Many people who wish to pursue a self sufficient lifestyle or start a homestead are often held back by fear, or excuses. When I have more land, When I have more money, etc. etc.  There are several solutions to get around the fears and government restrictions, even if you live in the middle of a major city on 1/10th of an acre.

The first option is rabbit. Rabbit is hands down the most efficient livestock in converting feed to meat. One buck and four does are almost enough to provide all of the meat requirements for a small family.  This is due the the origins of the expression, “breeding like rabbits”.  You can also feed them straight from your lawn, and their poop is an excellent fertilizer.  However, you have to be able to “harvest” your rabbits, which many people are unwilling to do.

The second option are chickens. They are easy to care for, and the most popular beginner’s livestock, but they are illegal in many cities, and if not cared for properly they can stink, be noisy, destroy things, and make you a bad neighbor if you aren’t careful.  If you are lucky enough to be able to keep chickens, and are willing to do so, they are a great start.

Since I live in an oppressive city on a fraction of an acre, chickens aren’t an option, and Mrs. Tinker wouldn’t stand for dead bunny rabbits. That leaves a third option, QUAIL!

Quail are a fraction of the size of a chicken, so you can easily keep a dozen quail in a 2×4 cage.  Quail eggs have several health benefits when compared to chicken eggs, although their larger yolk to white ratio means they have a slightly higher cholesterol count per serving.  Quail are more consistent layers, and eat a fraction of the feed for the same volume of eggs.  They also mature to egg laying age in about 4-6 weeks (1/3 to 1/4 of the time compared to a chicken), so it costs you less time and feed when raising your own quail for eggs.  When raised for meat, quail are also more efficient than chicken, although not as efficient as rabbit.  They are basically single serving birds (less packaging/ butchering involved), making processing and storage easier. Many people are able to completely clean a quail in just a minute.

There are several varieties, and quail is generally considered a game bird, which might get you into trouble. However, the coturnix quail has been bred in Japan for thousands of years and is considered a domesticated breed. Just like dogs came from wolves, the coturnix is a breed that has been bred for efficiency in egg and meat production, and won’t even go broody (want to hatch her own babies) while many chickens still do.  Due to their tiny size, and the fact that they can fly, they are very vulnerable and can’t be left to free range or they will become dinner for any number of small predators. They must be kept in a cage at all times, although they can be tractored to allow them the opportunity to walk on grass and hunt for bugs.  I learned quickly that this is generally a bad idea in a small back yard; they poop a lot and it attracts lots of flies if not managed properly.

In my next post, I’ll talk in more detail about raising quail and show you my setup, and what I’ve learned so far.