Domesticated Japanese Quail, also called Coturnix Quail, are little laying birds that average around 200-300 eggs per year beginning at ~8 weeks old.
Beloved by homesteaders and urban farmers, these little birds take up very little space and time to care for, and when raised and bred correctly, can have lovely personalities!
Jumbo Coturnix Quail have also been cultivated, and are nearly quadruple the size of a standard 4oz quail. These quail are mostly processed for meat, and lay larger eggs.
Truly, coturnix are pocket-sized balls of pure attitude. Due to being the subject to wide-spread breeding and farming abuses, myths about their intelligence and behavior have been blown out of proportion.
In truth, coturnix are an intelligent species that can learn tricks, will avoid inbreeding when possible, and have particular social and environmental needs that should be met to raise happy and healthy birds.
Be aware that coturnix are not native to North America, and unlike the heavily domesticated chicken, they do not return to their coop at night by themselves.
Because they are non-native, and because they are an easy treat for predators, these quail should have access to a free-ranging habitat within an enclosed area.
⤶ Back