Hi! I’m Amber! A semi-crunchy mama who rides the line between raising chickens and letting my kids eat Skittles because life is about balance, right?
We got out of the city, got the garden, and began raising our chickens in 2019 before the pandemic made it popular. Half the appeal of moving to our town prior was that backyard chickens were allowed. We love watching them and collecting fresh eggs daily. They even help us reduce waste by eating kitchen scraps. But let’s face it: coops can get smelly, and chickens eat a LOT.
But then there’s chicken math.
Goats were already a no-go because we didn’t have the space or the zoning. We had already considered raising meat birds, but even after pre-ordering from our local feed store, I quickly became overwhelmed and canceled our order. Enter quail. I don’t even know how we stumbled upon quail, but we had placed our order for 30 chicks before I could even think about what we were doing.
Quail are the perfect solution if you’re looking to keep backyard animals for any reason.
They aren’t loud like chickens. They eat far less. They aren’t stinky. Best of all, they only require one sq. foot per bird and don’t require a coop; they can be raised in hutches and are very sweet.
Additionally, quail eggs are more nutritious than chicken eggs by weight while tasting exactly the same. They lay more eggs yearly and are easier to deal with and maintain overall. Finally, they are considered game birds, so there are typically no HOA restrictions.
So, if you’re semi-crunchy like me or just enjoy that Joanna Gaines-esque lifestyle, consider adding quail to your repertoire; you won’t regret it!
