Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
15
Coturnix Quail
COTURNIX QUAIL ARE THE IDEAL CHOICE
for anyone who wants to quietly raise poultry
in a small area with minimal investment. Typically reared in cages like other small pets,
these birds provide both meat and eggs, despite their small size. Unlike the crowing roost-
ers or squawking ducks and honking geese, quail are relatively quiet. Their calls are non-
threatening, and more wild-birdlike; their notes usually blend in with natural birdsong.
Although these birds are typically inconspicuous, as with all poultry species, it's a good
idea for you check your local ordinances to determine whether you can have these anim-
als in your area.
A Home for Your Birds
It's best to provide some shelter from the elements. Raising a few Coturnix quail in a
cage in your garage or garden building in your backyard is a relatively simple endeavor.
I've housed them on the ground and in wire cages on brackets made out of 2×4s (5×10
cm) with similar success. They do not enjoy downpours and enduring a heavy rainstorm
is harmful to their small bodies. One risk that comes with raising them on the ground is
that they are frequently able to get through small holes between the bottom of the pen and
the ground and you may lose your entire population to the outside world.
I've had a bit more success raising them in cages in the barn. It doesn't necessarily
have to be heated for the birds, but your eggs will freeze much quicker if the barn is not
heated. It does, however, need to be free from wind and drafts.
Keep in mind that Coturnix quail are subject to the same pests and problems as most
domestic poultry. I have never had to worm Coturnix quail, but I'm sure it can be a prob-
lem if they are raised on the ground. Where worms are a particular problem, birds raised
at ground level will need some sort of worm-preventative maintenance.
