Quail (Farming, Breeding, Management, Breeds and Growth)

Quail Management/Farming

First of all, quail is a halal bird and its farming is done in whole over the world.

History

• Quail is initially maintained as a singing bird and for exhibition or for fighting, Quail was domesticated in 200 B.C.

Romans and Greeks

• Roman Era
• Ancient Era (1200 AD)
• In the 12^th century, quails were also maintained in different countries of the world for meat and egg production
• First scientific quail breeding was started in Japan (1940-45)
• That is why Japan is known as the first country to maintained Quail
• During the Second World War variety of Quail disappeared
• After 1950 quail farming again initiated in the world

  

Classification:

Zoological name of Quail is Coturnix coturnix japonica

Types of quails commonly

1. Blue scaled quails

2.Beard quails

3.Chinese quails

4.Japanese Quail

5.Bobwhite quail

Common characteristics

• Naked nasal area
• Naked or un-feather shanks
• There are about 200 quail breeds are maintained
• Average weight is 120-150 grams sometimes 170-180 grams
• Bobwhite quail are originated from America, and their size is large as compared to Japanese quails
• Average weight is 180-200 gram
• Air sacs absent in neck area (pair)
• Faster growth rate
• Early sexual maturity

Production Characters

Mature body weight

• Average weight is 190 grams

Egg production

• The better strain produces 300 eggs per year
• In bobwhite quails, max egg production is 230 eggs per year

  

Average egg weight: 12 grams

Day-old chick weight: 7-9 grams

Hatchability: 65-75%

Male to female ratio:  1:3

Incubation period: 17 days

Management

• Floor space requirement
• Feeder space
• Watering space
• Environment
• Humidity
• Temperature
• Light

Floor system

Floor space, feeding space, and watering space is always measured in square centimeters; Watering space is half to the feeding area.

Floor vs. Litter rearing System

Litter: 2-3 inches depth is required initially; when the bottom of litter is high then the temperature is automatically raised, so all the pathogenic organism die; pH is also moderate at this temperature

Brooding

• During the first week, the temperature of the brooder is 35°C or 95F.
• Size of Quail is small (7-8 grams) as compared to chicken, that is why they require 35-37°C temperature in the first week.
• Mortality rate should not be increased up to 3-4%

Weekly temp.

The temperature of the brooder is reduced by 5F or 3°C weekly e.g.

• • Fist week 35-37°C
  • The second week 34°C
  • The third week 31°C

Sexing of Birds

1. Body size
2. Color of the chest and lower neck feathers.

Egg production

• Japanese Quail mature at the age of 6 weeks and start laying eggs
• The average weight of quail egg is 12grams; it contains about 15% protein that is why its mineral profile is very high; Japanese Quail gives 300 eggs per year
• In case of bobwhite quail age of maturity is about 16 weeks and then they start laying eggs; they are more substantial in size and give 50 eggs/annum
• FCR of broiler quail is 2.66, and in case of layer it is above 3

Quail meat 60gm/105    120 gm/200

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