Quail Farming

Quail farming is very easy and entertaining because it is the smallest species of poultry bird. The Japanese scientists first turned the wild quail to domestic bird. Commercial quail farming in Japan spread tremendously. Now, people throughout the world performing quail farming commercially for meat and egg production. Quail farming is very profitable like chicken and duck farming. Almost all types of weather condition is suitable for quail farming. Meat and eggs of quail is very tasty and nutritious. Quail egg is very nutritious than other poultry egg because it contains comparatively much protein, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, B1 and B2. Quail farming can play a vital role to meet up the demand of nutrition. Quail farming needs small capital and labor. It can be raised in accordance with other poultry birds.

Characteristics:

• Quail is a very small sized bird.
• An adult quail weights between 150-200 grams and egg weights 7-15 grams.
• Female quail start laying egg at the age of 6-7 weeks and lay one egg daily continuously.
• They lays about 300 eggs in first year. After that 150-175 eggs in second year.
• Quail egg is very suitable for human health. It contains 2.47 % less fat than chicken egg. Many people think that quail egg helps to prevent blood pressure, diabetic, pant etc.
• Quail meat is very tasty and nutritious. Fat is very low in this meat. So, it is very suitable for blood pressure patients.
• Eggs are very beautiful with multiple colors.
• They do not incubate their egg.

·         Requires minimum floor space.

·         Need Low Investment

Benefits of Quail Farming:

The benefits of quail farming are described below-

• Quail is a small sized bird so it can be raised in small place.

• Food cost of quail is comparatively lower than chicken or other bird.

• Diseases are less in quail.

• Quail grows very fast. 

• Start laying eggs at the age of 6-7 weeks.

• Baby quail come out from egg within 16-18 days. 

• Meat and eggs of quail is very delicious and nutritious.

• Quail farming needs small capital and labor. 

• Quail can be raised successfully in commercial method.

• Quail is a very strong bird. 

• Quail meat contains less fat. So, it is suitable for high blood pressure patients.

• They produce one kg by consuming three kg food. 

• They do not incubate egg. So, chicken or incubator is needed to produce baby quail.

• 6-7 quail can be raised in the place needed for one chicken. 

• As the eggs are small in size so it's price is low than other birds egg. As a result all types of people can buy their eggs.

• As the primary cost is low so the business can be started with little investment.

• 6-8 quail can be raised in 0.91squremetter area. 

• Feed converting efficiency of quail is very good 3:1.

Breeds:

At present 18 species of quail are available which are very suitable for successful quail farming. Some of them are famous for egg production and some of for meat production. Quail species can be divided in two types according to their production. Which are described below-

Layer:

• Tuxedo

• Pharaoh 

• British Range

• English White 

• Manchurian Golden

Broiler:

• Bobwhite (American)

• White Breasted (Indian) 

Life Cycle:

Quail generally survive for 3-4 years. An adult quail weight is between 150-200 grams. They start laying egg from their 6-7 weeks age. An eggs weight is between 7-15 grams. They lay about 290-300 eggs per year. Eggs are very beautiful. Presence of light increases the egg productive efficiency of quail. They lay eggs at afternoon. It takes 17 days to come out the baby from egg. Newly born quail weights between 6-7 grams. Quail never incubate their eggs. For breeding purpose keep one make quail with three female quail. Baby quail become very sensitive and takes about two weeks to be strong. 9-11 grams weight eggs with smooth and hard eggshell is suitable for producing baby.

Housing:
Housing is very important for quail farming. Follow the instructions mentioned bellow.

• Quail can be raised in both litter and cage system. But quail farming in cage is most convenient.

o    Deep Litter System: Six Quails can be reared in a square ft. of floor space

• After 2- weeks Quails can be reared in cages. This will help to gain good body-weight as un-necessary wandering of animals is avoided.

Age	Cage Size	Nos. of Bird
2 WEEKS	3X2.5X1.5 FT.	100 -BIRDS
3—6 WEEKS	4X2.5X1.5 FT.	50- BIRDS

o  Each unit is about 6 feet in length and 1- foot in width and sub-divided in to 6 sub units.

o  To save space, the cages can be arranged up to 6 tiers high, they can be 4 to 5 cages in arrow.

o  The bottom of cage is fixed with removable wooden plates to clean the biro-droppings.

o   Long narrow feed through are placed in front of the cages .water through are placed at the back of the cages.

o  Commercial egg layers are usually housed in colonies of 10—12 birds per cage.

o  For breeding purposes , male Quails are introduced in the cages in the ratio of 1 to 3 - females

• Ensure proper flow of air and light in their house. 

