How to grow Texas white quails

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Quail farming is gaining popularity in our country. Depending on the direction of the product obtained, breeders choose representatives of egg, egg-meat or meat breeds. The latter includes the white Texas quail. This broiler was bred in America (Texas), and it gained popularity among the quail breeders of the world. Its other names are "white pharaoh", "snowy".

White texas quail

This breed is the result of the work of breeders, which was carried out to improve the quality of quail meat, improve productivity and sustainably transmit these traits to offspring. To obtain the Texas quail, specimens of the Japanese variety were crossed with representatives of broiler breeds, which are rapidly gaining weight. The color of the plumage went to this breed from the English white.

Characteristic

On average, males weigh up to 370 g, females - up to 480 g (there are specimens weighing up to half a kilogram). Net meat yield - up to 260 g.

The description of the appearance of the Texas quail is as follows:

• the physique is stocky, dense;
• the chest protrudes forward, the back is wide, its line is arched;
• the neck is short, the head is medium in size, the eyes are uniformly dark;
• feathers are snow-white, with partial presence of small black specks;
• muscular lower limbs;
• the beak is light in color, sometimes with a black tip.

By their behavior, these birds are calm, balanced, not shy. Sometimes such phlegmatism becomes a disadvantage, since the males are not active enough.

Keeping Texas quails on a farm or private backyard does not require special conditions. However, breeders follow the basic rules of broiler quail care.

White quail is easy to care for

Advantages

The following characteristics speak in favor of choosing the Texas quail as a broiler breed:

• fast big growth;
• intensive weight gain in chicks;
• delicious dietary meat;
• rare cases of problems with the oviduct (prolapse and other damage);
• unpretentiousness to conditions of detention;
• minimum care costs;
• presentation of meat after processing;
• the skin is easily peeled off the feather.

Texas quail carcasses

Flaws

The problems that farmers face when breeding white broilers include:

• average and below average levels of egg production;
• low egg fertilization and hatchability (up to 60%);
• high feed consumption;
• the ability to distinguish the female from the male only after the appearance of egg-laying;
• passive behavior of males;
• weakness of hatched chicks.

Productivity

Since the quail belongs to the meat direction, the egg production of this white variety is slightly lower than that of other types of quail - from 65 to 75 percent. Quails begin to lay at 60 days of age.Quail eggs (weighing 12-14 g) have medicinal properties, help with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, radiation, and other diseases.

The meat of such quails is characterized by tenderness and high gastronomic qualities. It is lower in calories than chicken. This breed is rapidly gaining weight, but is prone to obesity. So that the meat does not lose its taste and benefits, monitor the diet of the pets.

Texas quails have dietary meats

Life conditions

To breed birds on a farm or garden plot, set aside a small utility room with an area of ​​10-15 square meters. Provide pets with ventilation and make sure there are no drafts. Avoid too bright lighting. This will cause stress among the Texas quails: the inhabitants of the barn will become worried, pecking at each other and eggs will begin, and egg-laying will decrease quantitatively and qualitatively.

Try to remove other irritants from the place of detention: noise sources, pets (cats, dogs). For lighting, use one daylight lamp or several, 25 watts each. White Texas quails are kept in cages that breeders make their own or buy. The definition of the poultry house is important: the well-being and productivity of the flock depends on it.

If the fit is tight, then pecking begins. When there is too much space, egg production decreases.

The parameters for the cage in which the herd are kept are from 90 cm in length, from 40 - in width and 20 - in height. If the height is more than 20 cm, then cover the ceiling with soft material so that the pets do not hurt their heads during takeoff. Birds are seated in cages at the rate of two females for one male, for one head - at least 50 square cm of area.

White quails are kept in small cages

White quails, like others, begin to rush straight to the floor. They do not need nests or perches. To prevent eggs from choking and getting dirty, place egg collectors in the cages. Feeders and drinkers (preferably a groove type) are located outside. This placement will make it easier for the owner to clean the area and reduce the spread of feed. For this purpose, you can make a floor from a fine-mesh grate, and install a tray under it to collect droppings and other waste.

