So we made it through probably the craziest year the world has ever known (or at least people living now, have ever known). During that year, we started raising quail. Check out this blog post for all the details of raising quail.
Here are some things we learned.
Quail are quite resilient- I was worried about them throughout the winter. If we were calling for a winter storm, I padded their coop and run with straw since the floor is wire and the wind could just whip up through. I also put evergreen branches and dried reeds from the ornamental grass to simulate the wild and to act as shade and a windbreak.
Their waterer freezes, often- this is a pain in the arse. I would bring it in and put it on the rug at the sliding door to thaw out but it might be beneficial to have two and swap out or get a heated waterer or base.
They are messy but what bird isn’t- I would recommend cleaning their coop out every Fall and Spring. This will help you keep on top of the ‘mess’ they make. After a year, their ‘mess’ doesn’t really bother me.
Their eggs are so neat- We love looking for them and collecting them. Last year, they laid in their sand/dust bath but for some reason this Spring, they are laying them behind their waterer and in the run.
They are so easy to raise- All they need is a safe place to live, water, food and a dust bath. They just need to feel safe.
The rooster is pretty quiet but the call is really neat.
It was a good call to construct the coop under the deck where there is so protection from the wind, cold and heat.
If you have been thinking about raising backyard birds and not sure you want to commit to chickens- consider quail. There is a growing interest in raising them and they are easier to come by. Some Tractor Supplies sell them during chick days and you might be able to find local people hatching them.
When I do it again? Absolutely! It was a good learning year. So much so, we actually graduated to chickens this Spring- 9 to be exact 😬
