French Quail

[PeelsBells]

Just writing to see if any one breeds their own Quail. As i am looking for a new line to go in with mine. My breeding quail at 8weeks are 14oz which is a good size as they have been imported from France. This birds are for the table over there and are bred for that purpose. If any one has any let me know as i will do a swap on eggs or on birds.
My next lot are ready in 8 weeks and 2 days. I will post some pictures on the net. All my birds are free range. Just so they have some sort of life for the 8 weeks.
These birds are excellent eating emmmmmmmmmmmm :lol: :shock:

[PeelsBells]

ive got 150 eggs in at the moment they are due to hatch tomorrow.
Then i can dispatch my layers. And fill the freezer again

[Sparrow Hawker]

14oz Quail thats huge :lol:

I been having ago at producing Quail (japs) since just after Christmas must admit its great fun. I know of a guy producing Jumbo Quail but have no idea on there size, will try and find out.

What incubator do you use Andy and what sort of hatch-rate can you expect from the French Quail?

All The Best,

HH

[PeelsBells]

They are Jumbo quail. If i put in 150 eggs i will get between 100 and 120 out. Which isn't bad but you always want more.
I am using the Marino Enrico 168s incubator its very accurate and all you do is shut the door and go back in 15 days and stop turning and add some water so humidity is at 50/60, and at 17 days go and get you chicks. If some are not out throw them away as its a pain in the arse to help them out. Although its a good way to learn to help you birds of prey.
The price was £276.60 from hatch it incubators.
He threw in the quail egg trays as the unit comes with chicken eggs which was no use for me.
I wish rats were as easy. :lol: :lol:
I have been rearing pheasant for the birds as well to put on the land there easy enough and cheap at half the price.
They can produces eggs between them. :shock:

[PeelsBells]

Just to show you the weight of my quail sorry this ones lost its head in the freezer :shock:

[Sparrow Hawker]

I did wonder if Jumbo's were French Quail :lol: I'll have a word with him.

With my Japs I have been getting around a 60% hatch-rate which is ok but would like to improve it. Andy what would you say is the best way to improve the hatch-rate?

I'm using a couple of Brinsea Octagon 20 incubators at the moment. Do you use the same incubator you use for quail for hatching out birds of prey?

I totally agree there a pain to get out have tried it a few times. I think my line might be getting to close now so will bring some fresh blood in.

I'm using a Turkey Starter Crumb slightly higher in protein than Chick Crumb. What do you feed your layers and growers on? I start off using the ACS then switch to an antibiotic free one but its a pain to get hold of. (As I eat the eggs as well)

I been looking at rats but don't think I could put up with there smell :lol:

All The Best,

HH

[PeelsBells]

How many cocks have you with the females? are they free range?
Do you run your incubator dry?
You may need new blood put in the line. Where abouts are you in the country.

[PeelsBells]

When the chicks hatch they are fed on 29% protein and under red light for the first 4 weeks. They then are moved to my free range shed they are then put on 26% protein for the next 3 weeks this is to help them grow. After this you reduce the protein down to 23% and increase the calcuim intake to help with the egg laying. My birds can start laying after 8 weeks if everything goes well. All my food is from a guy called Phil Garforth who is one of the top breeders of quail and gets his food made just for him by a company. If you are interested i will pm you and give you his phone number.
The bags are £7.20 for 25kilos for high protein then go down in price.
You can see a difference to your own birds of prey as they are getting quality food. I dont understand why honey brook say they are vitiamin enhanced as the body can only take in a certain amout of vitiamins and the rest is straight out. Good fertilizer lol :D :!:

[PeelsBells]

When the chicks hatch they are fed on 29% protein and under red light for the first 4 weeks. They then are moved to my free range shed they are then put on 26% protein for the next 3 weeks this is to help them grow. After this you reduce the protein down to 23% and increase the calcuim intake to help with the egg laying. My birds can start laying after 8 weeks if everything goes well. All my food is from a guy called Phil Garforth who is one of the top breeders of quail and gets his food made just for him by a company. If you are interested i will pm you and give you his phone number.
The bags are £7.20 for 25kilos for high protein then go down in price.
You can see a difference to your own birds of prey as they are getting quality food. I dont understand why honey brook say they are vitiamin enhanced as the body can only take in a certain amout of vitiamins and the rest is straight out. Good fertilizer lol :D :!:

[Sparrow Hawker]

Hi Andy,

I have a ratio of 2 females to one cock bird but have a group that run together, I run the incubator dry till the last two days of incubation where I fill both of the water troughs up I did originally start off with filling just one trough full of water throughout the incubation period. I live in the South, Wiltshire.

