Quail, the super producing backyard bird for egg an Meat  production, the ultimate in "micro livestock" suitable for those trying to live in a more ethical and sustainable manner.

However a quick glance at many of the websites suggesting this show a method of quail raising which looks disturbingly like a cage/battery system.

http://www.microponics.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Quail1.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Why I am considering Quail

According to the N.S.W Department of Primary Industry

•   Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) are   hardy birds that thrive in small cages and are inexpensive to keep.
• They are fairly disease resistant. 
• Japanese quail mature in about 6 weeks
•  Usually in full egg production by 50 days of age.  
•  With proper care, hens should lay  200 eggs in their first year of lay. 

Then there are the other cage types which I think I will lean towards.

 Quail will still be kept at higher densities than  would keep chickens, but at lower densities than the the  cage systems shown above.

http://www.ablfarm.com/2013/11/

 

    Big pluses for this type of system are:

• The quail get to express natural behaviours. Dustbathing, Foraging,etc
• Quail will eat weed seeds and fertilize lawn and garden areas.
• The will have access to the sun.
• I will feel less mean.

So that this works I will need to remember to make garden beds and cages the same size!

The above image is from a site with some interesting information about this quail keeping method and the way it impacts the lawn.