Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Temperature change and losing quail when raising.
I have received several emails lately from people that have lost up to 80% of their 8 week old quail. They did not tell me what specie of quail they were raising, just the fact that they lost so many quail.
First of all when raising quail, at 8 weeks old, if you are brooding correctly, these quail are just coming out of a controlled environment of a temperature of 70 degrees. The quail are still immature, unless they are Coturnix quail and becoming acclimated to a temperature of 40 to 50 degrees should be a gradual process.
You should provide some means of heat and protection from the elements. The heat can be reduced gradually as the quail mature and their natural instincts begin to kick in. But when raising quail they still need cover to covey in. They should be able to escape the brisk winds of winter. You need to provide them a place to escape.
When I was young and out walking the fields, rabbit hunting. Quail would be found in very thick and heavy grass cover. This is not just their way of hiding from predators. It is also their way of protecting themselves from the elements.
They are not like dogs or cats that their fur just gets thicker. The quail are feathered animals that need cover and each other for warmth. When raising quail in captivity, you obviously have to provide the protection, their instinct will tell them to find it. But you have to provide it.
Remember that other than Coturnix or Button Quail most species of quail do not reach maturity until 16 weeks of age or so.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
First of all when raising quail, at 8 weeks old, if you are brooding correctly, these quail are just coming out of a controlled environment of a temperature of 70 degrees. The quail are still immature, unless they are Coturnix quail and becoming acclimated to a temperature of 40 to 50 degrees should be a gradual process.
You should provide some means of heat and protection from the elements. The heat can be reduced gradually as the quail mature and their natural instincts begin to kick in. But when raising quail they still need cover to covey in. They should be able to escape the brisk winds of winter. You need to provide them a place to escape.
When I was young and out walking the fields, rabbit hunting. Quail would be found in very thick and heavy grass cover. This is not just their way of hiding from predators. It is also their way of protecting themselves from the elements.
They are not like dogs or cats that their fur just gets thicker. The quail are feathered animals that need cover and each other for warmth. When raising quail in captivity, you obviously have to provide the protection, their instinct will tell them to find it. But you have to provide it.
Remember that other than Coturnix or Button Quail most species of quail do not reach maturity until 16 weeks of age or so.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, October 19, 2007
How Important is Quail Raising Knowledge?
I think there are entirely to many people that are starting to get into raising quail, thinking that it is just like raising chickens or any other domestic type animal. This is just not the case. Raising quail is not like anything you have ever raised in your life.
When raising quail and having any success at it, there are many variables that have to come together in order to succeed at this hobby or business. Without any knowledge at all of these variables, your quail will die and that is the hard truth.
There is absolutely no room for trial and error when it comes to raising quail. I have tried that and now know of many other people who have done the same. I receive many emails from people who have a zero hatch rate, chicks are dying and cannibalism.
These are all from people that don't want to buy and read books to learn a little about raising quail first. The knowledge that could be gained from the experience of others can help prevent most of these problems from ever happening. Or at least give them a quick solution to a problem that starts.
Will the knowledge you gain from reading books written by experienced quail breeders prevent all your quail from dying? No! Will that knowledge about raising quail prevent a lot of your quail from dying needlessly? Definitely Yes!
I have received an email from one person in a complete frantic state. Telling me his quail were dying by the hands full. During the process of emailing him back many times trying to figure out what was going on. He purchased and downloaded my ebook. Being able to receive the book immediately, worked out great for him. The next email I received from this person was thanking me for saving his quail.
I have had one person email me for incubating tips. They had just went through a 0% hatch rate. I gave them a few tips and a month or so later, they were emailing me pictures of their newly hatched quail. They had went from 0% to a 90% hatch rate. Then they had a disease problem and then it was a cannibalism problem. These problems for the most part are avoidable, with proper knowledge.
My whole point to this article is. Sure I want you to buy my book. But whether it be mine or someone else's or both. Get the knowledge, have an idea of what raising quail requires, before your quail start dying. Once they start, it could really snowball and you could lose your whole flock.
Raising quail is a choice you have made. Make the right choice and learn “how to raise quail” so you can enjoy it.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When raising quail and having any success at it, there are many variables that have to come together in order to succeed at this hobby or business. Without any knowledge at all of these variables, your quail will die and that is the hard truth.
There is absolutely no room for trial and error when it comes to raising quail. I have tried that and now know of many other people who have done the same. I receive many emails from people who have a zero hatch rate, chicks are dying and cannibalism.
These are all from people that don't want to buy and read books to learn a little about raising quail first. The knowledge that could be gained from the experience of others can help prevent most of these problems from ever happening. Or at least give them a quick solution to a problem that starts.
Will the knowledge you gain from reading books written by experienced quail breeders prevent all your quail from dying? No! Will that knowledge about raising quail prevent a lot of your quail from dying needlessly? Definitely Yes!
I have received an email from one person in a complete frantic state. Telling me his quail were dying by the hands full. During the process of emailing him back many times trying to figure out what was going on. He purchased and downloaded my ebook. Being able to receive the book immediately, worked out great for him. The next email I received from this person was thanking me for saving his quail.
I have had one person email me for incubating tips. They had just went through a 0% hatch rate. I gave them a few tips and a month or so later, they were emailing me pictures of their newly hatched quail. They had went from 0% to a 90% hatch rate. Then they had a disease problem and then it was a cannibalism problem. These problems for the most part are avoidable, with proper knowledge.
My whole point to this article is. Sure I want you to buy my book. But whether it be mine or someone else's or both. Get the knowledge, have an idea of what raising quail requires, before your quail start dying. Once they start, it could really snowball and you could lose your whole flock.
