Tag: quail

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Egg & Poultry Tracking Spreadsheet

2025 Update:

Since 2018 we have been providing a free egg tracking spreadsheet.  While we plan to maintain a free version we found helping users, updates, and enhancements were taking more and more time each year!  In order to keep up with folks needs but also maintain a free tracker we have created an Etsy shop where you can purchase reusable and more in-depth tracking sheets.  While we will keep a basic sheet alive for free!

To purchase our in-depth tracker that include egg size, color, breed and other factors for tracking visit our Etsy Store!  Otherwise read on to get your free tracker.

Our Etsy Store

For our free version read on.

Hey Poultry Enthusiasts! ?? Ready to take your egg-tracking game to the next level in 2025 without breaking the bank? Look no further! We’re thrilled to present the latest edition of our free Google Spreadsheet – your all-in-one solution for keeping tabs on your clucky companions’ eggcellent exploits. Whether you’re raising chickens, quail, or ducks, our user-friendly tracker lets you log eggs, poultry, expenses and profits. It’s like a cozy nest for all your poultry data! ?? We’ve been at this since 2018,  so if you are already a fan? Skip to the bottom for the freshest version. New here? Dive in, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or Pinterest, and share the egg-love with your fellow feathered-friend enthusiasts. Let’s make this year’s egg tracking as sunny-side-up as it gets!

Please note you may not get all the items shown in the pictures. These are past screenshots

What All Can I Keep Track Of?

There are four main areas you can keep track of for your flock:

  • The Poultry (Chicken, Quail, and Ducks)
  • The Eggs
  • The Expenses (There are many)
  • The Income (Not nearly enough)

The Poultry

As with previous years you can log as much or as little information about your flock as you want. Highlights include birth, deaths, lay dates and notes for ducks, chicken, and quail. The only required field is a date for laying if you want the hens of all species to average correctly. Don’t worry about perfection, I sometimes can only get a lay date within a couple of weeks depending on how many pullets I have going that year.

The Eggs

Shooooo, folks really have opinions on this area.  We have kept it simple by providing a egg total by day and poultry type. Remember if you want to track sizes and colors just see our Etsy shop.

Wow This Is Overwhelming, Where do I start?

First scroll down and make a copy of the sheet into your own Google Drive. Then follow the instructions on sheet one. Summaries and charts are automatically created from entering your chickens and eggs in the various tabs. Don’t worry if you still need help, we have a handy guide from 2018 that still gets you going: Directions on how to use the chicken tracker We also will assist folks (when time allows) via comments or Facebook/Instagram chat. Please remember we don’t make money doing this and we work full time outside of this website.

Can I get an Excel/Paper/Other Version of this Egg Tracker?

Please keep asking in the comments below, but for right now the free version is only available via Google Sheets. If we ever have enough interest we will make other options for a small fee.

Can I Use This Egg Tracker For My Small Business?

ABSO-FREAKING-Lutely. While we cater to small backyard flocks, we firmly support small farm businesses and homesteads! Please let us know if you use this poultry tracker for your small business. We would love to support you on social media and make changes to assist you. Farmers are the backbone of our food supply! We just ask that no one packages this sheet up and sells it for a profit or posts it as their own work. We make this for free so everyone can enjoy so be kind and don’t take credit for our work.

 

How Do We Get Our Copy?!

Click the link below and you will be prompted to make a copy to your Google Drive. Make the copy and then run with it. Please note, I only give copy access to the Poultry Egg Tracking Spreadsheet. This avoids someone accidentally messing the entire sheet up.

Need More Help?

We made this handy YouTube video on how to use the tracking sheet:

 

How Can I Make You A Millionaire for Your Awesomeness?

If you like/use the tracker we simply ask that you spread the word about the free poultry egg tracker to others and send in suggestions via comments. Each year we try to incorporate what readers want to see. You are free to use it for personal or business use. Just don’t try to sell it as your product because that makes you a meanie, not nice person. If you really NEEEEED to give us compensation check out our Support Us page!