To rationalize the economy, cell batteries are used, in which cells are located one above the other. Quails feel comfortable at a temperature of 20-22 degrees and a humidity of 60-70%. Artificial daylight hours lasts 16-17 hours. Cages are cleaned every day.

Breeding

This breed does not hatch eggs, so use an incubator. A device for hatching chicks is sold or designed by hand. Select eggs no older than 7 days, from specimens up to 10 months of age. Keep them cool before placing in the incubator.

After the quail appears, transplant them into homemade or store-bought brooders.

Maintain a temperature of 33 to 35 degrees for the first seven days. Gradually reduce this figure to 26 degrees for 21 days. From the 30th day of life, set 22-24 degrees.

Newborn Texas quail

The diet

Getting a balanced, rich in protein and other nutrients depends on the productivity of Texas quail. They are fed with grain (oats, barley, corn), herbs (clover, alfalfa, young nettles), pieces of vegetables (carrots, boiled potatoes). Minerals (crushed chalk, shells, bone meal) and vitamins (fish oil) are added to food 2-3 times a week.

Compound feed is also used - options for poultry or specially designed for quails. The dosage is four and a half kilograms per hundred heads daily. White quails consume 40-45 g of food per day.

When the flock is fully fed, egg production increases, with some females rushing daily.

Young animals begin to feed in the first hours of life. Feed newly hatched chicks with boiled and finely chopped eggs for the first few days.Then add non-acidic cottage cheese, yogurt, herbs to the menu. Use compound feed that is intended for young poultry.

Provide fresh, clean, slightly warmed water to the house dwellers.

The quail diet must be balanced.

Useful Tips

• when buying, choose young animals with fewer dark specks - the skin of the carcass of such specimens is of a beautiful cream shade;
• it will be possible to distinguish the female from the male by her voice (the former are quietly curling, the latter are making loud sounds);
• when arranging a cell battery, place the bottom row a meter from the floor (it is more convenient to clean and collect eggs this way);
• when white quails begin to rush, add minced sea fish to their diet.

The high productivity and minimal costs that characterize the white Texas quail will be the key to a successful business. Even if you do not plan to breed these birds on an industrial scale, they will provide you with dietary meat and healthy eggs.

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Quail breeding is becoming more and more relevant, their popularity is growing from year to year. Even in the Middle Ages, people appreciated their benefits and prospects.

White meat giant

Various breeds have been bred: meat, egg and egg-meat. And they are bred accordingly for the purpose of obtaining eggs and meat. Moreover, the second is preferable, since egg production is relatively weak (150-200 eggs per year).

White Texas quail is one of the most popular meat breeds.

The origin of the Texans

The name is determined by the place where the quail breed was bred - state of texas in the south of the United States. Scientists crossed two meat breeds: Japanese and English... The main goal of the breeders was to improve the quality of meat, improve reproduction and productivity.

This is how the white Texas quail was bred (snow pharaoh, albino, white giant). The plumage of white is inherited from the English breed.

Characteristics of the breed

Texas quails are white in color with a slightly yellowish tint, diluted with black blotches on fluffy feathers.

The physique is characterized by large powerful legs, chest, broad back with an arched line. The birds are stocky with a bulging chest.

Adult Texas white quails weigh up to 400 - 450 grams. Moreover, the weight of the plucked carcass is reduced by 4 times. Males are slightly lighter - up to 360 grams. The leg muscles are highly developed to hold such a mass. The beak is light with darkening at the end, the neck is short, the head is medium-sized, and the tail is short.

The description of the breed includes behavioral characteristics. They are distinguished by their endurance. Calmness, inactivity, lethargy, low fertility can be noted. Due to this many males are required to reproduce offspring (approximately 30% of the total number of Texans).

Eggs are laid from 2 months. They are somewhat larger than those of other breeds. Reproduction is carried out by means of an incubator.

