Quail, especially button quail, are adorable little birds that will breed if given the right breeding conditions. Here’s everything you need to known about quail breeding.
Getting started
Before you can get into quail breeding, you need to get some quail. You’re going to want to find healthy, unrelated quails to start your breeding operation. A good place to get your quail is at a quail breeder. However, when you go to the breeder, make sure you ask for two birds (a male and a female) that are not related. If the breeder cannot guarantee that the birds aren’t related, get two more birds (a male and a female) from another breeder. This will ensure that you have at least one male/female pair that is not related.
Examine the bird
You don’t have to be a vet to be qualified to examine the quail you’re buying for quail breeding. By using your great powers of observation, you can determine if the birds you’re about to buy are healthy. Healthy birds are lively, have clean plumage that looks nice, clear eyes and feet that are not cracked. If you have any doubts about the bird’s health, do not buy it. Quail breeding will be difficult if not impossible if you do not have healthy, non-related birds to work with.
Create the right conditions
Quail breeding is a sensitive art that requires certain conditions. To get the birds ready, put them on a high protein diet. It’s especially important that the female get enough protein. Eggs are made of protein and if the female does not have enough protein in her diet, the eggs will be soft and the young will not survive.
Quails that are fit for quail breeding also need to have 12-14 hours a light a day. This is because in the wild they lay eggs from March to October, which is when the days are longest. To facilitate the 12-14 hour daylight conditions, you can place the birds in light controlled cages. When you do this, gradually work up to a 12-14 hour day. Do not just throw the birds in there with 14 hours of daylight. Start with less daylight, perhaps eight or nine hours.
Letting them breed
When you’re ready to put the birds in hutches or aviaries so they can engage in quail breeding and lay eggs, make sure to keep them dry. Also, when you start seeing eggs, take them out of the cage and put them in a cool, dry area. Remember to rotate the eggs and put them in an incubator at least once a week. When the eggs hatch and your quail breeding is successful, put the babies in a brooder and watch them grow!
