Quail Birds

Mature birds average eleven inches long and weigh from 5.1 to 6.5 ounces (160 to 200 grams.) A few insects are eaten during the nesting season in spring and early summer. Males have a dark and thick plume, a black face, neck and also a black patch on the breast. Females have more dull and thin feather plumes and lack the black markings. Mature males have much more striking plumage than females. are a native Quail and take longer to mature for reproduction as compared to a Pharaoh Quail.  The Bobwhite will usually pair up with a mate but breeders of the Bobwhite also do well with colony breeder birds in the same large flight pen. Many farmers like to raise Bobwhite Quail to release on their farms for insect control and to watch.

Gambel Quail Facts:

Weights –  Hen ——-5-1 oz        Cock—-6-5 oz
Purpose: Hunting, Release on Game Farms, Feathers, Meat
Egg Color: Small tinted eggs with white black dotted
Egg Production:  Good 200-300 eggs per year

The Pharaoh Coturnix Quail are mature after 6 weeks of age and are full grown at 10 weeks of age.  Males have a red-dish tint on the breast, while the hens have a grey-mottled breast. The males start to crow at about 5-6 wks of age and hens start laying at 7 wks. They are very easy to keep but need to be kept in cages above the ground. Pharaoh Coturnix like to take dust baths in hot weather. Dressed weight at maturity is 4 -4.4 ounces.

Pharaoh Coturnix Facts:

Weights –  Hen ——-4 – 5 1.2         Cock—-5-6 oz
Purpose – Meat or eggs
Egg Color – Small tinted white eggs with speckles
Egg Production – Good 200-300 eggs per year