How to Purchase a Bobwhite Quail

Bobwhite quail are popular game birds used across the United States at hunting preserves and studied by wildlife enthusiasts for their unique call and flight pattern. With a diminished natural quail habitat, more farmers are breeding quail commercially that will be placed in wild game areas by wildlife representatives and purchased for shooting and hunting preserves. Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast or starting a hunting preserve, quail can be readily purchased either locally or online.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Contact the local conservation office to request a list of laws, rules and regulations pertaining to purchasing bobwhite quail. If a local conservation office is not available in your area, contact the state conservation office. Most states require an individual or grower to possess a game bird license in order to house and maintain bobwhite quail.

2. Contact the local conservation office or state conservation office about quail distributors in your area. Quail tend to thrive better when maintained in a constant environment most like what they were raised in.

3. Purchase quail from Elm Creek Quail Farm in Kansas (see References), who specialize in flight conditioned quail. Eggs for hatching can be purchased at 35 cents each (March through September) and a minimum order of day-old chicks is 50 (April through September). Both conditioned and non-conditioned birds are available by pickup only. Eggs for hatching, chicks and birds come with a certified health certificate.

4. Purchase quail from Rush Creek Quail Farm, Texas (See References), including eggs for hatching and flight conditioned birds. Hatching eggs are available April through July with a minimum order of 12. Flight conditioned birds are available at $5 each with reduced prices offered at a quantity of 100. This distributor allows buyers to hand pick quail onsite.

Tips & Warnings

• In order for quail to live and thrive in a contained environment, several factors must be addressed such as: sanitation, proper nutrition, space of containment area, temperature, and how well protected the quail are from environmental factors and common predators.
• It's important to know how to raise quail and their nutritional requirements prior to purchasing them. Housing, temperature, space, and nutrition are crucial for the first eight weeks.

References

• Purchase quail online from Elm Creek Quail Farm.
• Rush Creek Quail Farm - Dealer/Distributor for quail and quail eggs.

Resources

• The Propagation and Commercial Use of Bobwhite Quail