Tags
Quail are hardy birds that thrive in small cages and are inexpensive to keep. They are affected by common poultry diseases but are fairly disease resistant. Japanese quail mature in about 6 weeks and are usually in full egg production by 50 days of age. With proper care, hens should lay 200 eggs in their first year of lay. Life expectancy is only 2 to 2½ years.
If the birds have not been subjected to genetic selection for bodyweight, the adult male quail will weigh about 100–140 g, while the females are slightly heavier, weighing from 120–160 g.
- The females are characterized by light tan feathers with black speckling on the throat and upper breast.
- The males have rusty brown throat and breast feathers. Males also have a cloacal gland, a bulbous structure on the upper edge of the vent that secretes a white, foamy material. This unique gland can be used to assess the reproductive fitness of the males.
Japanese quail eggs are a mottled brown color and are often covered with a light blue, chalky material. Each hen appears to lay eggs with a characteristic shell pattern or color. Some strains lay only white eggs. The average egg weighs about 10 g, about 8% of the bodyweight of the quail hen. Young chicks weigh 6–7 g when hatched and are brownish with yellow stripes. The shells are very fragile, so handle the eggs with care.
Advantage of raising Quails:
- Requires minimum floor space.
- Need Low Investment.
- Quails are comparatively sturdy birds.
- It can be marketed at an early age. ( I.e.: five weeks)
- Early sexual maturity starts laying eggs in about six- seven weeks of age.
- High rate of egg laying 280 to 295 eggs per year.
- Quail meat is tastier than chicken and has less fat content.
- It promotes body and brain development in children.
- Naturally, the quail eggs are on par with that of children, moreover they contain less cholesterol.
- Quail meat and eggs are a nutritious diet for pregnant mothers.
- Highly age limit (survival- live) 2.5 To 3 yr.
New Farming Technologies 