QUAIL HOUSING: KEY PLANNING ISSUES

For about three months now, I have received increasing inquiries about quail housing and this by itself is VERY GOOD NEWS. I say so because (to my mind) we have passed from the era of asking questions about the efficacy or medicinal value of quail eggs to the era of quail farming.

Most of the literature I have read and the discussions I have held with the very few experts I know about quail housing have pointed only in one direction. It is that the system of housing is determined strictly by the type or scale of the quail business: modified housing or modern housing.

No doubt, this is a very important factor. But perhaps of equal, if not greater importance, is the need to understand the very nature of quails. When planning or designing your quail house, therefore, it is very crucial to consider and factor the following:-

»        Quails generally require moisture-free or  dry  housing floors and walls; they are highly in danger with wetness

»        As is the case with most farm birds, it is best that the door of any holding pen opens inwards

»        Quails are vulnerable to attack by predators like rodents, snakes etc. Wild critters must be kept at bay; even unpredictable pets

»        Quails are susceptible to direct sunlight and dehydration

»        When frightened, quails tend to fly straight up; there is the risk of damaging their heads hence the need to provide for sufficient headroom (at least 2metres)

»        Young adult and adult quails require good ventilation

»        Young adult and adult quails do not require bright lights; they require just enough light for their social activities

»        White light tends to provoke quail pecking; red or blue lights are recommended instead

»        Appropriate light, more than warmth, stimulates hens to lay eggs

»        The standard pairing formula is 1 MALE to 3 FEMALES

»        Quail chicks, not adults, require optimum warmth for their wellbeing

»        Brooding in naturally hot places (like Makurdi) may take as little as 3 weeks which can extend up to 5 weeks in colder parts of the country

»        Basically, the incubation/hatching/growth periods are weather/temperature based and vary accordingly; shorter in warmer and longer in colder  

It really pays if you take all of the above into consideration as you plan, build or modify your quail house. As well as the above, let common sense prevail at all times.

Happy Quailing!

MEDICINAL VALUE OF QUAIL EGGS

In my last post, I mentioned how I underwent a successful test therapy of quail eggs when I started quail farming about 5 years ago. I also stated that “the story has been the same with my customers, over the years”. I still stand by my words.

I make these claims based on my personal experience and especially on the strength of facts freely given by my ever-happy customers. These facts are recorded in a logbook which I keep. And speaking about testimonials and happy customers, evidences so obtained by us (from the customer) are at three stages, namely: - just before starting, during and on completion of the cycle dose of the quail egg therapy.

As at today, this farm has documented various cases of disorders which when grouped will fall into some 24 categories as shown in the Table below. Beside each disorder is shown the anti-allergy factor(s) and also the applied cycle dose, being total number of quail eggs administered or taken, depending on the consumer’s age. That is, the number of eggs per course of the therapy.

Perhaps the most interesting finding from the results is that consumers who endeavored to stick to the following basic rules have, understandably, fared much better than those who did not:

§  Consuming quail eggs that are  fertilized

§  Consuming quail eggs that are fresh

§  Consuming the quail eggs raw

§  Consuming the daily dose of quail eggs some one hour before the day’s meal

§  Completion of the cycle dose of quail eggs without break or interruption

§  Ensuring proper refridgeration of the eggs (not FREEZING)

§  Avoiding alcohol during therapy

§  Scaling down in-take of  hot pepper /chili pepper during therapy

However, washing the eggs just before use is a matter of choice (or perhaps mere formality) and has not proved to be of any notable advantage.

Another very interesting fact is that, from our records so far, there has not been any reported incident of contraindication(s) in the use of quail eggs as a therapy. Moreover, we are not aware of such a report elsewhere neither.

Equally interesting is the fact that as a food that is a supplement as well as a complement, quail eggs can always be taken. In other words, the consumption of quail eggs could continue beyond the recommended cycle dose. You can ordinarily go on and on and on taking quail eggs without the fear of any adverse effect(s) on your health!

Welcome to the world of good health, good nutrition, good looks …… and, of course, enhanced libido.

SN	DISORDER	ANTI-ALLERGY FACTOR	INFANT CYCLE  DOSE	CHILD CYCLE  DOSE	ADOLECSENT CYCLE  DOSE	ADULT CYCLE  DOSE
1	Allergies	A, Selenium, OMEGA-3, Lysozyme, B complex	60	90	120	240
2	Appetite	A, B6, Iron	30	60	90	120
3	Arthritis	B complex, folate, E, K	*	*	*	240
4	Asthma	A, Selenium, OMEGA-3 : -6, ovomucoid	60	90	120	240
5	Cancerous tumour	Lysozyme, A	60	90	120	240
6	Debility/poor vitality	Protein, B6	60	90	120	240
7	Diabetes	A, B12, Iron	60	90	120	240
8	Epilepsy	Choline, Iron, OMEGA-3	60	90	120	240
9	Hair loss	A, B2, D, E	*	*	120	240
10	Heart disease	Ovomucoid, Low carb, low calorie	60	90	120	240
11	High BP	PP, potassium	60	90	120	240
12	Indigestion/constipation	Selenium, Lysozyme, Magnessium	30	60	90	120
13	Insomnia	PP (nicotinic acid), calcium	60	90	120	240
14	Kidney stones	B6, Magnesium, Potassium	*	*	120	240
15	Low IQ (children)	Choline, Iron, OMEGA-3 & -6	120	90	60	*
16	Nervous system disorder	PP (nicotinic acid), ovomucoid	*	*	*	240
17	Osteoporosis*	Calcium	*	*	*	120
18	Other stones (liver, gall)	B6, Magnesium, Potassium	*	*	120	240
19	Poor fetal development	Omega-3	*	*	120	240
20	Poor lactation	A, B, D, E, calcium + 27 essential minerals	*	*	120	240
21	Poor sexuality (libido)	B2, D, E, Phosphorus	*	*	*	120
22	Poor Vision	A (carotenoids)	60	90	120	240
23	Skin diseases	A, B2, D, E, Lysozyme, calcium	60	90	120	240
24	Ulcers	A, Selenium,	60	90	120	240

