How to Raise Bobwhite Quail for Commercial Use
In the wild, bobwhite quail are primarily found east of the Rockies, ranging from the Midwest to the East and Northeast and across the South. The bobwhite lives mostly on grain but will supplement its diet with insects. The bobwhite quail's popularity as a game bird has led to commercial breeding. As commercial stock and pets, quail are relatively straightforward in their needs.
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Things You'll Need
- Aviary or cages
- Fenced area
- Netting
- Dishes
- Water
- High-quality feed
- Rake
- Shovel
Instructions
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Create an appropriate living area for your bobwhite quail. You can use a simple wire cage measuring 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 foot for one bird, or a large aviary or fenced area where a flock of quail can roam. If you're housing a single bird, spread a layer of dirt in the bottom of its cage so that the bird can scratch and dig. If you're setting aside a large fenced area, provide boxes or cages in corners in which the quail can take cover from the weather and build their nests. Cover open areas with a netting roof to prevent the quail from flying away. Always use netting and fencing for open areas, or your quail will fall prey to predators like coyotes and hawks.
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Place dishes of water in cages housing a single bird and within fenced areas housing group of birds. Make sure to replace the water often so that it's always fresh and clean. This is particularly important for quail, which spend a lot of time scratching in dirt.
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Feed your birds high-quality, high-protein quail food twice a day. Quail feed is available at poultry supply shops and should contain grain, seeds and nuts, with no additives or synthetic materials. Toss the feed onto the bottom of the cage or the fenced area so the quail can gather the feed themselves.
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House males and females separately unless you want to maintain a breeding pair of quail. Breeding quail can be kept in pairs, trios (one male with two females) or large groups (several females with one or two males). If you're caging many birds together to produce eggs, you must keep them in larger enclosures. Keep a group of quail in an open area only if you plan on breeding them. Quail are flocking birds and will form large groups called "coveys," particularly during the winter. A covey, as a combination of males and females, will inevitably produce eggs. If you don't want to breed your quail, you must house the sexes separately.
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Clean the quail aviary at least once a week. If you've chosen to keep your quail in cages, remove the bottoms of the cages to dump waste, litter and any dropped food. If you're keeping your quail in an open area, use a rake and shovel to remove any waste and litter. Clean living conditions will eliminate odor and keep the birds healthier.
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Tips & Warnings
Bobwhite quail grow to 8.5 to 10 inches at maturity.
Male bobwhites have a white stripe across their throat and a distinctive call. Females have uniformly buff-colored throats and are for the most part quiet.
Bobwhite quail suffer when given low-quality feed.
References
- Photo Credit Tom Brakefield/Stockbyte/Getty Images
