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If you are going to breed quails exclusively for meat, without focusing on their egg production, it is better to choose one of the two breeds of broiler quail existing today: Pharaoh and Texas white.
Both breeds of broiler quail are characterized by rapid weight gain and are “relatives”, since the origins of any breed of domesticated quail are the Japanese quail. Although there are many species of wild quail in nature, these species have no productive significance.
Quail breed Pharaoh
Developed in the USA to produce meat products with a large carcass weight. In the photo without scale, the pharaoh cannot be distinguished from Japanese, Estonian or any other quail of “wild” color.
The advertisement claims that the weight of individual representatives of the breed can reach 0.5 kg. But, most likely, this is an obese bird that was specially fed before slaughter. The weight of a normal quail capable of laying eggs does not exceed 350 g.However, this is almost 2 times the weight of the progenitor breed - the Japanese quail.
Productive characteristics
Quails become sexually mature at the age of one and a half months. Egg production is up to 280 eggs per year with an egg weight of 12 - 17 g.
For breeding, you should buy quails no older than 1.5 months.
The weight of an adult quail is about 250 g, quail - up to 350 g.
The advantages of the pharaoh are the endurance of quails and the fertilization rate of eggs is 90%.
Disadvantages: whimsical content and demanding temperature conditions.
Texas white quail
The confusion with names that arises today makes it very difficult for beginners to choose a breed.
Sometimes they may be called American broilers albino or white albino, although quail are not actually albinos. Most likely, this is being done for the sake of selling a “new unique breed.”
The breed received its name from the state in which it was bred using other breeds of quail that could quickly gain weight. The Texas Pharoah was used in breeding English white quail. It was from him that the Texan received his white plumage.
Texas Pharoahs
Texas quail is significantly larger in size than non-broiler breeds. Even those that themselves are not very small in size.
Estonian quail larger than its Japanese ancestor, but even it looks small against the background of the white pharaoh.
Description of the breed
The main sign of the purebred white pharaoh is its plumage, in which only isolated black feathers are allowed. Moreover, the fewer such feathers, the better.
The white feather is preferred by Texans, as the skin underneath is an attractive yellowish color. This circumstance determines the requirement for the breed standard: as little colored feathers as possible. The beak is light, sometimes with a dark tip.
The weight of female Texans is about 470 g, males - 350 g. Individual individuals can weigh even 550 g, but these are obese specimens, suitable only for slaughter. The weight of the finished Texan carcass is 250 - 350 g, depending on whether this carcass belonged to a male or female.
The advantage of the Texas pharaoh over the Japanese quail is obvious.
The white pharaoh quail begins laying eggs at 2 months. The egg production of Texas quail is up to 200 eggs per year. When fed with broiler feed, eggs can weigh more than 20 g. But such eggs can only be used for food. Often they contain 2 yolks and are not suitable for incubation. The hatching egg of a Texas quail weighs 10–11 g.
Feed consumption for raising white pharaoh is naturally higher, since broiler breeds require an increased amount of feed to quickly gain muscle mass. But not as big as it might seem, given their large size. Low feed consumption in relation to body weight is explained by the phlegmatic nature of Texas quails. The statement “nerves are good for a figure,” which is usually used to mean that individuals with increased excitability spend energy on the functioning of the nervous system, does not apply to Texas pharaohs.
Although Texans are picky about food, they are unpretentious in maintenance.
One of the advantages of Texans is the lowest feed conversion ratio compared to other quail breeds.
The disadvantages include low hatchability (up to 80%).
Incubation and rearing of white pharaoh chicks
Due to the phlegmatic disposition of Texas pharaohs, one male needs to identify two females, while in other breeds 3-4 quails are placed with the male. But Texans with more quail will have poor egg fertility.
Quails for breeding should be selected at the age of 2-10 months. During collection, eggs must be stored at a temperature of +12°C; immediately before placing them in the incubator, eggs must be warmed to +18°C, laid out indoors.
Incubation lasts 17-18 days. After hatching, the quails are given time to dry and placed in a brooder with a temperature of 28-30°C. The Texas White breed was bred in America for industrial breeding, so Texan quails are better suited for specialized food for young animals than for those produced independently.
Specifics of keeping Texas broiler houses
If quails are kept in battery cages, then it is necessary to maintain the correct ratio between the number of quails and the area of the cage. When the population density is too high, quail begin to conflict with each other, which leads to fights and bloody wounds. Infection penetrates into open wounds, and as a result, the entire quail population may die.
For 30 heads of young Texans, a cage with an area of 0.9x0.4 m and a height of 30 cm is required.
You can keep quails “free” in a barn. Just on the floor. True, in this case there will probably be escapes of quails or raids by hunters (cats, dogs, foxes, ferrets, weasels) on tasty and defenseless birds.
Quails of any type of housing need lighting for normal egg production and development, but it should be dim, since bright light excites the nervous system of quails and they start fights.
When raised, chicks can be kept in cardboard containers, selecting boxes depending on size. Since chicks need movement at first, the floor area for one quail should be 50 cm². You can use wood shavings, hay or straw for bedding. The first is not very desirable, since on smooth cardboard dry shavings slide and bunch up in the corners. As a result, the quail remain on the slippery cardboard and can damage the fragile ligaments.
Comparison of Texas and Estonian quail breeds
Warning to those wishing to buy Texas White quails
Against the backdrop of a rush of demand for white pharaohs, advertisements for the sale of eggs and pedigree quail of the Tanyushkin broiler pharaoh and Moscow region white giant breeds appeared on the Internet. Moreover, there are many advertisements, but no reviews from the owners.
The productive characteristics of these breeds are no different from those of the Texas White, but hatching eggs cost one and a half times more than the “Texas” ones.
Both “breeds” are sold by the same person. Naturally, these quails were not registered as a breed. And it is impossible in such a short period of time, which has passed since the appearance of the first Texas whites on the Russian market, to breed two whole new breeds.
Perhaps this is a claim to breed new breeds and, if the experiment is successful, then over time domestic broiler quail breeds will appear. Much more often, such artisanal experiments end in complete failure.
If you want to experiment, you can take quails from these lines. If you want a guaranteed result, it is better to buy a breeding white pharaoh from a proven farm.
Another breed or broiler line Manchu golden quail, bred in France, or “it’s all a hoax for the hucksters” is the golden phoenix.
Phoenix golden
This quail copies the Manchurian golden in almost everything, with the exception of weight. The weight of phoenix quails reaches 400 g, and the weight of males up to 300 g.
Reviews from Texas White owners
Conclusion
Of all broiler quail breeds, Texas White is the most economical and profitable option, despite its disadvantages in the form of whimsicality and low egg fertility.