Cheers,

HH

[Kornie]

Good fertilizer lol Very Happy Exclamation


I definately agree with that andy...I often move Trinity round the garden where the grass is looking weak. :)

So as an approximte figure, how much do you think it costs to raise 1 quail?

[PeelsBells]

If you want some birds sending to you let me know?

[PeelsBells]

I work on 30p this pays for the electric and food once they are egg laying the food bill goes down as the growing period as stopped.
I think its the best way as you know what you are feeding your birds and also you can dispatch them and let the birds feed on them straight away as the birds need something to do in the summer months :oops: :!:
Also it helps my spars and harrises as the young can see something move [highlight=red:b6bdee4adc](PLEASE NOTE I HAVE ALREADY NECKED THE QUAIL)[/highlight:b6bdee4adc]

[Sparrow Hawker]

PM for you Andy,

Cheers,

HH

[Sparrow Hawker]

Andy how much food do you get through and how many times a day do you feed yours? mine seem to eat a lot even the layers, just a thought but perhaps its because the turkey crumb diet i'm using is not balanced diet therefore they need to eat more.

I imagine you get a better food converstion ratio with the diet you use.

HH

[PeelsBells]

I bag lasts me about aweek although i am feeding about 80 birds.
I bought one of them chicken feeders of ebay and cut the legs down.
They hold a 25 kil bag and i also bought one of them drinkers 30 litres.
All i do is go every 3 days to check on them.

[PeelsBells]

Did you get in touch with Phil about the food.

[Sparrow Hawker]

Hi Andy,

I haven't contacted him yet, got a few bags of feed left so will contact him within the next couple of weeks. Thanks for his number.

Has Spartheone contacted you about the Jumbo quails eggs?

Cheers,

HH

[PeelsBells]

Some one phoned about jumbo birds but didnt get their number . Had a couple of beers as family was round and forgot him name :roll:

[IAmTheWeasel]

HA! When I read the title of this thread, I thought it would be about quail with little white flags for tails......

[PeelsBells]

The quail are nothing like the French they are big and good to eat! :P
and don't smell of garlic!!!!!!!!!!! :shock:
They are like their air force though always in reverse

[Talon]

andy did you get your jumbo quail of a lad in droylsden (manchester)
who breeds spars or did he get some of you.as my friend got adozen or so of him thay are huge .i know he knows you as he mentioned you.
there bloody good layers as well.

[PeelsBells]

Yes he got them of me and some of his spars are of me to.
Nice lad.

[Talon]

yes thought so .iwas thinking about asking my m8 for some eggs for you as you want some new blood line .but no good as there of yours originally.
..

[PeelsBells]

Were in the country are you

[Talon]

imin a very posh part of manchester called ..what for it ....salford....haha
:lol:

[PeelsBells]

What are you flying in the concrete jungle :lol:

[Talon]

your not far wrong there .im not to bad as my brother lives in derbishire
and my old man in wales so go up there a lot .you be surprised you dont after go far though for flying ground.but decent hunting ground.is a bit
harder to find close by.

[PeelsBells]

Did you buy any birds of Scot?

[Talon]

no i didnt but my friend did .a musket.

[Xantara]

Harris Hawker, Oct 20s are not brilliant machines for serious hatching of large numbers tho specialists use then a lot with the humidity controler. If you are good with the machine and understand it then great but they are aimed at 1. the enthusiast 2. the high end specialist.

Hatching has become increasingly difficult over the last few years due to the ozone problem. More sun/heat gets through dries the earth deeper = more humidity in the air. Eggs dont like humidity until just b4 hatching if they get to much b4 the chicks get sticky and cant turn in the shell so die there. This is just one of the probs if you tell me what the eggs which dont hatch are like I may be able to help you.

xan