Quail farming faqs are common question people often ask, especially the beginners. If you are a beginner, you should read these quail farming faqs.
Quail Farming FAQs
There are many questions people often ask which are related to quail farming. Here we are trying to list the most common questions about successful quail farming business. We hope you will find answers to your questions. Don’t hesitate to ask us if you have more questions.
1. What is quail farming?
Before discussing more about commercial quail farming business, let us first explain ‘what is quail farming‘? Actually the term ‘quail farming‘ means, raising quails commercially (like other poultry birds) for the purpose of profitable eggs and meat production.
2. What are the advantages of quail farming business?
Quails are smaller sized poultry birds, and it’s very easy to handle them. The main benefits of starting quail farming business are listed below.
- Quails are smaller sized bird, so they can be raised within small place.
- Feeding cost of quails are comparatively lower than chickens or other poultry birds.
- Diseases are less in quails, and they are very hardy.
- Quails grow very fast and gain maturity faster than any other poultry birds.
- They start laying eggs within their 6 to 7 weeks of age.
- It takes about 16 to 18 days to hatch their eggs.
- Meat and eggs of quail are very tasty, delicious and nutritious. So it’s a great source of food and nutrition.
- Quail farming needs small capital, and labor cost is very low.
- Quails can be raised successfully in commercial method. Some people have already started commercial quail farming business.
- Quails are very strong bird and diseases or other health problems are less. So risks are less in this business.
- Quail meat contain less fat. So, it is suitable for high blood pressure patients.
- Their food to meat or eggs converting efficiency is satisfactory. They can produce one kg meat or eggs by consuming three kg food.
- You can raise 6 to 7 quails in the same place that is required for one chicken.
- As the quail eggs are smaller in size, so the price is also lower than other bird’s egg. As a result, all types of people can buy quail eggs and you can easily sell the eggs.
- As the primary costs are less, so you can start this business with a very little investment.
- You can raise about 6 to 8 quails within 0.91 squire meter area.
- As it is a lucrative business venture, so commercial quail farming business can be a great source of income and employment for the unemployed educated people. Even, you can start raising a few quails along with your current profession.
3. Why raising quails?
Quails are very smaller sized birds. An adult quail weights between 150 to 200 grams and an egg weights around 7 to 15 grams. Female quails start laying eggs within their 6 to 7 weeks of age and continuously lay one egg daily.
They lay about 300 eggs in their first year of life. After that they produce about 150 to 175 eggs in second year. Eggs production gradually decrease after their first year of laying period.
Quail egg is very suitable for human health. It contains 2.47 % less fat than chicken egg. Many people believe that ‘quail eggs help to prevent blood pressure, diabetic, pant etc’.
Quail meat is very tasty and nutritious. Fat is very low in their meat. So quail meat is very suitable for blood pressure patients. Eggs are very beautiful with multiple color. Quails do not incubate their eggs. So you have to use an incubator or brooder chickens for hatching their eggs.
4. Is quail farming business profitable?
Is raising quails commercially is very profitable. Quails are amazing birds. They require less space and less food, but produce high quality meat and eggs. So, if you have good facilities for marketing quail products (meat and eggs) then your production will be highly profitable.
5. How to start quail farming business?
Starting a profitable quail farming business is very easy and simple. First of all, you have to make very good and secure housing system for your birds. Then purchase chicks from any of your local suppliers, feed them good quality poultry feed and fresh water and always try to take good care of them. And finally, your birds will start laying small colorful eggs.
6. How many eggs do quail lay per month?
The most popular Coturnix quail lay one eggs almost daily. On an average, a quail can lay about 300 eggs per year.
7. Is quail farming profitable in Nigeria?
Yes, commercial quail farming is definitely a profitable business in Nigeria. But you have to have good marketing facilities for making this business highly profitable. So, ensure the quail products have good demand and value in your area. Determine your marketing strategies before starting this business.
8. How fast do quail grow?
Quails grow relatively faster, and they generally reach maturity within their 6 weeks of age.
9. How many times a day do you feed quails?
In commercial farms, the quails are generally feed twice a day.
10. What food does quail eat?
In commercial production, the quails are feed with layer poultry feeds. Actually, quails are considered omnivores and they eat both plant-based and animal-based food.
11. How do quail farmers make money?
Quail farmers usually make money by selling quail eggs and meat.
12. Is there a market for quail?
Yes, and the market is growing continuously. Both meat and eggs of quail are becoming popular gradually.
13. What month do quail lay eggs?
The Coturnix quails lay eggs throughout the year in commercial farms.
14. How long do quails live for?
Average lifespan of the farm quails is between 3 and 6 years.
15. Can quail live with chickens?
Yes, you can keep quails with your chickens. But quails are good escape artists. So, you have to make the house highly secure. And having a separate coop section inside the house for the quails will be very good.
16. How many quail should I start with?
Depends on your budget. You can start with just 10 birds or as many as hundreds or even thousands of birds.
17. How many quail can I keep together?
If you raise the quails in cage system, then we recommend having no more than 10 quails in one cage. But if you raise them in floor system, then there is actually no limits.
18. How do you give quail water?
You can use either nipple waterers or poultry cups for providing water to your birds. One nipple or cup should be provided for every 5 birds.
19. Do quail eat rice?
Yes, they can eat rice.
20. Is there a demand for quail?
Please visit any of your local or nearest poultry market, and try to understand the demand for quail in your area.
21. How hard is it to raise quails?
Raising quails is very easy and simple. Even the beginners can also raise them easily.
22. Is quail healthier than chicken?
Yes, quail products are healthier than chicken products.
23. Do quails lay eggs without a male?
Yes, they will lay eggs without males. Actually, males have no function in eggs production. Males are only necessary only if you want to produce fertilized eggs for hatching.
24. Do quails fly away?
Yes, quails will fly away if they get the chance to do so.
25. Do quails eat worms?
Yes, obviously, and will love to have some worms.
26. Do quail need sunlight?
Thousands are quails in commercial farms are raised without sunlight.
27. What bedding do you use for quails?
You can use the low cost and easily available materials for bedding. You can use grass hay, straw, pine shavings or even sand.
28. At what age do quails start laying eggs?
The quails generally become mature within their 6 weeks of age. And the Coturnix quail generally start laying eggs within their 7 weeks of age.
29. What is the price of quail eggs?
Exact price greatly vary from place to place. So, visit your nearest stores for latest price.
30. What temperature do quail need?
37.7°C for their fist week, 35°C in the second week and 32.2°C in the third week. And from their 4 weeks of age, they will be able to survive normal room temperature.
31. What is the best food for quail?
Commercial layer chicken food will be best for the laying quails.
32. What do quail eat naturally?
The wild quails will naturally forage grains and seeds and finish their diet with insects, plants, small nuts, and berries.
33. What vegetables do quails eat?
Lettuce, broccoli, clover, lotus, celery, radish, peas etc.
34. What grains do quails eat?
Wheat, broken rice, cracked corn, rye, barley, millet etc.
35. What seeds do quails eat?
Ragweed, foxtail, annual broomweed, queen’s-delight, plains bristlegrass etc.
36. How much food do quail eat per day?
Quails are smaller in size, and they generally require less food. 20-30 grams food a day will be enough for a mature quail.
37. What is the biggest breed of quail?
Mountain quail is the largest quail.
38. What is the benefits of quail eggs?
Quail eggs are more nutritious than the chicken eggs. A single quail egg provides a significant chunk of your daily vitamin B12, selenium, riboflavin, and choline needs, along with some iron. And one egg contains only 14 calories.
These are common quail farming faqs. Hope you have learned from these faqs. Good luck and may God bless you!