Download your free Google Spreadsheet to track egg production for your flock. Track chickens, ducks, quail, sizes of eggs, plus profit & loss!
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Brrr-proofing Your Birds: How to Winterize Your Chicken Coop and Quail Aviary

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, it’s that time of year again – winter is just around the corner. For backyard poultry keepers, it’s essential to prepare your chicken coop and coturnix quail aviary for the chilly months ahead. Winterizing your coop and aviary ensures that your feathered friends are kept warm, safe, and healthy throughout the cold season. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process, from creating a supply list to important tasks and valuable tips to keep in mind. Learning how to winterize your chicken coop or how to prepare your coturnix quail for a long cold spell is easy, peasy, lemon squeezy.

Supply List for Winterizing your Chickens and/or Coturnix Quail:

Essentials for Prepping Your Chicken Coop for Winter:

*Affiliate Links Below*

  1. Insulation Materials: Gather straw, hay, or other insulating materials to make your coop and aviary warm and inviting.  We use fine ground pine chips (meant for livestock) and line the nesting boxes with untreated grass germination mats.  I keep meaning to make a video on how to make these low cost liners!
  2. Sand for Coop Floor: Add sand to the coop floor for moisture control and easier cleaning.  Think of it as cat litter for chickens.
  3. Gloves: I think this one is self explanatory…  Poop….Protect your hands during cleaning and maintenance tasks.
  4. Rake: Keep your coop and aviary clean and debris-free with a trusty rake.  Its like a cat litter scoop, but giant sized, if you use sand in the floor of your coop.
  5. N-95 Mask: Guard against dust and excrement particles with an N-95 mask while working in the coop and aviary.  Cause I don’t want poop lung to be a thing.

Nice-to-Have Supplies for Winterizing Your Poultry:

  1. Heated Waterers: Keep water liquid and accessible to your chickens and quail in freezing temperatures. Do I have these?  No, because I am cheap.  And work from home so its easy to switch waterers in and out.  We used to have a homemade one, but retired that for a real one, over time. I got nervous about potential for fire. If you want to make your own here is a link to our previous tutorial.  Build at your own risk.
  2. Tarps or Plastic Sheeting: Create windblocks and protect outdoor runs from chilly winds and precipitation. See below on NOT sealing your chicken coop in the winter.  DO NOT SEAL.  I repeat DO NOT SEAL.
  3. Extra Feed and Supplements: Ensure your birds are well-fed and nourished throughout the winter.
  4. Lighting: We do not supplement the light our chickens receive so we get very few eggs over the winter.  If you desire eggs over the winter you may want to consider adding additional light

Tasks for Preparing Your Quail & Chickens for Winter

  1. Deep Cleaning: Start your winter preparations with a thorough cleaning of the coop and aviary. Since your animals will spend more time indoors, maintaining a clean and sanitary environment is crucial.  I mean who wants to be locked in with a pile of your own poop?
  2. Wind Blocks and Shelter: Install wind blocks using tarps or plastic sheeting to protect your birds from cold drafts. Ensure that the coop and aviary have sufficient insulation to maintain a comfortable temperature. Your quail will 100% ignore all your efforts, sit out in the open with a dusting of snow across their feathers…. but you will feel better knowing you tried.
  3. Health Check: Before winter sets in, inspect all your birds for any signs of pests, diseases, or health issues. Address any concerns promptly to ensure your flock is in top condition.  In my case, I have 2 quail that get poop stuck to their feet.  Even when I keep everything nice and clean.  I watch their twos and clean it off before it becomes poop balls.  I assume these 2 quail pay attention to their hygiene about like my middle school sons.

You can watch our Youtube video on how we achieve all these tasks:


Tips For Keeping Chickens & Quail Healthy All Winter Long

  1. Ventilation is Key: Avoid sealing the coop too tightly. Proper ventilation helps maintain good air quality and reduces the risk of respiratory issues. The best way to describe it.  Imagine your hot wet breath in a sealed cold area.  All the moisture would condense on the cold walls.  Now imagine all that cold wet air circulating above your poop…  Yeah….
  2. Cleanliness: Chickens tend to hide in the runs and coop whenever snow falls or weather is inclement.  This leads to additional poop.  Keep an eye out and potentially rake out the coop and runs more often.  Quail will often get poop stuck to their feet as it will not dry as fast in colder/damp months.  Keep an eye on wood chips and change out regularly
  3. Collect Eggs Frequently: Prevent eggs from freezing and cracking by collecting them regularly.  Even if they do not lay often noone needs a cracked frozen egg thawing all over your aviary floor or chicken nesting boxes.  If this seems real specific…  It is.
  4. Monitor Your Local Alerts:  We often receive alerts of avian flu being passed from wild birds in the fall and winter.  Keep an eye out on times you may want to keep the chickens inside a secure location

