Quail Experiment Changed!

We got a late start to drive the 106 miles to the quail farm where we were expecting to pick up 2 dressed (killed/gutted) quail and a dozen quail eggs. Somewhat pleasant drive and we didn't get lost at all. Got there, knocked on the farmhouse door, and were shooed to the barn. The guy barely muttered before leading us to a different barn. Opened the door, and oh my gosh, the stench. Walked down a hallway (in a barn?) and into a sideroom where there were about 200 quail in various cages, and about 100 on the floor. ON THE FLOOR! The floor was littered with smashed eggs, poop, feed, and feathers. There was one trying to walk but had a broken egg stuck to its foot. Another few looked close to death from being pecked. Several others tried to escape when the farmer (I use that term loosely) opened the door. A black kitty snuck in behind us.

I couldn't believe it. The farmer muttered something about the eggs froze so there weren't any, then he just leaned against a wall, and said nothing. Nothing like "pick out your two" or "do you need help figuring out which to get" or .... absolutely nothing. I asked if he would kill them for us, and he shook his head no.

Anyway, Hubby grabbed two and we headed to the car. The farmer threw them into his truck cab while he put together a small Priority Mail box, then couldn't retrieve the second one. He muttered and ran back to the quail barn to grab another. While Hubby took a look in the box, the farmer grabbed the original second from the truck cab and put it in the box. All in all, we paid $6.00 - two for each.

This is a pic of a bobwhite quail. Not sure what kind we got.

On the way home, we decided we didn't want to eat them. Yet. It was too disgusting and filthy there. We decided to feed and care for them for a while, hoping that at least one will be a female and lay eggs. We'll eat a couple of eggs, then leave some to see if they will brood and hatch.

So, we stopped at a pet store and bought a bird cage and a "quail block" (bird seed for quail in a hard block). We've settled them into our living room, just for a couple of days so we can get to know them, and then they get moved into the garage. Or, if no eggs show up in 3 days, they get eaten.

I tried to take a pic but the cage wasn't very helpful. I'll try again tomorrow while it's daylight.

We look at it this way... we wanted to raise quail for eggs and meat and perhaps a little bit of cash. Guess we just got a little bit of an early start. But if we eat them, then we'll wait until we move and buy some and another few cages (or Hubby will make) from a decent supplier.

Now we have to learn all about quail! But I wasn't ready!!!

Vikki