What Are Bobwhite Quail?
Bobwhite quail are quails native to the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, also known as Virginia quails or Northern bobwhite quails.
Generally, bobwhite quails are considered small-game birds. Unlike bantam-sized chickens, they are never larger than mini chickens.
A bobwhite quail weighs about 5 ounces on average. The size and weight of that are quite impressive!
Quail may seem too small to you.
It makes sense to raise smaller animals like quail, since they require less space.
It is only for this reason that many people choose to raise quail over chickens, even in urban areas.
Moreover, quail are the perfect poultry for cities with ‘no chicken’ ordinances because bobwhites are still unclassified.
Nutritious & Delicious Quail Meat
We have already mentioned how bobwhite quails are smaller than chickens, ducks, and geese.
As you might already have guessed, this means less meat will be yielded.
We don’t consider that a deal-breaker. Because bobwhites mature so quickly, this is the reason.
The meat of bobwhite quails can be processed as soon as 7 weeks after they are mature.
The turnaround time is much faster than with chickens, for instance.
As a result, if you’re concerned about low meat yields, you can keep more quail (since they’re smaller).
Quail Eggs
It is possible for female bobwhite quails to lay an egg every single day.
Quail eggs are significantly smaller than chicken eggs. They are just as tasty, in my opinion.
Many parts of the world consider quail eggs to be delicacies. Quite rightly so.
Eggs are beautiful, tasty, and packed with nutrients such as vitamin B12, selenium, riboflavin, and iron. What about the fact that they only have 14 calories?
In addition to maturing so quickly, bobwhite quails can also lay eggs faster.
It is possible for female quails to lay eggs as early as two months after they are born, if they are happy and healthy. For female chickens, it takes 18 to 20 weeks to reach maturity.
The Bobwhite is a good-looking bird
Bobwhite quails are beautiful birds. Their cute, chunky bodies and decorative plumes are beloved by homesteaders worldwide. In addition, their feathers have beautiful colors and patterns. It is a lovely little bird with adorable personalities and good looks, that can bring a special flair to your homestead.
Quail FAQ’s
As of right now, we have no ability to provide quail chicks or quail hatching eggs for transportation into Canada.
Compared to chickens, quails are very small birds. Chickens require less protein than quails. It is not recommended to house quails and chickens in the same coop.
In terms of the number of eggs laid, bobwhite quail lead the pack. Each female bobwhite quail can lay one egg per day.
To find out if a permit is required, we recommend contacting the wildlife management agency in your state.
In general, quail are not winter hardy birds.
As a starting point, we recommend 1/4 square foot per quail chick. Make sure they are not overcrowded. Increase their area to one square foot per bird as they mature.