Creating a Cozy Home:

To create a warm and cozy environment for your feathered friends, you’ll want to focus on insulation. Straw or hay provides excellent insulation for the coop while maintaining breathability. Layer it thickly on the floor and in nesting boxes, and replace it regularly to maintain warmth and cleanliness. For the quail aviary, consider adding extra straw to the ground to create a soft, insulating bed.  I also add boxes and additional hidey holes for them to use.  REMEMBER: do not seal your coops or aviary.  It is important that airflow be maintained.  A sealed environment will collect moisture from the respiration of chickens and quail.  Damp air and cold is just a recipe for upper respiratory infections.

Winterizing with Tarps and Plastic Sheeting:

Winter winds can be harsh, and precipitation is no friend to your coop and aviary. To keep your birds cozy and dry, create windblocks using tarps or plastic sheeting. Attach them to the coop’s sides and cover outdoor runs. This simple step will make a world of difference in keeping the cold and wet weather at bay. Yes I am going to say it again: Create windblocks but do not create an environment that seals in dampness.  We are striving for dry as possible all winter long.

Nurturing Your Flock:

Your birds will sometimes need extra nourishment during the winter months.  It takes calories to maintain body mass in the cold. Consider increasing their feed, and don’t forget to offer supplements. Oyster shells are a great source of calcium for laying hens and if they aren’t laying over the winter then they can replenish the calcium in their bodies.  Extra grains and protein can help your birds stay healthy and warm during the colder days.  The focus should be on a quality protein high food.  We like to offer some suet as a treat as well so they can have some extra fats in their diet. Since we treat the winter as a rest break from laying we really try to give the girls some quality nutrition during this time.  I’m looking into starting a fodder system to increase their access to fresh greens during the winter as soon as out home renovation is complete.

Heating and Lighting:

While it’s tempting to add heaters to your coop, it’s best to avoid them. Overheating can lead to respiratory issues and fire hazards. Instead, rely on good insulation and wind protection. To maintain egg production, add supplementary lighting to extend daylight hours and keep your hens happy. As we mentioned, we allow our chickens to rest through the winters and take the few eggs they provide.  However, it is up to you.  Each chicken is born with the total amount of eggs it will lay, so, you really can’t up the limit, it is more when they will come out.  Since we tend to keep a long term mixed age flock, it makes sense to give them rest breaks so they lay longer during their lifespan.  If you are only keeping layers for a year or two then it makes sense to light them over the winter.

Conclusion:

With the right supplies, tasks, and tips, you can ensure your chicken coop and  coturnix quail aviary are ready for the winter months. Keeping your birds warm, healthy, and happy will make the colder season a breeze. If you have any questions on this how to winterize article please let me know in the comments.

So, don’t let winter catch you off guard – get your coop and aviary ready for the snow and frost, and enjoy a cozy, stress-free season with your beloved flock and quail. Cleaning and prep in fall means less time running around in the cold for both you and your chickens & quail.  I learned the hard way that giving your chickens winter protection in the middle of a storm is NOT fun.  For you or the chickens :) so don’t procrastinate and get your flock ready for winter today!

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Spring into Action: Essential April Garden Chores for a Blooming Season

As spring settles in, it’s time to turn your attention to your urban homestead and garden. For those residing in zones 6a, 6b, 7a, and 7b, April marks the start of a busy gardening season. With a little planning and elbow grease, you can ensure your homestead and garden are productive and beautiful all season long. From sowing seeds to maintaining your compost pile, there are plenty of essential tasks to tackle this month. In this article, we’ll cover some of the key April garden and urban homestead chores to help you make the most of this exciting time of year.

Let’s start with some gardening and homesteading checklists and then move on to resources to help you get the most out of your urban homestead and garden.