• Use wire net in the cage.

• Plastic cage is most convenient for quail farming. 

• The house will be out of the reach of wild animal.

Feed:
For keeping healthy, proper growing and high production of meat and eggs serve the quail balanced feed regularly. An adult quail eat 20-25 grams of feed daily. Baby feed should contain 27% and adult feed 22-24% protein. A chart of balanced feed for quail mentioned bellow.

Ingredients	Age
	0-3 Weeks	4-5 Weeks	Adult
Broken Wheat	48	50	50
Sesame Cake	23	22	22
Kipper Fish Dust	20	16	14
Rice Dust	6	8	9
Oyster Dust	2.25	3.25	4.25
Salt	0.50	0.50	0.50
Mineral Mix	0.25	0.25	0.25
Total (Percentage)	100	100	100

Feed material should be made of small particles.

·         A- 5 week’s old- Quail consume 500gm. of feed.

·         Quail of 6 month old; consume about 30 to 35 gms. of feed per day .

·         Quails require about 400gms. Feed for the production of 12- eggs.

·         Broiler – starter mash can be used by adding 5kg. Of oil cakes to 75 feed the particles size is reduced by grinding the feed for one more time.

Egg Production:

Presence of light is highly recommended for desired egg production. Light and heat can be made artificially by electric bulb. Use 40-100 watt bulb in this purpose. Demand of light and heat varies depending on season. For incubation egg production keep one male with 2-3 female quail. The get better egg production select high productive species and always keep the house dry and clean. Egg production also depends on temperature, feed, water care and management.

To get desired egg production from adult quail, light play a vital role. Lightening period of laying quail described below through a chat.

Age	Temperature (o Celsius)	Light (Hour)
1 Week	35	24
2 Week	30	24
3 Week	25	12
4 Week	21-22	12
5 Week	21	12
6 Week	21	13
7 Week	21	14
8 Week	21	15
9 Week	21	16
Other Time	21	16

Baby Quail Farming:

Quail never incubate their eggs. So, we can produce baby quail by chicken or artificially through incubator. Incubation period for quail egg is 16-18 days. For incubation and egg production 16 light is needed in quail house. Keep newly born quail in brooder house. They need artificial heat and temperature management for 14-21 days from their birth. Baby quail become very sensitive. They can be raised in both litter and battery system. Keep in mind the following objectives to raise them properly.

• Adequate temperature

• Sufficient light.

• Air movement 

• Density of baby quail

• Supply of food and water 

• Hygienic rearing rules

Provide the layer baby quail heat and light according to their age. Follow the chart mentioned below-

Baby Age	Temperature (o Celsius)	Light (Hour)
1 Week	37.7	24
2 Week	35	24
3 Week	32.2	12

Diseases:
Diseases in quail is comparatively lower than other poultry bird. But they have to keep free from all types of diseases for profitable quail farming. Generally they are not provided any disease preventive vaccine. Baby quail can't tolerate weather change so they get affected by few diseases. Be very careful during this period. Quail can be affected by following disease.

Coccidiosis:

If the quail get affected by coccidiosis disease feed them coaxial 20 by mixing with water (two grams per litter) for three days. Otherwise feed this according to the advice of a veterinarian.

Ulcerative Enteritis:

Mix one gram streptomycin with one litter water and feed it to the quail for three days. This will stop ulcerative enteritis disease.

Hygienic Quail Farming:

To keep the quail healthy and productive follow the hygienic quail farming method which are mentioned bellow.

• Always keep the house dry and clean.

• Ensure proper movement of light and air inside the house. 

• Keep different aged quail separated from each other.

• Separate the affected quail from healthy one. 

• Put under soil or burn the dead bird.

• Don't allow other bird, animal or unknown person in quail house. 

• Ensure hygienic and balanced feed supply.

• Provide sufficient water according to their demands 

CHALLENGES IN QUAIL REARING:

·         Male Quail already make a different sound which is usually disturbing to the human.

·         When rearing the male and female Quails together, the male Quails peck the other Quails and make them blind, At-times death of quails are also noticed.