Small wildfowl can be raised in a cage.Most city laws don't restrict or outlaw quail raising.They can produce up to six eggs per week.You should make sure they are raised in sanitary conditions with plenty of light, water, and food.
Step 1: Take a look at raising quail.
The quail are small and easy to look after but need time for feeding, refilling water containers, cleaning the cage, checking up daily, and collecting eggs.You may have problems raising quail for the first time.
Step 2: You can hang a quail cage in your yard or balcony.
To place straw, clear the space underneath.This will allow you to remove waste.If you want to house your quail in a different type of housing, you can do that.The cage above is set up to prevent diseases since quail waste is high in ammonia.
Step 3: Purchase a long, narrow cage and hang it from the overhang of your house, garage or balcony.
There is access to light, but it is blocked by strong winds.The birds need shelter, but plenty of air, so most cages are built of open mesh wire.They should be kept away from pets and the room should not have any problems.
Step 4: There are some lights around the cage.
You can increase egg production in the fall and winter.The birds need 15 hours of light per day to produce eggs but if they don't get enough sleep they will get stressed.
Step 5: If you want to buy birds or eggs, decide.
You can get 50 eggs for $20 if you buy a mature bird.Along with the eggs, you will also have to purchase some equipment to care for the birds.If you're raising quail for the first time, you might want to buy mature birds.
Step 6: You should decide how many birds you need based on your consumption.
Determine your weekly chicken egg consumption.mature females should lay one egg every day because it takes five quail eggs to equal one chicken egg.You can get one female bird for each chicken egg you eat.Chicken eggs can be eaten like quail eggs, but it takes more birds to produce the same amount.
Step 7: A good egg-laying breed is needed.
The birds are recommended to be kept.They can be kept as meat and are easy to look after.The jumbo Coturnix is the best choice for quail that lay bigger eggs.Japanese quail are also known as Coturnix quail.The tuxedo quail is a white and brown colour.When they are mature, Coturnix usually start laying at 6 to 8 weeks.They will lay an egg every day.If you're not sure if Coturnix is right for you, you can buy other popular breeds.The recommended starter breed is Coturnix quail.
Step 8: If you want to look in your local paper, go toCraigslist.
To get birds that are acclimatized to your climate, use contacts in the local livestock or urban farming community.
Step 9: Find hatching eggs on eBay.
You may suffer higher mortality rates if you buy them locally.
Step 10: Farm supply and feed stores are a good place to start.
If they don't get quail in the spring, they may be able to order them for you.
Step 11: Purchase at least two females for each male.
There will be plenty of egg production in your flock if there is a lot of females.If two or more males are kept in a single cage, the dominant male may attempt to kill all other males to ensure that only he will be able to mate with the female quails.
Step 12: If you plan to raise hatching eggs, you should purchase an incubator at a feed store or ranch supply store.
You can place your order online.The egg turner should be in your incubator.
Step 13: During the 23rd day of hatching, keep the humidity at 70 to 75 percent.
The humidity can be adjusted with a humidifier or dehumidifier nearby.The humidity controls the loss of water in the egg.
Step 14: The temperature of the incubator needs to be adjusted so that it is warm.
You need to keep it at this temperature.It will take a Couternix egg about 16 to 18 days to hatch, while other breeds take 22 to 25 days.
Step 15: The egg turner should not be turned on until after the eggs are laid.
Each day the tray must be turned 30 degrees to keep the embryo from sticking to the shell.
Step 16: Once they are hatched, keep them in a small area.
Slowly lower the temperature from 100oF to room temperature.Hot and cold chick will bunch on top of each other.
Step 17: For the first ten days, keep up to 100 quail chick in a two by three foot area.
As they grow, give them more space.
Step 18: When the chick is six to eight weeks old, you should give them a starter feed.
When your chick gets older, they don't need this diet anymore because chick starter provides more nutrition.If you purchase turkey starter or chicken starter, you can grind it into smaller grains so that the quail chicks can eat it.Any feed that is high in calories should be fine.
Step 19: Each bird needs at least 3 to 4 feet of space in the cage.
Step 20: Provide quail with clean drinking water.
They need to clean and refill their water containers.Make sure that the chicks have easy access to the water container.The marbles will be put in the water container.
Step 21: The straw should be changed daily beneath the cages.
You can put it in your compost.The quail waste is high in ammonia.
Step 22: The cage should be cleaned if waste starts to build.
It's a good idea to wash it once per week.
Step 23: Change the food to a laying fowl mix after five to six weeks.
Laying food can be found at most feed stores.Before you buy it, ask if it is good for birds.If you are raising quail for meat, you should change their food to a finish diet.
Step 24: Provide crushed oyster shells for your bird.
The oyster shells provide calcium for the quail to lay strong, healthy eggs and will help grind down the food.
Step 25: The animals should be kept undisturbed for six weeks.
The females will have poor egg production levels if they are exposed to other animals or noise.
Step 26: Adding fresh greens, seeds, and small insects to your quail feed could be beneficial.