They are not adapted to independent incubation.

Advantages

A number of advantages make this breed especially popular:

• a rapid increase in height and weight;
• simplicity of breeding and maintenance;
• attractiveness of the presentation of carcasses, compact size;
• weak susceptibility to disease;
• tasty healthy meat of high quality (dietary);
• nutritious eggs, larger than those of other quail breeds (their weight is 12-14 g).

Texas quail eggs have healing effects (improving brain activity, increasing immunity, strengthening bone tissue, stabilizing the gastrointestinal tract).

Flaws

There are relatively few cons:

• high food costs;
• poor fertilization, low egg production;
• low activity of males;
• difficulty in early sex determination (before laying eggs);
• inability to independently incubate eggs.

These little nuances don't matter much.

Features of the content of Texas quails

The content process is not complicated and quite interesting. The main thing is to equip the room and follow some rules.

Temperature regime

Optimum temperature is important, especially in the very first days of life, for quality growth and weight gain. After hatching, the chicks are moved into boxes or cages.

Favorable temperature readings in degrees

From birth to 10 days	36-38	26-28
11-17 days	30-32	23-25
18-25 days	25	22
After 26 days	18-22

It is recommended to lower the temperature gradually, observing the reaction of the birds. If they are cold, they squeak, gather in heaps, which can lead to injury.

Air humidity

This figure is a must in breeding Texas broiler quails. The average rate is 60-70%.

When the required temperature indicators are reached, the humidity is often greatly reduced. Establishing a container with water in the room will help in solving this issue.

Food

Food intake should meet the requirements of balance and completeness, contain proteins and nutrients in sufficient quantities.

Recommended products include:

• chicken feed (up to 50 grams per day per bird, 4.5 kg per month per 100 birds);
• grains of corn, wheat, barley, oats;
• mineral supplements (shells, chalk, eggshell), vitamin (fish oil);
• the drinking water is fresh and clean, in constant availability, often changed.

A large selection of specialty feeds can be found commercially.

Nutritional characteristics of newborn chicks

A newborn Texas broiler should consume chopped vegetables (potatoes, carrots) and greens (nettles, alfalfa, clover).

From birth, chicks eat cottage cheese, eggs, yogurt, ant larvae. Then vegetable feed is introduced.

From a month - the diet of an adult. When overfed, white quails are prone to obesity.

Lighting

The intensity of illumination is recommended not bright, dim type. The cages should be placed at a certain distance from the windows.

Brightness is stressful for birds and, as a result, a decrease in egg production, pecking eggs. After the birth of individuals, illumination should be provided around the clock, from 15 to 30 days - until 20 hours, then - 17 hours.

Place of Containment

Quail farm equipment

The premises must meet the criteria:

• inaccessibility to predators;
• good ventilation with no drafts;
• exit of windows to the east and south sides;
• low power lighting;
• the ability to provide temperature and humidity conditions;
• cages are somewhat larger than for other breeds.

The optimal room size is 10 - 20 m2. There should be no sources of strong noise nearby. The cages should be purchased or made by yourself. They can be placed one above the other.

It is convenient to keep young growth in cardboard boxes.

Nests or perches are not required. The quails begin to rush to the floor.

Near the premises, a canopy should be equipped, fenced with a net to protect it from birds, the sun, animals (rats, cats, dogs, others).

What is important is the absence of stress, proximity to their natural habitat.

Hygiene and disease

Cages must be cleaned daily. It includes the collection of droppings, disinfection of cells, the premises as a whole.

Broilers should be examined at the slightest change in behavior.... It is better to immediately distance the suspicious bird from the rest.

The following factors can lead to diseases:

• dirty water, poor quality feed;
• injuries received;
• non-compliance with hygiene and ventilation standards.

In the very first days of life, chicks that are not distinguished by endurance require special care. The correct organization of feeding, the state of warmth and dryness is important.

Breeding white giants

Quail egg incubator

The content does not imply any special knowledge compared to other breeds. On the contrary, the Texas quail is distinguished by calmness, unpretentiousness.

