6 Mearns Quail Hatching Eggs, and 6 Benson Quail Hatching Eggs

Description

6 Mearns eggs and 6 Benson eggs 12 eggs total
Shipping to lower 48 (only)
We do not guarantee fertility.
We do not guarantee hatch.
We do not guarantee anything to do with shipping or handling.
We will not ask the post office (under any circumstance)for any type of refund.
Eggs are shipped priority only.
No insurance.
No special shipping.
No egg replacements.
No refunds.
This is a 100% gamble on the buyers part.
If any part of this is not clear, please do not buy. We appreciate the fact that you are spending your hard earned money, but please understand we have zero control over these eggs and who handles them, this is no different than spinning a roulette wheel, it’s a total gamble on your part. We have 12 pair of each you will get 1 egg from 6 different pairs, and shipped that day so they are very fresh, if your are not familiar with us or the problems that come from rare quail, do not buy. Top value for Mearns eggs and Benson eggs run from - Please never overpay for rare Quail eggs. It is such a gamble. We have zero customer support.
We raise:
Mearns Quail
Benson Quail
Mountain Quail
Plus many others, we have moved all of our videos to YouTube USA QUAIL
The rare quail are the ones we get asked the most questions about, here are the most common questions l get about the Mearns, Bensons and Mountains Quail, these are just simple answers for general questions.
#1 When do they start laying?
Mearns Quail around May
Benson Quail around June
Mountain Quail around April
This is just a general time for when they start laying. This will vary on where you live. They roughly lay for 12 to 14 weeks, but this also varies.
#2 Is it worth buying eggs?
Mearns Quail: bloodlines are so wore out, you would be lucky to raise 10% on shipped eggs. Shipped eggs are so fragile. We are very fortunate to have gotten in new blood from Canada and Mexico but it will take years for all the new blood to circulate.
Benson Quail: bloodlines are good, but shipping in the hottest part of the summer can be trying.
Mountain Quail: bloodlines are good and its a little cooler when they start laying. Out of the three, they are your best chance of hatching an raising some.
All shipped rare quail eggs are a huge gamble.
#3 Can they handle the northern cold?
I have friends that keep them in some of the coldest parts of the US, but you must keep them dry and out of the wind. Most wrap pens with plastic in the coldest months.
#4 Best way of brooding?
Brooders that roughly hold 10 birds about 24 x 30 seem to work the best. Fire up brooders 24 hours prior to chicks hatching. Just to make sure there’s no problems. Radiant heat from 95° to 100° decreasing temperature by 5° every week for four weeks. Quail waters should be used in brooders. Use GQF Vitamins with electrolytes and minerals in water for seven days, and never serve cold water the first few days. Minimum 28% protein, gamebird feed ground for the first 2 weeks is what I do. At least 28% protein till a month before breeding. Carefully watch for aggression. Preventative light beak trimming seems to work best.
#5 What about bantam chickens raising quail?
Old English Game Bantams are awesome , very small, very broody and great mothers. Swap out their eggs for quail eggs. This is absolutely the best way of raising rare quail in my opinion, but can be a little tricky, takes a little practice on a smooth egg swap.
#6 Wire or pine shavings?
Wire is easy, but with Mearns Quail you must keep toenails trimmed. With PVC coated wire 1/2 x 1/2 or 1 x 1/2 you must keep a decent area of the pen not wire, preferably about 1/3 so they can get off the wire. Shavings are nice but a lot of cleaning, and blowing rain can be a pain, because once wet it needs to be changed. Lots of different opinions on this question.
#7 how tame are they?
Mearns Quail are the calmest
Mountain Quail are next
Benson Quail are last of the three
They can all be pretty tame if you keep up it from the time they are young. About as tame as I let mine get are eating out of my hand, if they are to tame, you can have some breeding difficulties. Same way with Old English Game Bantams once they just want to sit on your shoulder they are not very good mothers to the quail.
#8 Breeding in pairs or colony ?
Mearns Quail - pairs
Benson Quail - pairs
Mountain Quail - pairs or colony
Mountains to me prefer a colony, and I would say a minimum pen size should be a 4 x 12 for 7 birds:
3 males 4 hens for a small set up
#9 Best pen sizes?
I would say a minimum for pairs would be 16 Square foot pen.
With that said the more room the better. Best to have a shape that birds can get away from you if they are nervous. Meaning a divider with a hole. I have several pictures of pens for each type of bird.
#10 Best humidity for hatching?
Mearns Quail 35%
Benson Quail 35%
Mountain Quail 40%
People ask about dry hatching but really there is no such thing as a dry hatch even if you don’t put water in the incubator there is still a percentage of humidity in there. There are many different opinions on the percentage of humidity this is just a starting point after multiple hatches you will be able to dial in what’s best for you. I raise to 60% two days before hatching.
#11 how long are eggs viable after layed?
After seven days fertility seems to starts decreasing, but you never know. If they are under two weeks, I will set. You can check fertility after five days, collect eggs from breeding pens as soon as possible. Because of the weather, or being pecked and so they don’t get dirty. Before setting keep rotating in a cool dark place.
#12 What is a fair price for eggs and birds?
People say supply and demand dictate price. I say bull crap. I would say you have to have a few screws loose, if you would pay more than to for a quail egg.
Birds run about:
0 for a pair of Mountain Quail
0 for a pair of Bensons Quail
0 for a pair of Mearns Quail
Your best bet is to hook up with a good professional breeder that can guide you. Do your homework on breeders, ask for live videos of their whole set ups. This will gives you a good understanding of them, it’s a fun hobby, but you better enjoy the birds, building and cleaning pens. It takes a lot of patience and time to get a flock going, but once established very easy to maintain. If your lucky, you can make enough to help with cost of new blood lines, pens and feed, as for myself, it a hobby at best, and I have only been at it for 5 years so very limited knowledge. but I’m always happy to help answer questions that l have dealt with, but in no way am l a professional breeder. Hope everyone has a great year😃