adminSamuel Kadungure Senior Farming Reporter
QUAIL farming is a money spinning business capable of boosting livelihoods of masses of both resource-poor rural farmers and urbanites that are constantly chasing after the elusive greenback.
The brown-freckled bird business requires little capital and labour.
It is easy to set up a quail farm since quails are among the smallest species of poultry birds.
It is not only about money, but also nutrition. Money, coupled with health, is true wealth.
Quail farming started in Japan where scientists are credited for being the first to tame wild quails into domestic birds and spread to Zimbabwe where the tiny birds are being reared for meat and eggs.
Nutritionists argue that quail eggs are healthier than other poultry eggs as they contain more protein, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, B1 and B2.
Meat producing quails are called broiler quail. There are numerous broiler quail breeds available.
Regular egg producing quails are known as layer quails. They lay eggs almost daily and up to 300 eggs yearly. Egg production fluctuates from the second year. The eggs have a shorter incubation time when compared to chicken eggs.
The tiny birds grow faster and their meat is delicious and nutritious than chicken.
First Quail Breeders was in Mutare and Makoni districts last week where it was recruiting and training out-growers on quail farming and the associated benefits.
First Quail Breeders believe that the venture was lucrative as they buy a crate of eggs for $6 and meat at $6 per kg.
In today’s health conscious marketplace, consumers are so much more aware of the importance of nutrition and the desire to get rid the body of excess sugar and fat in their diets, offers ready market for quail breeders.
Zimbabwe has been slush by lifestyle diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and heart-related ailments and going green and eating healthy is the new rave.
Research shows that quail meat is a detoxifying agent, an immune booster and stress reliever. It helps with digestive tract disorders, stomach ulcers, anemia, tuberculosis, heart problems, bronchial illnesses and diabetes.
It can alleviate migraines and give one healthier hair, while keeping hypertension, digestive disturbance, gastric ulcer, liver problems and blood pressure under control.
Characteristics of Quail
Quails are very small sized bird.
An adult quail weights between 150 to 200g and an egg weights around 7 to 15g.
Female quails start laying eggs at six weeks of age and continuously lay one egg daily.
Each quail lays about 300 eggs in its first year of life and 175 eggs in the second year.
Quail eggs are good for human health as they contain less fat than chicken eggs and believed to help lower blood pressure, assist in controlling diabetes and eliminating free radicals from the body which could cause cancer.
Quail meat is very tasty and nutritious, has low fat, making it suitable for those with cholesterol problems.
Eggs are very beautiful with multiple colour — many people see it as “fancy” when compared to chicken eggs.
Quails do not incubate their eggs, they are incubated to hatch.
Benefits of Quail Farming
Quails are smaller sized poultry birds, and easy to handle and can be raised within a small space.
Feeding cost of quails is comparatively lower than chickens or other poultry birds.
Diseases are less in quails.
Quails grow fast and gain maturity faster than any other poultry birds.
They start laying eggs within 6 weeks of age.
It takes about 18 days to hatch their eggs.
Meat and eggs of quail are tasty, delicious and nutritious.
Quail farming needs small capital, and labour cost is very low.
Quails are very strong birds with less disease or other health problems.
Quail meat contains less fat, making it suitable for those with cholesterol problems.
They have good food to meat or eggs converting efficiency.
You can raise seven quails in the same place that is required for just one chicken.
Caging
Quails can be raised in both litter and cage systems, though the cage system is more ideal as management is easy and minimises diseases.
Ensure proper ventilation and flow of air and light inside.
50 quails can be raised in a cage measuring 120cm length, 60cm wide and 25cm height.
Use wire net for making their cages.
Measurement of the net would be 5mm x 5mm for adult quails.
The cage must be out of the reach of wild animals and all types of predators.
Raising Quail Chicks
Quail teets are hatched using incubators since quails do not hatch their eggs. The incubation process takes about 18 days. For maximum egg production, 16 hours of lighting period is required daily inside the quail house.
To keep quails healthy and productive, the following hygienic quail farming methods must be adhered to:
Always keep their house dry and clean.
Ensure proper movement of light and air inside their house.
Keep different aged quails separated from each other.
Separate the disease affected quails from the healthy flock.
Burn the dead bird or bury under soil.
Don’t allow other birds, animals or unknown persons enter inside the quail house.
Ensure hygienic and balanced feed supply.
Provide adequate fresh and clean water to meet demand.
Feeding
To keep quails healthy, growing and highly productive, they require balanced feed regularly.
The quail feed is made up of sorghum, pearl millet, mhunga and yellow maize.
Be very careful about the amount of protein in their feed.
Along with providing well balanced and nutritious feed, ensure adequate supply of clean and fresh water.
Quails eat a very less amount of feed daily compared to other poultry birds, such as chicken or ducks. An adult quail consumes about 25g of feed daily.
Egg Production
Adequate light is recommended for optimal egg production.
Artificial light and heat can be means of electric bulb or heater.
Demand of light and heat varies depends on season.
Keep one male with every five females for fertile eggs.
For better egg production, select highly productive breeds and always keep their house dry and clean.
Egg production also depends on temperature, feeding, water, care and management.
Diseases
Diseases are less in quails, compared to other poultry birds.
One has to take proper care and management to keep them free from all types of diseases or illness as they are not provided any disease preventive vaccines.
Quail teets are sensitive, intolerant and vulnerable to diseases if exposed to sudden weather and temperature change.
Diseases harmful to quails include:
Coccidiosis: If they are affected by coccidiosis disease, serve them coaxial 20 by mixing with water for three days. Also seek the opinion of a veterinarian.
Ulcerative Enteritis: Mix one gram streptomycin with one litter water and serve it to the quails for three days. This will stop ulcerative enteritis disease.
Online Reporter