April Urban Homestead and Garden Chore Checklist

Gardening Checklist:

  1. Prepare your soil – Remove any weeds and debris from your garden beds and add a layer of compost or organic matter to improve soil health.  If you have left last years seeds and leaves to sustain wildlife now is the time to clean it all out
  2. Plant cool-season crops – April is the perfect time to sow seeds for cool-season vegetables such as peas, lettuce, and spinach.  If you live in the mountains consider row covers to assist with late frosts.  No matter how warm it gets and how much you want to plant those tomatoes outside… DON’T.  You will regret it.
  3. Start fast growing warm weather crops – If you have managed to hold out this long, it is finally time to start your fast growing warm-weather vegetables like squash and cucumbers.  They only need 4-6 weeks to be ready to plant out (Just in time for Mother’s Day!)
  4. Prune fruit trees and shrubs – Prune any dead or damaged branches from your fruit trees and shrubs to promote healthy growth and a bountiful harvest. Be careful not to prune out limbs or remove plants that haven’t leafed out yet.  Some species like figs and paw paws leaf out much later.
  5. Divide and transplant perennials – Divide and transplant overcrowded perennial plants like day lilies, hostas, and irises.
  6. Clean garden tools – Clean and sharpen garden tools to ensure they’re ready for use. If you are anything like us, its also a good time to sort out that piled up garden shed or greenhouse.
  7. Install birdhouses and feeders – Set up birdhouses and feeders to attract beneficial birds to your garden.

Urban Homestead Checklist:

  1. Maintain your compost pile – Keep your compost pile well-maintained by adding a balance of “green” (nitrogen-rich) and “brown” (carbon-rich) materials and turning it regularly to ensure proper decomposition.  If it has been sitting all winter this is a great time to get it stirred back up and finished off in time for planting in May.
  2. Check on your bees – If you’re keeping bees, now is the time to check on your hive and make sure your bees have enough food and space to thrive.  We aren’t bee keepers but we suggest taking a class from Oxx Beekeeping (often at Organic Growers School) and reading more here.
  3. Clean your coop – If you’re raising chickens or quail, be sure to clean out their coop and nesting boxes to keep them healthy and happy.  We like to take down window covers, do a full clean out of the run/coop, and inspect for any pests at the end of April to give them chickens and quail a nice healthy place for the summer months.
  4. Purchase and Brood Chicks or Hatching Eggs – This is the time that eggs and chicks are plentiful.  You will find chicks for sale at local feed and seed stores, on craigslist, and on mail order.  Its a little late to order chicks, but you can find some hatcheries that ship throughout May OR start prepping your list for fall orders. Hatching eggs can be found on facebook groups, craigslist, and Ebay, just note that hatch rates are lower after eggs have been bounced through the mail.
  5. Inspect and Repair Fencing – This is the time of year where your small livestock want to get out and graze and your predators are waking up and looking for food.  Make sure fencing is secure and undamaged as all animals start roaming further from dens and coops.
  6. Inspect irrigation and Rain Barrels – Review your irrigation/collection system and make any necessary repairs or adjustments.  Specifically look for freeze/thaw damage at taps and connectors
  7. Clean Tools and Outdoor Areas – It will finally be warm enough to start really gardening, lounging outside, and making use of your outdoor areas.  Prep for warmer weather by cleaning hammocks, outdoor furniture, and tools.  It will make the most of warm days without giving you the latitude to plant those warm weather starts too early!
  8. Clean out jars and review the pantry – Make plans for what you want to preserve this year, what you ran out of, and what canned goods you still have left over.  Adjust your planting plans accordingly so you don’t end up with those 15 extra cans of pickled okra this year.

See Link Below for a Free Printable PDF version. Background imagery used with permission by https://www.freepik.com/

Resource List for April

  1. PRINTABLE PDF of This Checklist
  2. When to plant: Reaganskopp Planting Calculator: See when to start seeds indoors, outdoors, and for succession planting.  All you need is to know your average last frost date
  3. Which Chickens to Get: Use our years of chicken owning experience to pick out the perfect chicken breeds for an Urban Homestead.
  4. How to Use Incubators: We have a few guides on our YouTube Channel
  5. Garden Tool Maintenance: We are using this great guide from EcoGardener to get all our tools back in shape this year.

April is a busy month for urban homesteaders and gardeners in zones 6a, 6b, 7a, and 7b. From preparing soil for planting to starting seedlings indoors, there are plenty of tasks to tackle to ensure a successful growing season. Other essential chores include planting cool-season crops, mulching garden beds, watering plants, and harvesting early crops. It’s also important to monitor for pests, prune fruit trees, and maintain compost piles and garden tools. With proper planning and care, you can set up your urban homestead for success and enjoy the bounties of a thriving garden throughout the season.

