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Practical Quail-keeping is a comprehensive guide for anyone who keeps quail or who is thinking about starting out. It covers all key aspects of responsible quail husbandry, and explains how to set up and equip your quail house and pens, how to care for your birds, and how to breed and raise young hatchlings through to healthy adulthood. The authors draw on their extensive experience as quail breeders to provide a unique insight into keeping these fascinating little birds. Topics covered include:Legal aspects of poultry-keeping; Feeding and watering; Protecting quail from vermin and disease; Breeding and hatching; Quail recipes. A comprehensive guide to quail-keeping that gives a unique insight into keeping these fascinating little birds, aimed at smallholders and poultry-keepers. Superbly illustrated with 140 colour photographs. Sarah and Martin Barratt are quail breeders with extensive experience.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013
Quail-keeping
SARAH AND MARTIN BARRATT
First published in 2013 by The Crowood Press Ltd, Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 2HR
www.crowood.com
This e-book edition first published in 2013
© Sarah and Martin Barratt 2013
Sarah and Martin Barratt assert their moral right to be identified as the co-authors of this e-book. All rights reserved. This e-book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
ISBN 978 1 84797 524 9
All photographs are by Sarah Barratt unless otherwise indicated
Title Page
Copyright
Acknowledgements and Disclaimer
Preface
Introduction
1 Starting Out
2 Buying Your Birds
3 Feeding and Watering Your Birds
4 Keeping Your Birds Healthy
5 Breeding Birds
6 Quail for the Table
Further Information
Index
This book is the end result of many years experience in keeping and breeding quail at home but we also need to acknowledge the many interesting people we have met over the years, including those kind souls on various poultry forums who patiently gave us advice and encouragement while we were starting up. One of the most satisfying aspects of the hobby is the social side, and we would like to tip our hats to those people we have passed the time with at various country shows and events. All have been happy to talk and share their experiences with us, and it is to their collective enthusiasm and friendship that this book is dedicated. We would also like to thank friends and family who have supported us in getting this book from concept to printed page.
Finally we would like to thank Professor Darrell Evans, Professor of Developmental Biology at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (and Dr Sophie Ainsworth and Dr Rachael Stanley), for providing the images of the developmental stages of the quail reproduced in the chapter on breeding birds, and also Emma Saunders from Castle Vets Ltd, Farnham, and Martin Smith from Westpoint Veterinary Group for their kind help and advice on all medical matters pertaining to poultry.
The authors hold the copyright for all photography and associated imagery unless otherwise indicated, and images may not be reproduced without the express written consent of the relevant copyright holders. We would like to thank Duncan James at John Wiley and Sons Ltd for kind permission to use the photographs of quail development in Chapter 5 and also Virginia Lee, Jason Vaughnley and Regency Poultry for supplying other photographs used in the book.
The advice contained in this book is intended as a general guide to those people considering keeping quail as a hobby and not for commercial purposes. The suggestions, hints and tips that constitute the bulk of this book are the combined result of many years practical experience by the authors and the anecdotal experiences of other hobbyists within the poultry community. The guidance contained herein is offered in good faith and with the intention of furthering your enjoyment of this fascinating hobby.
That said, this is an increasingly litigious age, and the authors and publishers are obliged to point out that they accept no responsibility for any loss or consequential loss, howsoever caused, as a result of following any of the advice contained in this book. In this respect all activity is undertaken entirely at your own risk. In all cases and without exception, anyone who does not feel suitably confident to attempt any or all of the practical activities outlined in this book should always seek the advice of a suitably qualified person(s) as directed in the relevant sections.
The idea for this book came after several years experience of keeping quail as hobby breeders. What started in 2008 with four birds (three hens and a cock) and a small garden hutch, bought as a surprise present, then snowballed into a full-blown hobby and quickly saw four birds become twenty and then fifty and finally into a flock of over 200 birds. We were already experienced in keeping a few chickens at home, so we were not complete poultry virgins by any stretch of the imagination, but undoubtedly quail have their own peculiarities and foibles. Through a mix of trial and error, applied common sense and accumulated wisdom we were able to find out all about these fascinating little birds – keeping, breeding and selling both birds and eggs.
