Quail: why and how many

In short

• One laying quail gives roughly 250 eggs a year, but each egg weighs only 10–12 g: 5 quail eggs ≈ 1 hen's egg.
• You don't need a male for eggs. For fertile eggs keep 1 male to 3–5 females.
• Space: in a floor aviary at least 0.1 m² per bird, better 0.15 m² (about 1.6 sq ft).
• Feed: roughly 28 g a day, about 10 kg a year per adult bird, with 20 % protein. Layers' pellets for hens are too weak.
• They only lay with 14–16 hours of light, so in winter they need extra light.
• Ask your animal health authority whether you must register the flock, even a small one kept for the household.

What's inside

Chapters

1. What you want from quail
2. The Japanese quail and its strains
3. How many quail
4. Males: how many and why
5. Quail or hens
6. Buying: who from and what kind of birds
7. What must be ready before the first birds
8. Space, site and neighbours
9. Paperwork and duties
10. Cost and value for money
11. First-year plan
12. Common mistakes
13. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Flock calculator
• Start-up cost, feed and water
• Comparing offers
• Flock register
• First-year plan