Already at the age of five weeks, the weight reaches about 150 grams. Broiler quails consume feed no more than other breeds.

Breeding can be carried out in a private yard, a small shed with insulation and ventilation, without drafts.

For broiler quails an incubator is needed, since they do not hatch eggs... Eggs should be stored in a cool place until incubation.

Useful Tips

In matters of breeding, it is necessary to heed valuable advice.

1. Take care of the optimal size of the room. If there is not enough space, biting begins. With its excess, egg production decreases. One bird has approximately 50 cm 2 area.
2. Egg collectors should be installed in cages to avoid crushing and contamination of eggs.
3. Drinking bowls, feeders are best placed outside the cage. This reduces the spread of the feed and makes harvesting easier.
4. For the same purpose, manure trays should be installed under the slatted floor.
5. For optimal egg production, female and male Texan quails should be bred in a 2: 1 ratio.
6. Incubator eggs must have been laid within the last week. The hen should be no older than 10 months.
7. Immediately after birth, feed the chick with finely chopped eggs, a little later with cottage cheese. Grind all food thoroughly in the very first days.
8. When purchasing individuals, pay attention to the number of black specks. If there are fewer of them, the skin of the plucked carcass will look more aesthetically pleasing.
9. To avoid stress, do not let other animals into the room.
10. Gender determination is best done by professionals. However, it is quite possible to determine by voice. The female chicks rather quietly, while the male reproduces loud sounds.

Photo gallery

Video

The Texas quail is an excellent choice for breeding, both at home and in the industry. The business is characterized by high productivity and profitability at low cost.

Individuals have the ability to quickly gain weight. Quail meat is a good alternative to other meat products.

Content:

• Features of the breed
• How and what to feed?
• Conditions of detention in the courtyard and in cages
• The intricacies of breeding Texas broiler quails
• Distribution of the breed on the territory of Russia

The Texas broiler quail is one of the most promising representatives of its kind. This beef breed, which was bred in America, is prized for its excellent ability to gain weight quickly. I also call them American albino broilers, white or snow pharaohs, Texas white giants.

Features of the breed

The constitution of these birds is rather "knocked down": short neck, wide back, bulging chest and powerful legs. The plumage is white, but with small black spots. The fewer these points, the "cleaner" the breed and the more cost-effective the meat.

Keeping Texas broiler quails does not require specific knowledge. Everything is almost the same as with other beef breeds, and even simpler.

But the unpretentiousness and calmness of these quails negatively affects the reproductive function of males. To create a hatchery, you need to observe the proportions: for each Texas broiler quail, two quails.

Laying hens are rather poor, but eggs are large.

Fertility is also low, this must be taken into account if you decide to engage in incubation. Oviposition is early, from two months.

An adult female Texas broiler quail, when properly fed, weighs an average of 360 grams, a male - 470 grams. The weight of the cut carcass is 260 grams.

Young animals do not differ in endurance and require increased attention in the first days of their life. But if you organize proper feeding for him, ensure dryness and warmth in the cells, then no problems will arise.

How and what to feed?

The breed of Texas white quail is meat, therefore feed should be high in calories and rich in protein... It is better to buy ready-made feed for broilers and use special feeders. The daily feed consumption per 100 head is about 4.5 kg.

From the very first days, the nestlings of "Texans" are fed mainly with food of animal origin: eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, ant larvae. As they grow older, plant foods are gradually introduced into the diet. From a month on, young animals have been eating compound feed with wheat, barley, corn, vitamin and mineral supplements.

Conditions of detention in the courtyard and in cages

Any auxiliary illuminated room in which it is warm, dry and there are no drafts can become a room for keeping quails and quails of the Texas breed. Plus a spacious shelter fenced with a fine mesh that protects birds from direct sunlight, cats, dogs, rats and other animals. In such conditions, "Texans" will feel like a natural habitat, without experiencing stress.

