Raising Button Quails for Prolific Egg Production and Sales

Raising and Selling Button Quail Eggs

Button quail (Coturnix coturnix) have been growing in popularity as pets and as a small-scale farming operation. Their small size, quiet nature, low space requirements and hearty egg production make them an appealing option for many backyard poultry enthusiasts. If you are thinking about incubating and hatching some button quail eggs to raise as pets or sell as a home business, here is some helpful information.

Getting Started with Button Quails

Button quail reach mature size at just 6-8 weeks old and are sexually mature shortly thereafter. Hens start laying eggs reliably at about 7 weeks of age and will continue laying 200-300 eggs per year in the right conditions. They are prolific egg layers compared to chickens and other fowl.

You don't need much space to raise button quail. A small hutch or cage works well, giving each bird about 1 square foot of floor space. Provide pine shavings or similar litter for bedding along with adequate food and clean water. Supplement their diet with grit to aid digestion and crushed oyster shells for calcium.

Incubating Button Quail Eggs

Once your birds start laying fertilized eggs, you can begin incubating them. Button quail eggs take 16-18 days to hatch. There are a few options for incubators:

• Small tabletop incubators designed for quail or chicken eggs
• Homemade incubators like mini plastic tubs outfitted with a heat source and hygrometer
• Using broody quail hens to sit on and hatch the eggs

The incubation temperature should be 99.5°F with a relative humidity of 45-55%. Turn the eggs at least 3 times per day for the first 14 days. Stop turning the eggs for the final 3-4 days before they pip and hatch.

Caring for Button Quail Chicks

Newly hatched button quail chicks are very small - weighing just 5-7 grams. They will need supplemental heat in the form of a brooder lamp or incubator for the first 3-4 weeks before their feathers grow in. Provide chick starter feed and grit along with a shallow waterer to prevent drowning.

Look for signs of pasting around their vents which can lead to illness and death. Clean any stuck-on feces gently with warm water. Transfer the chicks to the adult housing at about 1 month old once feathered.

Selling Button Quail Eggs and Chicks

The small size, relatively quiet nature and prolific egg production of button quails make them popular for small poultry flocks. Both fertilized hatching eggs and day-old chicks often sell very well to other quail enthusiasts and backyard farmers looking to start or expand their flocks.

Pricing varies but $2-5 per fertilized egg and $2-4 per hatched chick is typical. Create an advertisement with clear photos showing your healthy birds and housing conditions. Participate in poultry community boards and groups online to find interested buyers.

Package the eggs very carefully for shipping with appropriate insulation and labeling. Same-day local pickup or delivery for chicks reduces stress and mortality too. Provide any care and nutrition info for a smooth transition to their new home.

Tips for Raising Button Quails

Here are some helpful tips to help your button quail flock thrive:

• Keep birds calm and free from loud noises which can reduce laying
• Avoid overcrowding by giving each bird adequate personal space
• Supplement diet with oyster shell and vitamins 2-3 times a week
• Clean waterers and feeding areas daily to discourage illness
• Collect eggs often - button quail rarely sit on eggs naturally

Ideal Button Quail Habitat Elements

Button quails do well in either an indoor cage habitat or small backyard enclosure when basic needs are met including:

• Bottom lining and bedding for traction and comfort
• Areas for dust bathing to clean feathers and reduce parasites
• Nesting boxes for egg laying spaced around habitat
• Perches at varying heights for roosting and sleeping
• Areas for shelter from weather and to reduce stress

By mimicking their natural environment close at hand, your home-raised button quails will reward you with entertaining activity and a bounty of small brown eggs!

Biosecurity Tips for Healthy Button Quails

Prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases in your button quail flock with these biosecurity measures:

• Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling birds
• Keep wild birds out of quail housing areas
• Isolate and test any new quail additions before introducing them
• Clean and disinfect housing between groups
• Call a vet immediately at the first sign of illness

In addition to commercial poultry products, many vets are gaining experience with button quails too. Quick action improves recovery outcomes.

FAQs

How long does it take for button quails to start laying eggs?

Button quail hens can start laying eggs as early as 6-7 weeks old. They reach full sexual maturity and maximum egg production between 10-12 weeks of age under ideal conditions.

What is the button quail's natural lifespan?

The average lifespan of a button quail is between 2-3 years when cared for properly. With ideal living conditions, low stress levels and a balanced diet, they may occasionally live closer to 5 years.

Do I need a rooster to get fertilized button quail eggs?

Yes, a virile male button quail is required for the eggs to become fertilized and develop embryos. Each rooster can mate with and fertilize eggs from several hens in the flock.

How should I package button quail eggs or chicks for safe shipping?

Use soft insulating packing materials like recycled paper shreds in a sturdy vented box. Put each egg/chick in its own padded compartment. Label package fragile/live animals. Avoid shipping during extreme temperatures.