                                                                                                                                                                                    

  AGE RANGE/ DAILY DOSAGE DEFINED

Infant: from birth to 2 years (LESS THAN 2YRS)/ Start 1 till completion of cycle dose.

Child: between infancy & adolescence (2 TO 12 YRS)/ Start 3 till completion of cycle dose.

Adolescent (Teenager): between childhood & adulthood (13 TO 19 YRS)/ Start 3,3,4  then 5 till completion of cycle dose.

Adult: from 19 years and above (MORE THAN 19 YRS)/ Start 3,3,4 then 5 till completion of cycle dose.

   *Note that, for Osteoporosis (SN #17), ground quail eggshell is ALSO administered.

  To post a comment, you ought to have an existing Gmail address or create one; it’s free. Otherwise, use any of the following: -

   LiveJournal, WordPress, TypePad, AIM, OpenID  

HINTS ON EFFECTIVE QUAIL EGG THERAPY

A lot has continued to be said about the efficacy of the quail egg so much so that only a few foods can claim the medicinal value, nutritional plus and even the cosmetics worth inherent in the quail egg. Indeed, the quail egg is said to be nature’s answer to the human kind beyond health, looks and libido.

It follows therefore that quail egg consumption can be a very rewarding experience. However, care must be taken to ensure that any quail egg therapy is properly administered. Otherwise, it may be an unfulfilling exercise. There are a few things to consider.

That the very heart and soul of the quail egg therapy is that the eggs are fertilized because, interestingly, fertilized eggs are lower in cholesterol than unfertilized eggs. Of course, the eggs must be taken raw, straight. It is not necessary to beat them before use.

That equally important is the need for the eggs to be consumed fresh. In other words, to be taken within their shelf life span which period is less than 2 weeks (particularly in hot places like Makurdi, Benue State of Nigeria). In properly refrigerated conditions, NOT FREEZER CONDITIONS, eggs can retain their freshness for up to 7 weeks.

It is good to endeavour to know the production profile of one’s original source of eggs. That is, whether the eggs are fertilized or not. This is a rather difficult task, but with due diligence it is possible. If your aim for taking quail eggs really matters then you should spare no effort to ensure that you obtain your supply from a farm that produces fertilized eggs.

Testing for freshness is far less tasking. Simply place the egg into a bowl of water. If it sinks to the bottom, it is a fresh egg. If it floats, it is not fresh. This is so because the egg by nature has an air cell within the shell. Now, as the egg grows older, the size of the air cell increases making it less dense. It is this quality that makes it float which in turn is proof of its decreased quality.

A good stocking strategy is to buy eggs in modest batches, so as not to exceed their shelf life, whether or not they will be refrigerated. It is also good to check the eggs well when buying. All cracked or deformed eggs must be removed from the stock before consumption and or storage.

The possibility of encountering the salmonella disease in quails is said to be very low. This is so because the egg has a very strong outer membrane and very small eggshell pores. These factors prevent the penetration of bacteria. The bird itself has a high body temperature, 108⁰F or 42⁰C, making it quite resistant to infectious diseases. What is more, the bird also possesses high contents of lysozyme (an enzyme which kills bacteria). All said,  no harm will be done if the eggs are washed before use; just to be sure.

When I started quail farming about 5 years ago, I underwent a test therapy of quail eggs. My conclusion is that it is indeed a wonder egg. The good news is that the story has been the same with my customers, over the years:

o      Improved appetite, a good condition for people convalescing

o     Great benefits to those suffering from anemia

o       Improved immune system and relief from inflammatory diseases

o       Good treatment for diabetes, arthritis and control of high blood pressure

o       General good health  and brain development to children (higher IQ)

o         Improved libido for men

o         Improved eye, skin and hair conditions

o         Cure for the porous bone disease (Osteoporosis) by simply using quail eggshell powder (disease leads to an increased risk of fracture; most common in postmenopausal women)

If you are thinking of undergoing the quail egg therapy, you may like to consider the above hints. I can only add that the beneficial effects of quail eggs are legion and proven.

Good luck. 
NB
 To post a comment, you ought to have an existing gmail address or create one;  it's free.