Keeping birds in cages will significantly save usable barn space. They can be arranged in several tiers.

The size of the cage depends on the number of quails and the area of ​​the operated premises. So for 30 heads, a 40x90x20 cm cage is suitable. You can build it yourself or buy a ready-made one.

It is advisable to immediately equip the cages with a feeder, drinker and egg collector. It is more convenient to clean after quails, including those of the Texas breed, if a pull-out tray made of wood or plastic is installed under each compartment.

The intricacies of breeding Texas broiler quails

Texas quails are completely devoid of the hatching instinct, so you can't do without an incubator.... For these purposes, eggs of a young flock are selected: not older than 10 months. Others have a lower fertility rate.

Eggs should be stored before incubation in a cool place, protected from direct sunlight, no more than 7 days. But not in the fridge! Then the hatchability percentage will be 80-90%.

After hatching, young growth can be kept in cardboard boxes. The temperature from the first day and during the week should not fall below 33 ° C, but not rise above 35 ° C. It is gradually reduced, and by the end of the third week it is brought to 26 C °. It is advisable to constantly maintain 22-24 C ° from a month.

Distribution of the breed on the territory of Russia

Initially, white Texas broiler quails were bred only in North America, but recently they have become popular in the central regions of Russia.

You can buy hatching eggs or chicks, for example, in the village of Aristovo, Krasnogorodsky district, Moscow region, or in the city of Odintsovo. Prices are almost identical: monthly chickens - 150 rubles, two-month - 200 rubles.

The white Texas quail or in other words the Texan is one of the favorite breeds bred in private households and on farms around the world. Breeding them brings not only good income, but also a lot of pleasant experiences.

The benefits of quail products have been known since the Middle Ages. Apart from this, quail meat has excellent taste and is very useful for people suffering from various diseases. Unlike chicken eggs, quail eggs have a much higher content of chemical elements, thanks to which not only many diseases are cured, but also improves brain function, strengthens bone tissue and stabilizes the work of various organs.

It is for all these reasons listed above that the Texas broiler quail will be an excellent choice, both for breeding in households and on an industrial scale.

The origin of the breed

Texas white quails are so named because they originated in the US state of Texas.The selection was carried out in the meat direction, for which Japanese quails were crossed with other breeds that showed a rapid weight gain. The white color of the plumage was inherited from the white English breed.

Characteristics and description

This breed of quail belongs to broilers and is considered one of the most promising. They are also called the Texas albino or the white giant. There is also a more romantic name - the snow Pharaoh.

The average weight of an adult cockerel is about 350 grams. and 470 gr. in chickens.

A couple of Texans

Describing these birds, it should be noted that their plumage looks quite fluffy, the physique is dense, the back is wide, the chest is convex. If you look closely at the bird, you can see small black dots in the snow-white plumage. When buying or selecting quails, you need to give preference to those that have fewer of these points. This is important because the skins of carcasses with pure white feathers are much more attractive. Texan legs look powerful because of the decent muscle mass on them. The beak is light, in some individuals it is black at the end.

Individuals of the broiler Texas white quail breed are undemanding in content, they are distinguished by a calm character when compared with other breeds. However, this trait can also be considered a disadvantage, because quiet males behave somewhat lazily. Because of this, when engaged in breeding, you need to take into account that for every 2 Texas chickens there should be 1 cockerel.

Due to the fact that Texas quails are a broiler breed, they rush a little worse than ordinary ones. They begin to rush at the age of two months.

The weight of this specimen is about 0.5 kg!

White broiler Texans cannot boast of enviable endurance, as a result of this, at first they need careful care, if everything is done correctly, they can get stronger quickly enough.

Based on the above, the following disadvantages and advantages of this breed can be noted.

Advantages:

• gain weight well and grow rapidly;
• rare cases of prolapse of the oviduct;
• unpretentious content;
• attractive appearance of carcasses.

Flaws:

• low egg production;
• poor fertilization of eggs;
• high feed intake;
• you can install the floor only after laying the eggs;
• low activity of males.