Remember, gardening and homesteading is a process and it’s important to take it one step at a time. Don’t feel overwhelmed by this list – just focus on the tasks that are most important for your garden and take the time to enjoy the process. With a little effort and attention, you can create a beautiful and productive garden that will bring you joy throughout the growing season.

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Get Your Free 2021 Backyard Chicken & Poultry Tracker

Example of the new graphs available in the free 2020 egg tracker

Edit: We now have a 2024 Version Available!

Are you looking to track the egg production of your chickens, quail, or ducks for free? We’ve got you covered with our 4th annual updated chicken and poultry tracker. If you are new to the tracker you can review detailed instructions on how to log your poultry and their eggs below. This tracker keeps all the details of your chickens, quail, and ducks, the eggs they lay, and expenses/profit. This year we have a quick FAQ and what’s new for 2021. If you are already familiar with our previous egg and poultry trackers simply skip to the bottom to get the newest version! As always this egg tracking utility is free. Please just follow us on the social media of your choice Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or Pinterest and share this tracker with other folks who need a utility to keep up with their backyard egg production.

What All Can I Keep Track Of?

There are four main areas you can keep track of for your flock:

  • The Poultry (Chicken, Quail, and Ducks)
  • The Eggs
  • The Expenses (There are many)
  • The Income (Not nearly enough)
Example of the new graphs available in the free 2020 egg tracker

The Poultry

As with previous years you can log as much or as little information about your flock as you want. Highlights include birth, deaths, lay dates and notes for ducks, chicken, and quail. The only required field is a date for laying if you want the hens of all species to average correctly. Don’t worry about perfection, I sometimes can only get a lay date within a couple of weeks depending on how many pullets I have going that year.

The Eggs

Shooooo, folks really have opinions on this area. Track by size, color, species OR skip it all and just put your total eggs by day. We aim to please everyone in this area

The Income and Expenses

We offer some items in the dropdowns but you can easily add your own line items. We also have a handy place to put in some customer notes

Wow This Is Overwhelming, Where do I start?

First scroll down and make a copy of the sheet into your own Google Drive. Then follow the instructions on sheet one. Summaries and charts are automatically created from entering your chickens and eggs in the various tabs. Don’t worry if you still need help, we have a handy guide from 2018 that still gets you going:

Directions on how to use the chicken tracker

We also will assist folks (when time allows) via comments or Facebook/Instagram chat. Please remember we don’t make money doing this and we work full time outside of this website.

Can I get an Excel/Paper/Other Version of this Egg Tracker?

Please keep asking in the comments below, but for right now the free version is only available via Google Sheets. If we ever have enough interest we will make other options for a small fee.

Can I Use This Egg Tracker For My Small Business?

ABSO-FREAKING-Lutely. While we cater to small backyard flocks, we firmly support small farm businesses! Please let us know if you use this poultry tracker for your small business. We would love to support you on social media and make changes to assist you. Farmers are the backbone of our food supply! We just ask that no one packages this sheet up and sells it for a profit or posts it as their own work. We make this for free so everyone can enjoy.

What’s New for 2021?

You asked for it and we came through: First the summary page now contains a WEEKLY view of your total egg counts. The egg counts by size, color, and species are automatically calculated just like the monthly counts.

We also created a new chart that shows the total eggs by week. A great way to get a visual on your egg production throughout the year.

How Do We Get Our Copy?!

Click the link below and you will be prompted to make a copy to your Google Drive. Make the copy and then run with it. Please note, I only give copy access to the Poultry Egg Tracking Spreadsheet. This avoids someone accidentally messing the entire sheet up.

Free 2021 Poultry & Egg Tracker (Copy Only) <—— Click IT!

If you would like to see an example all filled out you can click this link:

Poultry & Egg Tracker w/Examples (View Only)

If you want more directions on how to use the poultry egg tracking spreadsheet I wrote a guide in 2018. Click the link below:

Directions on how to use the tracker

How Can I Make You A Millionaire for Your Awesomeness?

If you like/use the tracker we simply ask that you spread the word about the free poultry egg tracker to others and send in suggestions via comments. Each year we try to incorporate what readers want to see. You are free to use it for personal or business use. Just don’t try to sell it as your product because that makes you a meanie, not nice person.

If you really NEEEEED to give us compensation check out our Support Us page!

