Jumbo Pharaoh Coturnix Quail Hatching Eggs

The Pharaoh Coturnix Quail or wild type is the color markings of a wild coturnix quail. The wild ones are much smaller and the domesticated coturnix we are accustomed to seeing here in the USA are now distant cousins. The Bryant’s Roost line of pharaoh are jumbo sized, very docile, well marked and lay large eggs. They will breed true with well marked chests to make feather sexing easy as early as 17 days. They will mature quickly and will begin laying around 7 weeks. I encourage anyone raising birds to leave them on a starter or grower feed until 10 weeks of age. Just because they start laying, does not mean they are full size and they need the nutrition of the grower to maximize their potential and to not have issues such as prolapse in their adulthood. Change them to a 17-20% layer feed at 10-12 weeks.

As they are growing, around 17 days, they will begin to get their adult colorings. Watch the chest for the spots. If it is a male, the rust coloring will start from the lower chest and start overcoming the speckles gradually and by 5 weeks old, be fully rusty. They will also grow a nice chin strap that is white. The females will grow faster and be larger and their chests will broaden and deepen. As you move them from a brooder to a grow out pen, if you are unsure on the sex, leave it as a female until you are sure. It is better to have a lone male in a female pen vs a lone female in a male pen.

Select breeders based on clear markings, size and temperment. Any bird does not meet these specifications should not be bred. They can be used as egg layers or meat. After creating breeder sets, check the males often for the first week or so to make sure he is not stressing the ladies, if he is, change him out from the bachelor pen. Once you are confidant in the male selections, it is time to dispatch the extra males or sell them.

pharaoh Male has rusty chest and chin strap