Content

Breeding white Texas quails is possible in any private yard, even a small insulated barn is suitable. There should be no drafts in the room where the broiler quails are located, but ventilation is required.

Video "Keeping White Texans"

Be sure to watch this video, which explains how to keep the white Texas broiler quail.

Lighting

Quails of this breed love somewhat subdued lighting. Too bright can damage them. As a result, the cells are placed away from windows. Bright light and other irritants can cause stress in these birds, which can lead to a decrease in egg production and even pecking of eggs. Likewise, care must be taken to ensure that no other animals, even cats, have access to the premises, they can disturb the bird.

For lighting, one fluorescent lamp or 5 ordinary bulbs of 25 watts is enough.

Cells

The cages that will contain the Texas quail can be made by yourself or purchased in special stores. Since the representatives of this breed are large enough, they need to be kept in larger cages than, for example, cages for Japanese quails. For 30 young individuals, a cage with a floor size of 90 by 40 cm is needed, and the best height is 20 cm. If the stocking density is overestimated, then frequent fights are possible, leading to injuries and even death of weaker individuals.

The cages where broiler quails live must be provided with an egg collector, otherwise the birds will simply crush them.The floors in the cages are made with mesh, and under them you need to place litter trays, this is necessary to facilitate cleaning.

Cellular content of Texans

To save room space, cells or cell batteries can be placed opposite each other. The bottom row should be about one meter above the ground. This is done to make it easier to clean and collect eggs.

Juveniles are usually reared in cardboard boxes corresponding in size to the number of heads. One bird must have at least 50 cm2 of floor.

Temperature

Broiler Texas quails, like all representatives of this species of birds, are sensitive to low temperatures and in case of a decrease in which they will begin to cluster and squeak. Such a clustering is fraught with injuries and even the death of some individuals.

The optimum temperature is + 20C.

Humidity

The Texas breed is susceptible to temperature fluctuations. The norm is 60-70%, in case of deviation from these limits, various negative phenomena are possible, from a decrease in egg production and weight gain to feather breaking.

Hygiene and disease

It is advisable to remove droppings from the cages that contain the bird every day. Periodically disinfect not only the cells themselves, but the entire room.

In turn, it is necessary to constantly inspect all individuals and, in case of the slightest suspicion of a disease, in any case, put it in a quarantine cage or box.

Diseases can be triggered by a variety of influences:

• poor quality feed;
• trauma;
• stale or contaminated water;
• unsanitary conditions in the premises.

Feeding

Texas white broiler quail should only be fed high-quality, complete and balanced feed, containing sufficient protein and other nutrients. It is very bad that our industry does not produce special feed for quails, probably because this bird is just beginning to spread in our country. It is possible that the situation will improve in the future and any quail breeder will be able to purchase the compound feed necessary for his bird without any problems. For 100 heads of quails of this breed, about 4.5 kg are required per day. stern.

Bird feeding

Small quails need to be fed with animal feed, a little more than vegetable. It can be:

• boiled egg;
• cottage cheese;
• curdled milk;
• crushed crackers;
• finely chopped greens.

You can also give compound feed, which is fed to chickens of other birds. This should be done until the chicks grow to ten days of age. In the future, the proportion of vegetable feed should be gradually increased, the addition of animal feed is also permissible.

From the age of one month, you can give compound feed based on the following ingredients:

• corn;
• barley;
• wheat;
• cake;
• bone and fish meal;
• ground shell;
• salt;
• premix.

Conclusion

Quail meat, including white Texas broiler, is an excellent alternative to other types of meat, while significantly surpassing them in usefulness and taste. Quail eggs are often prescribed for various diseases. Adhering to all the rules for keeping these adorable birds, you can literally get the first result in a few months, having recouped your investment.

Often, those who acquired Texas quails out of interest in the future are engaged in breeding only this breed.

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Video "Tips for keeping quails"

This video features the Texas Broiler breed.

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