail
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
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Saturday, April 14, 2007
Raising Coturnix Quail
When it comes to raising quail for meat or eggs. The Coturnix quail should be highly considered. When raising quail the Coturnix stands out for it's quickness to reach maturity. It would not be unheard of to start out with just 2 male and 4 female Coturnix. Then 6 months later have well over 130 quail to raise.
These quail adapt very well to the captive environment. They actually will not survive in the wild. These quail are in my opinion the best specie for the beginner to raising quail.
The Coturnix reaches maturity at about 6 weeks of age and with proper pairing and nutrition could be producing fertile eggs, ready for incubation at 8 weeks of age. Where most other breeds will take up to 26 weeks of age to reach this type of maturity.
The Coturnix is best to market between 6 weeks to 6 months of age. The 2 draw backs to raising the Coturnix quail are:
1) They become a liability after 8 months of age. Time to change breeders.
2) Lower hatch rate than other species. An 80% hatch rate for this specie would be excellent. Usually less.
I personally think the plus side of raising this specie of quail out weigh the negatives of raising this quail.
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To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
The Beginners Guide to Raising Quail
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
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These quail adapt very well to the captive environment. They actually will not survive in the wild. These quail are in my opinion the best specie for the beginner to raising quail.
The Coturnix reaches maturity at about 6 weeks of age and with proper pairing and nutrition could be producing fertile eggs, ready for incubation at 8 weeks of age. Where most other breeds will take up to 26 weeks of age to reach this type of maturity.
The Coturnix is best to market between 6 weeks to 6 months of age. The 2 draw backs to raising the Coturnix quail are:
1) They become a liability after 8 months of age. Time to change breeders.
2) Lower hatch rate than other species. An 80% hatch rate for this specie would be excellent. Usually less.
I personally think the plus side of raising this specie of quail out weigh the negatives of raising this quail.
About the Author:
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To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
The Beginners Guide to Raising Quail
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
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Monday, April 9, 2007
Flight Conditioning Pens for Quail Raising.
If raising quail for release or hunting preserves. Your birds will have to be conditioned to fly. In order for them to be ready, you will have to construct a flight pen.
These pens can range anywhere from 30ft to 150ft long, 12 to 15ft wide and tall enough to get a tractor or some other plowing device in. Usually 10 to 15ft high is good. They should also have a shelter built and a catch pen at the other end.
These pens should be constructed with ½ inch mesh wire. This wire should be covered with an open weave burlap or cheese cloth. This will help prevent your quail from getting injured if they fly into the wire and the open weave will allow light and ventilation. The sides and the roof should be covered in this manner. You should also have your feeding devices in an area where they can't get wet.
These pens should be off limits or away from people, children playing or any other type of activity that would allow the quail to get use to people. If that would happen, they could become easy prey in the wild.
There are several options for the type of ground cover. If in a relatively dry climate or in an area that drains well. You could plant a crop in this area that would closely resemble the type of environment they will be released in. It would be best to consult your county agent about the best crop to plant.
You could also use litter floors and some breeders will even use concrete. Whatever you use, proper management of these areas will be required.
Some quail breeders will build the shorter length pens of 30ft or so. Their reasoning behind this is, the shorter pen will not allow the quail to glide. They will have to keep using their wings, thus making them stronger flyer's.
When constructing these type of pens, you should figure 2 cubic feet per bird.
About the Author:
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To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
The Beginners Guide to Raising Quail
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
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These pens can range anywhere from 30ft to 150ft long, 12 to 15ft wide and tall enough to get a tractor or some other plowing device in. Usually 10 to 15ft high is good. They should also have a shelter built and a catch pen at the other end.
These pens should be constructed with ½ inch mesh wire. This wire should be covered with an open weave burlap or cheese cloth. This will help prevent your quail from getting injured if they fly into the wire and the open weave will allow light and ventilation. The sides and the roof should be covered in this manner. You should also have your feeding devices in an area where they can't get wet.
These pens should be off limits or away from people, children playing or any other type of activity that would allow the quail to get use to people. If that would happen, they could become easy prey in the wild.
There are several options for the type of ground cover. If in a relatively dry climate or in an area that drains well. You could plant a crop in this area that would closely resemble the type of environment they will be released in. It would be best to consult your county agent about the best crop to plant.
You could also use litter floors and some breeders will even use concrete. Whatever you use, proper management of these areas will be required.
Some quail breeders will build the shorter length pens of 30ft or so. Their reasoning behind this is, the shorter pen will not allow the quail to glide. They will have to keep using their wings, thus making them stronger flyer's.
When constructing these type of pens, you should figure 2 cubic feet per bird.
About the Author:
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To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
The Beginners Guide to Raising Quail
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
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Tuesday, April 3, 2007
More Coop Information for Raising Quail
When constructing your quail coops there is a crucial enemy other then predators, that will have to be considered. This enemy would be Mother Nature. Your quail will need protection from the elements wind, rain, heat and cold.
One of the best ways I have found, is to cover at least one third of your cage with exterior plywood. When raising quail in captivity, you have the job of protecting them. You don't want to lose your investment for lack of doing so.
You could be a little creative when constructing this shelter. You could paint the outside and put an a-frame type roof on it, something like a dog house. I think these look pretty impressive.
You will also want to create a slight slope to the rest of you roof so the rain can run off. Depending on how high you make your cage, I would decide on the height by convenience. You will need a tarp or something that you can drop around the legs of your coop to protect the quail from drafts.
Remember when preparing to raise quail you need to try and think of all possible problems and address them before you purchase your quail.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
The Beginners Guide to Raising Quail
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
One of the best ways I have found, is to cover at least one third of your cage with exterior plywood. When raising quail in captivity, you have the job of protecting them. You don't want to lose your investment for lack of doing so.
You could be a little creative when constructing this shelter. You could paint the outside and put an a-frame type roof on it, something like a dog house. I think these look pretty impressive.
You will also want to create a slight slope to the rest of you roof so the rain can run off. Depending on how high you make your cage, I would decide on the height by convenience. You will need a tarp or something that you can drop around the legs of your coop to protect the quail from drafts.
Remember when preparing to raise quail you need to try and think of all possible problems and address them before you purchase your quail.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
The Beginners Guide to Raising Quail
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