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Quail Versus Chickens: Urban Homesteading

Urban homesteaders who want to add livestock into their rotation are generally limited to small fowl. Backyard chickens and more recently quail (and ducks) are a go to for the small urban homestead. Why? Urban Homesteads usually have one premium: SPACE, and lets face it a goat needs some room to roam. But which is the best choice of livestock? Bring in the great battle royale Quail Versus Chickens for the Urban Homestead.

Couple of things before we get down to Quail v. Chicken!

  1. I’m not adding ducks to the mix. They are an option, but I consider anything that needs to account for water and potentially plumbing to be for a more advanced livestock keeper. (Argue away in the comments)
  2. We are discussing coturnix quail. They are the most ‘domestic’ of quail. There are a ton of other varieties that have more specialized needs than listed here.

Now Down to the battle: Quail Versus Chickens

We are going to look at the following factors:

  • Space
  • Noise/Ordinances
  • Feed/Water
  • Eggs
  • Meat
  • Pet Factor

Quail Versus Chickens: Space Requirements

Goes to QUAIL.

For urban homesteads space is always limited. And if your space isn’t limited then I don’t want to hear about your Shangri-la in the city (#jealous). But for the rest of us working with usually less than half an acre, space matters! I’m just going to call it here: QUAIL WIN

quail versus chicken space requirements illustrated by coop size.
Let us have a visual illustration of the size needed for 13 quail versus 15 chickens…

Space Requirements

  • Quail 1.5 square foot total
  • Chicken 4 square feet (coop) + 10 square feet (run) = 14 square feet (if not free ranging)

Internet wisdom says 1 square foot per quail. I personally would go more in the 1.5-2 square feet per quail. I like space for all of my animals and provide over the minimums for all my animals. I wouldn’t be doing this if I felt like factory farming was a great thing.

In addition to the general space requirements chickens just need more complex accommodations. They need roosting bars, nesting boxes, and run space to move around. Quail need…. A floor and roof? In fact roofs that are much higher than 2 feet (but shorter than 6 feet) can end up potentially hurting a bird that ‘flushes’ and can get up enough velocity. Quail floors can be open mesh or cages can be stacked. I will be honest, my quail have an old small chicken coop with access to wood chips, dirt, a small ramp and coop space (which they use). I also throw in fresh grasses etc, because I like my animals to have a more natural life, when I can. I’m not into the stacking wire cages, but if that works for you, then you do you boo.

One final piece on space: Free Ranging Quail v Chicken

Free ranging quail is just not a thing as far as I can research. They aren’t terribly domestic (even when I handled the little boogers since hatching them). I mean every, single. time. I change their food or water they act likes it is the first time they have seen these objects and they are most certainly harbingers of their impending death. Quail free ranging would equal quail gone.

My chickens have a lot of access to the backyard and woods. I had to put up a small section of bird netting so the would leave the neighbors south facing foundation the hell alone. There was no where else they wanted to sun themselves… but this outdoor time has been great. We get lovely orange yolks, haven’t seen ticks on humans since we let them out, and cut our feed costs considerably during the summer. Also, there is just a real soothing aesthetic to watching the chickens happily scratch and root around the yard. Its like watching a feathered fish bowl. So if you want that free-ranging aspect then consider chickens may be more for you even if they take up a bit more space.

Quail Versus Chickens: Noise and Ordinances

Goes to QUAIL

Oh boy, Quail win on the noise and ordinances (most of the time) for an urban homestead. First noise: Quail ladies are basically silent. Unlike the clucking, chattering, bantering, constant racket of a group of hens quail are soooo quiet. Your neighbors will likely be unaware quail even exist. (Although, I don’t condone clandestine homesteading, the hideability of quail may be a huge factor in strict neighborhoods)

Now for the menfolk! Roosters are loud. Even teeny, tiny bantam roosters are loud (click for proof). I cannot even begin to discuss how much crowing, one rooster can do during the day. In our city, roosters aren’t even allowed (Though I can hear across the street. One of the neighbors does not subscribe to this law). Even if roosters are allowed your neighbors may hate you. Just saying.

Male quail aka cocks (Not making that up folks snickers while typing) call during mating season. Its a metallic sound… I find it pleasant, albeit a little odd to hear in Western North Carolina. The neighbors just thought some odd songbird had moved into the neighborhood. Everyone was a-okay with the quail and basically didn’t know they existed.