Keeping quail is becoming increasingly popular but more than one person has mentioned to us that ‘how to keep quail’ books were fairly thin on the ground, and we received a stream of emails and telephone calls from people asking about different aspects of the hobby. After consideration we decided that it would be interesting and informative for others to share our own experiences, practices and solutions, to help those of you who may be keen to get started or would just like to dip a toe into the water and see if the hobby is for you. As such this book is aimed equally at first-timers and more experienced keepers.
For those readers who have never kept poultry before, it can seem quite daunting at first and many people are probably put off at the first hurdle – but please be reassured that it is much easier to get started than you might think. Keeping quail can be as cheap, or as expensive, as you want to make it – but also be warned, it is addictive and once you really get into the hobby you will wonder how you ever had time to do anything else.
We wish you every success in your new venture into quail-keeping, whether you are dabbling for the first time or you are a returnee, and hope that you will find both the experience and this book equally rewarding, interesting and stimulating.
Sarah and Martin Barratt, August 2012
Quail are ideal birds to keep for the first time poultry keeper. They are amazing, plucky little birds whose small size belies their hardy nature. Unlike chickens quail do not take up much space, do not make much noise, or make much mess, and will happily rub along with all other garden dwellers – although, as with most forms of small poultry, they will need protecting from cats, dogs and corvids (rooks, crows and the odd sparrowhawk).
A cock bird crowing
They are also extremely child-friendly, and your children will enjoy helping you look after your birds, feeding them, handling them and collecting the eggs from the quail house (or runs) every morning. Quail are also interesting characters in their own right – we also breed Pekin bantams and other breeds of chickens, but it is invariably the quail that people are most curious about when they visit – there is something about these little birds that people like and admire.
As a nation we seem on the verge of entering a new era of domestic poultry-keeping. In recent years there has been a move away from intensive rearing and farming to a much greener, bird welfare-friendly alternative. Television personalities and celebrities like Jimmy Doherty (Jimmy’s Farm) and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (River Cottage TV series and books) have been instrumental in helping drive the current trend for keeping a few chickens at home and promoting the suburban smallholding – and good on them both for doing so. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in particular has done much to raise awareness of intensive poultry farming and has shown that there is a much more equitable way of treating livestock in general and poultry specifically – respecting the birds in their own right but also recognizing that they are a source of food, either as egg producers or as fresh meat.
Texas A&M quail chick at two weeks.
Keeping poultry at home used to be a national pastime in Britain. In 1943–44 the nation’s hen keepers were producing around 25 per cent of the country’s officially known supply of eggs as people looked to boost the supply of fresh food during the enforced austerity and shortages. By the end of the war the Domestic Poultry Keeper’s Council had over 1.2 million members owning 12 million birds.
Interest in keeping poultry gradually dropped off in the intervening years as the ready supply of factory-farmed chickens helped provide a cheap and convenient supply of both meat and eggs to fuel a growing economy. Also as residential building construction accelerated and gardens became smaller, keeping poultry gradually became the preserve of the country dweller and those with commercial interests in mind.
However, the trend has seen a reversal in recent years, and the nation’s appetite for keeping different types of poultry appears to have returned with renewed vigour. Many people now choose to keep a few birds in their back garden at home (or on other land that they have the use of) and as a consequence they enjoy fresh eggs and fresh meat on demand.
If you are thinking about keeping a few birds (which we are assuming is the reason why you are holding this book in your hands) then congratulations – you are about to embark on a hobby that will provide food for the mind as well as food for the table!
Before you get started, there are a few things to bear in mind, depending upon where you live and how many birds you wish to keep. It is worth doing some groundwork up front before you rush out to buy the various materials that you will need, and so it is worth briefly mentioning them here to provide an overview of what is involved.
Three-week-old Japanese quail (hen).
In practice most people have the right to keep a small number of poultry in their garden(s) at home. However the official policy on this does seem to vary from borough to borough, and you are advised to check with your local environmental health officer on the specific policy regarding keeping poultry at home as there may be some localized restrictions.
You should also check with your solicitor, as the deeds of some properties can contain covenants that preclude the keeping of any form of livestock (including poultry) on your land. This is especially relevant if you are a tenant, live in a flat or housing complex and the proposed site for any birds is likely to be communal, shared space or an allotment.
Additionally you should be aware that since the aftermath of the HN51 (bird-flu) outbreak in the UK a few years ago you are now legally obliged to register your birds with DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) if you have more than fifty head of poultry (and they suggest that you voluntary register if you have under fifty birds). Registration is very straightforward – you can either call the DEFRA helpline or visit their website for more information and latest guidelines.
