Which Quail is for me?

I get asked this question a bunch, so lets clear up a few things.

Bobwhites and Coturnix are different. I don’t do bobwhites and not knowledgable about them. They are what you remember hearing in the wild as a kid. They don’t lay until 6ish months and need flight cages.

Coturnix Quail are what I have. They can be kept in tight quarters or elaborate aviaries. That is completely up to you and your lifestyle. Coturnix is the breed and they come in a variety of plumage colors. Play mix and match, it doesn’t matter. Some are feather sexable, some are not. Standard and Jumbo is the size. Jumbo simply means that majority of the breeders birds are over 10oz at 10 weeks.

The most common color you will find will be wild type, pharaoh, browns, sex link brown, or slb. All the same bird for all practical purposes. Once you delve into genetics, there are some minor differences, but for beginner info, consider them all the same. They are feather sexable after about 3 weeks, the females will have a speckled chest, males will have a rusty color chest. Keep in mind, breeders have alot to do with this and if they have a mixed up pen, the genetics will be way off!

If you decide to just pick up some birds at the local swap or store, you may need to vent sex them. Super easy. I will make a video and link here shortly, but for now, males make foam, hens dont.

Coturnix need a 28-30% protein feed until 8ish weeks and then for hens or breeder sets, just get a 17-20% layer pellet or crumble for chickens. For extra males to havest, continue feeding starter until readFull grown is 10 weeks, don’t feed longer as its wasting feed and labor time for you. Hens will lay at 7ish weeks and you can start incubating a couple weeks later.. Hens typically will not go broody, not saying they can’t but I have never seen it.

As far as housing, look on marketplace for a rabbit hutch on the cheap and try it. Get a feel for raising them and decide how you want to do it long term. I use Hatching Time cages for all my breeders as I find it fits my style the best. They do need light to lay, 14+ hours a day. Any light will work, the idea is to keep them active and thinking like a bird. Don’t overthink them.

Hope this helps you to get started on your quail journey!