I love the pleasant homesteading sound of the chickens, but for urban environments the quail are certainly more user friendly.

Quail v Chickens: Feed/Water

I swear this is not a post touting quail but this one

Goes to QUAIL

I’ve had 13 quail for almost 9 months. I have more concerns I might get mold in a bag of feed than use it all. I buy 50 pounds of specialty high protein chicken food or game bird when I find it. I use a bag every three months? Something around that… They are tiny and they just eat hardly anything.

Same thing with water. A gallon waterer last for days. I’m more often dumping their water because it is gross and poopy than they have run out.

Chickens on the otherhand will gobble food. With 15 chickens we go through almost a 50 lb bag of food every 2 weeks when it is cold and they can’t find a lot free ranging. Don’t get me started on water. I have two five gallon waterers, but only one heater in the winter, so I’m getting water all the time for either thaw or thirst!

Chicken versus Quail: Eggs

Goes to CHICKENS!

Its a harder choice to make than one would believe. I looked at 5 important factors:

  • Time to Eggs: Quail
  • Eggs size: Chickens
  • Egg nutrition: Tie
  • Egg sales: Chickens
  • Eggs per lifetime: Chickens

Time to Eggs

Nothing beats a quail. From the moment they hatch to laying an egg is a ridiculous 6 weeks. I literally could not believe how quickly they feathered and started laying eggs. Chickens start laying eggs more along the 6 month range instead of 6 weeks. Yeah you can find some precocious hybrids that lay sooner, but if you are into anything fancy or heritage it may be longer than that.

Egg Size

Do you want to crack open 3-4 teeny tiny fragile eggs? Well that’s what you have to do when you want to have a full egg and you are using quail eggs. On the flip side tiny eggs do make lovely hors d’oeuvres.

Egg Nutrition

Another one of those surprisingly hotly contested subjects. Some people believe that quail eggs have more vitamins or protein than chicken eggs. From my research that isn’t really the case. They do have different nutrition more B vitamin in Quail more D in chicken eggs, etc. But the truth is they are fairly similar in nutrition.

Egg Sales

Many times you can sell quail eggs for a dollar to two more than a dozen chicken eggs BUT finding buyers is not nearly easy as chicken eggs. I don’t ever have to try hard to sell out of eggs. A quick post in our facebook group and they are all gone. Lots of times quail buyers are a bit harder. If you can find a steady buyer then quail might be a good way to go, but chicken eggs are reliable sales.

Eggs per Lifetime

Quail can lay 200-300 eggs per year which rival any chicken BUT they only lay around two years. Chickens will drop off on the amount of eggs they lay after 3 years but if you don’t light them in winter they can lay a generous amount of eggs for 4-5 years. You just can’t be the longevity over time per bird.

One more thing on eggs. I have started tracking both types of eggs and sales this year so I can compare my results in the future. You can use the tracker I use for free!

Chickens V. Quail: Meat

Calling this one a tie.

Quail are small so you are going to need a number of birds to equal one meat bird or dual purpose breed of chicken. But the time it takes to get a quail to full size (6 weeks) and how many you can fit in a small space it is easy to make up the difference. Cleaning both birds are about the same if you want to maintain the skin. This one is going to be up to personal taste.

Quail Versus Chickens: Pets

This goes to chickens hands down if you want pets. Quail if you don’t.

This is Adam’s pet chicken “Turken”. Only a face a chicken dad could love.

Quail just don’t make pets. I mean if you like a cage of nice exotic birds then they would fit the bill, but chickens can be pets. You may not choose to raise them that way (see the above meat comment) but if you want a friendly animal that can come when called and even wants to be held and hang out with you then chickens fit the bill. Honestly, we have some chickens that are such characters they’ll be allowed to retire, but we have a section of flock that just aren’t pets. It works for us, but each homesteader needs to figure out what relationship you want with your livestock and pick accordingly!

The Final Verdict

You’ll need to pick the bird or birds that work for you. We are lucky enough to be able to fit two types into our urban homestead but I can tell you I kind of wish I had started with quail. I adore my chickens and have had them for years, but having quail would have been so much easier in the beginning. They just do not require the upkeep and care chickens do. That being said you really can’t go wrong either way. Hopefully, you can pick from the above factors and choose a small livestock that works for your urban homestead.

A comparison of chickens versus quail based on important factors for the urban homestead.