Raising quail is a choice you have made. Make the right choice and learn “how to raise quail” so you can enjoy it.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Sexing Coturnix or Japanese Quail.
When raising Coturnix quail sexing can be done in several different ways. For most normal colored Coturnix quail. This can be done by their colors. The male Coturnix will have rusty brown colored feathers on the upper throat and lower breast area. The female's color is somewhat similar to that of the male quail but the feathers are long and pointed in the throat and upper breast area. They are lighter and more of a cinnamon color. The female quail also has a little black in the tan breast feathers.
Another way of differentiating between the sexes when raising these quail is that the female will weigh a little more than the male. The weight difference may be a little as a half of an ounce. But there is a difference.
Because of the many color variations of Coturnix quail available for raising. Sometimes it is impossible to sex these quail by color. So vent sexing may be necessary. This type of sexing can be done very accurately when raising the Cotunix quail, if done properly.
When using this method, the male of the specie has a small bulb like area located in its vent section. This is called the cloacal gland. When the male Coturnix quail reaches sexual maturity, this gland will secrete a foamy looking substance. The female of this quail specie does not have this gland, you will not find this bulb like gland in their vent area.
When raising these quail and wanting to sex at a young age, you may be able to see this gland with some type of magnification device. You may want to be careful putting your face in the vent area.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Another way of differentiating between the sexes when raising these quail is that the female will weigh a little more than the male. The weight difference may be a little as a half of an ounce. But there is a difference.
Because of the many color variations of Coturnix quail available for raising. Sometimes it is impossible to sex these quail by color. So vent sexing may be necessary. This type of sexing can be done very accurately when raising the Cotunix quail, if done properly.
When using this method, the male of the specie has a small bulb like area located in its vent section. This is called the cloacal gland. When the male Coturnix quail reaches sexual maturity, this gland will secrete a foamy looking substance. The female of this quail specie does not have this gland, you will not find this bulb like gland in their vent area.
When raising these quail and wanting to sex at a young age, you may be able to see this gland with some type of magnification device. You may want to be careful putting your face in the vent area.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, October 15, 2007
Chicks Dying When Raising Quail
When raising quail and your chicks are dying after they are hatched, doesn't necessary mean you are doing something wrong. If you purchased the eggs from another quail farmer, they could have been doomed before you even purchased them.
Sometimes when raising quail, the quail chicks dying can be traced back to their source. The breeder quail that produced the quail eggs. There are a few variables that need to come together for the breeding quail to produce high quality quail eggs.
These variables are often overlooked by new quail breeders and ignored by experienced quail farmers.
These are some of the factors that can cause your quail chicks to die because of the breeding stock:
1. Inbreeding. Which is more likely to happen on smaller quail farms but can happen no matter how big the quail farm.
2. Improper diet. When picking your breeding stock, they should be started on a layer or breeder diet 2 weeks before they are expected to start laying eggs. Then kept on this diet throughout the laying season. This type of diet contains all the required nutrients needed for high quality production.
3. Disease. Even though the breeder quail may not show any signs of disease, they could still be carriers. If so, the disease could be passed on to the highly susceptible eggs.
These factors should also be consider when raising your own breeder quail. But if you do purchase eggs. I highly recommend purchasing from a breeder that participates in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP).
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes when raising quail, the quail chicks dying can be traced back to their source. The breeder quail that produced the quail eggs. There are a few variables that need to come together for the breeding quail to produce high quality quail eggs.
These variables are often overlooked by new quail breeders and ignored by experienced quail farmers.
These are some of the factors that can cause your quail chicks to die because of the breeding stock:
1. Inbreeding. Which is more likely to happen on smaller quail farms but can happen no matter how big the quail farm.
2. Improper diet. When picking your breeding stock, they should be started on a layer or breeder diet 2 weeks before they are expected to start laying eggs. Then kept on this diet throughout the laying season. This type of diet contains all the required nutrients needed for high quality production.
3. Disease. Even though the breeder quail may not show any signs of disease, they could still be carriers. If so, the disease could be passed on to the highly susceptible eggs.
These factors should also be consider when raising your own breeder quail. But if you do purchase eggs. I highly recommend purchasing from a breeder that participates in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP).
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Raising Quail for Consumption.
When raising quail for consumption purposes only, the process is a little different than raising for eggs or flight. It is probably best to decide when your quail are still chicks, just what you are raising any particular quail for. This way when you take the quail chicks off of their starter feed, you can get them on the correct diet immediately.
You will raise your quail chicks as you normally would. Putting the chicks on a starter feed as soon as they are moved to your brooder. Once your quail chicks reach the age of 6 to 8 weeks old if raising for meat, you will then want to put them on a finisher diet. Then keep your meat quail on this diet until slaughter.
Another thing you should do when raising quail for meat is to only allow them 8 hours of light per day. This will help cut down on the quails activity and thus allow them to become a little more plump before slaughter. As you know or you should know, that quail have no fat. This is the reason when cooking quail, most people will wrap them in bacon.
These tips are also a good way to raise your meat quail to sell to restaurants.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
You will raise your quail chicks as you normally would. Putting the chicks on a starter feed as soon as they are moved to your brooder. Once your quail chicks reach the age of 6 to 8 weeks old if raising for meat, you will then want to put them on a finisher diet. Then keep your meat quail on this diet until slaughter.
Another thing you should do when raising quail for meat is to only allow them 8 hours of light per day. This will help cut down on the quails activity and thus allow them to become a little more plump before slaughter. As you know or you should know, that quail have no fat. This is the reason when cooking quail, most people will wrap them in bacon.
These tips are also a good way to raise your meat quail to sell to restaurants.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
How to Raise Quail.com
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