Registration is a relative formality and you are unlikely to encounter any problems with your birds, but you should be aware that the penalties for not registering birds when legally obliged to can be severe – at the time of writing (August 2012) the maximum fine is £5000. One of the main benefits of registration is that, in the event of a disease outbreak, it will be much easier for the authorities to notify you and help you take steps to minimizethe risk of further contamination or spread of the disease. As well as HN51 the other poultry disease that is notifiable is Newcastle Disease –that is, you have a legal duty to inform the authorities following confirmation of the disease by your vet (seeChapter 4). Problems are very rare but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Finally, before you begin keeping birds it is good practice to sound out your neighbours and discuss your intention to keep quail with them in case they have any specific reservations or concerns. If nothing else it gives you the opportunity to offer reassurance that your activity will not pose problems. In our experience the main concerns are that keeping birds will cause a noise nuisance or a smell or become a potential attractor of rats and other vermin, but as long as you maintain robust hygiene regimes you are unlikely to experience any major issues in this regard. Unless you are planning a huge venture it is likely that your neighbour(s) will be absolutely fine with your proposal, and the additional offer of a few fresh eggs from time to time also goes down well!
CHAPTER 1
So you have decided that you would like to keep a few quail at home. You have checked out the lay of the land with your immediate neighbours and any local authorities, and now you are ready to make a start. Congratulations and welcome to the start of beginning of what promises to be a rewarding and stimulating hobby.
One of the great myths of keeping poultry is the perception that you need to live in the middle of the countryside with a vast acreage of land on which to keep your birds. If you are lucky enough to have your own country pile then you are fortunate, but this is not a pre-requisite, and anyone with a very modest back garden (or yard) space can keep a few quail quite comfortably. You will need to keep your birds in a suitably meshed enclosure to protect them from the attentions of Fantastic Mr Fox, and as with most forms of small poultry, they will also need protecting from cats, dogs and corvids (rooks, crows and the odd sparrowhawk).
The question of where to site your birds is important, and before placing or building your quail house (and enclosed run) you need to think carefully about where in your garden or yard you will keep them.
Quail are very hardy little birds, and adult birds can be left in their pen/quail house all year (even in the winter provided they have extra bedding). However they do not like draughts or getting wet so ideally you will need to place your pen in a sheltered part of the garden which is not too warm or too cold. Other than that your birds will be very happy and can live directly on a surface of grass, earth or sawdust shavings or even on suitable (untreated) bark chippings.
All poultry need a regular supply of clean water (and food), and you may want to site your quail house close to an outside tap or food store so that you have less distance to carry things, and this will also make cleaning out much easier – but it is entirely down to you and will obviously depend on the individual layout of your garden or allotted space.
Finally, before siting the quail house and run you may want to have a look around your garden and plug up or place wire over any holes in fences or spaces where your birds could get out. Quail are not free-ranging birds in the same way that chickens and other fowl are, but they have been known to get out from time to time, and having a relatively secure garden does at least ensure that you have more chance of capturing any would-be Steve McQueens making a break for freedom. Having said that, it should be noted that quail are pretty reasonable flyers, and while they are not in the same league as pigeons or blackbirds they will easily clear the average garden fence. So be warned, if they do get out you may not get them back quite so easily. (See the section on wing-clipping in Chapter 4 if you want to keep your birds on the ground, although wing-clipping is entirely optional.)
Once you have picked a suitable space in your garden then you are ready to look at selecting some accommodation for your imminent new arrivals. Quail do not need much space and your birds can quite comfortably be contained within a floorspace of approximately 3ft by 6ft (1m x 2m) for every ten birds that you decide to keep. This provides ample space for the quail house as well as a conjoined run-type arrangement where they can exercise, take the air and do a bit of sunbathing.
At this point you have several options, ranging from purpose-built (and potentially expensive) accommodation to adapting an existing hutch or pen or even making your own layout from scratch. It all depends on your budget, how much time you have on your hands and also how much DIY you feel confident to take on. Our pens and quail houses are all a combination of either adaptations from other animal enclosures or self-builds using materials from local hardware stores and builders merchants. Here is a quick summary of each type.
Adapted house sat on slabs.
Example of a small quail run.
Weather-proofed quail run.
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