Incubating poultry

Machiavelli

Full Member
May 21, 2009
135
73
Good Ole' Lancashire
Well, after feeling very pleased with myself, I nearly managed to kill them. I popped two in the brooder and they seemed fine, wandering out to explore, then rushing back under the brooder plate for warmth. However, late afternoon I get a call from my wife to say they are both collapsed outside the brooder, clearly chilled. Thankfully, we got them back in the incubator and they have fully recovered, but it was a fast lesson. I’m keeping them in the incubator for now, with some food and water that they are all taking well.

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Jonno70

Member
Dec 23, 2023
47
27
Cumbria
Just wondering how the Quails are getting on. We hatched 19 a few years ago only for the eggs though and tasty as they were I prefer a fresh hens egg. Are you raising them for the meat as well?
 

Machiavelli

Full Member
May 21, 2009
135
73
Good Ole' Lancashire
Morning. It has been an interesting journey with the quail. From the four we initially hatched, three turned out to be cocks. As soon as they reached sexual maturity they started fighting, quickly leading to the death of one (it happened to quickly and was a blood bath). After that I separated the remaining two mails. The female has been laying well for a few weeks, so we about to incubate our next clutch of eggs.

I have put together a hutch that will hold around 40 birds across three separate floors. The plan is to raise the birds for both eggs and meat. Like anything, the learning curve has been steep!
 
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Jonno70

Member
Dec 23, 2023
47
27
Cumbria
Thanks for the reply, we had the same issue with the males, brutal little things. Sounds like you have a plan good luck with them.
PS is quail meat tasty? I don't recall ever eating it.
 
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