Where do quails live? Description of the best quail breeds. Technology of raising young animals

Quails, birds belonging to the pheasant family, are one of the smallest relatives of our chickens. These birds are valued for the eggs they lay and for their tasty meat, which is why many varieties of domesticated quail are actively bred by farmers. But many species live in wildlife, and one of them is a common quail. It is this type of bird that we will describe in this article.

The species “common quail” is a wild quail, a bird widely distributed throughout the CIS countries, most often found in Transbaikalia. This is a very miniature bird - the smallest of the chicken family. The body weight of one individual varies between 100–150 g. The color of these birds is quite beautiful, with yellowish-brown and gray-black tones predominating.

Top part the body is colored grayish-brown, although there are inclusions of ocher color and black spots. The crown is very dark in color with a barely noticeable brown tint, and several ocher stripes run along the head. IN dark colors The throat, cheeks and chin of quails are colored, but in the females of these birds, quails, these areas are much lighter. The crop of males is fiery red in color, but in quails it does not stand out so brightly (since females do not need a bright color, unlike males).

The abdomen of the birds is lighter; one can distinguish splashes of black, white and brown colors. This body coloring helps them reliably camouflage themselves - with the naked eye it is very difficult to see where this bird is hiding, since they completely merge with the ground.

The eye color of these birds is brown, and on their head there is a small, neat brown beak (however, there are also individuals with a light beak). Their wings are quite long and large, but their tail is very short. The paws are short, but widely spaced, which allows them to quickly move along the ground, escaping from predators and hunters. This is one of the peculiarities of these birds - they very rarely fly into the air and spend almost their entire lives running briskly along the ground.

Characteristic

Although this bird is a migratory bird, if it lives in places with a relatively warm climate, it remains there for the winter. If quail choose an area with a cold climate as their habitat, they fly to warmer climes for the winter. They cannot fly very high, so during flights they stay closer to the ground.

Because of these features, when flying across the sea during migration, quite a lot of birds die - just from a storm or strong wind enough to lead them astray. In this case, often exhausted birds simply fall into the sea. And when they manage to get to land, they simply lie on the shore for some time, resting after the flight, and then scatter in search of shelter.

The mating season for these birds begins at the end of spring, so already in May-June, males do everything possible to attract the attention of representatives of the opposite sex. In addition, males of this species often engage in brutal fights for the right to own a female. It is worth saying that permanent pairs are not for them, so quails can choose several males to produce offspring.

The nests of this species are located on the ground, they are built from twigs and lined with dry grasses. One clutch can contain up to 20 brown eggs with black spots. For approximately 15–20 days, the female incubates the eggs, and then cares for the chicks. Males do not take any part in the process of raising their offspring, and the chicks leave their native nest as soon as they have fledged (this takes about 5–6 weeks).

These birds feed mainly on small insects and worms, but the older they get, the more plant foods appear in their diet; they can even eat fruit.

Habitat

Common quails naturally live in the regions of Northern and Southern Africa, and are widespread throughout Eurasia. It is noteworthy that only those birds that live in South Africa and Madagascar can live peacefully in their homeland throughout the year, while the rest have to migrate with the arrival of cold weather.

This species is also widespread in the CIS countries, and therefore these birds are a popular object for bird hunting. Despite this, thanks to the domestication of birds, it is possible to preserve their population.

Quail hunting

As already mentioned, quail are of significant hunting interest, since they are quite easy targets even for novice hunters. For this reason, most hunters prefer to shoot these birds.

It is recommended to shoot at them exclusively with small shot, and the gun itself should under no circumstances have a bunch of shots.

There are two ways to hunt quail:

• The first involves hunting in places where birds prefer to nest. For this type of hunting, hunting dogs are used, which search for well-camouflaged birds by smell. When frightened birds fly into the air, they, as expected, become an excellent target for a hunter. By moving around the land and staying against the wind, the hunter has a good opportunity to hit the birds. If there are quite a lot of them in the places where hunting is carried out, that is real opportunity detect up to one and a half dozen birds.
• The second method of hunting is to shoot birds on the coasts just before they fly off to warmer climes for the winter. The process is greatly facilitated by the fact that during this period in a relatively small area there is simultaneously a large number of quails, which are easy enough to hit with a gun. On such a hunt, it is also advisable to have a good hunting dog (a spaniel, for example), which will look for game and then bring the fallen birds to the owner. However, it is worth noting that due to the simplicity of this method of hunting and the large amount of game, some hunters start shooting indiscriminately, which, of course, is not the correct behavior.

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From this video you will learn about all the details of quail breeding.

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Modern quail breeds are divided into several groups depending on their productivity. The most common are egg and meat breeds, then there are meat and egg breeds, and the list is completed by representatives of the decorative group, which are bred by individual amateur poultry farmers and small farms. To make the right choice, you need to carefully study the characteristics of each group, the characteristics of the breeds and the requirements for living conditions.

Modern quail breeds are divided into several groups, depending on their productivity

Female egg-laying quails are characterized by early sexual maturity and excellent egg production throughout their lives. Depending on the breed, birds begin laying eggs at the age of 5-8 weeks, and the number of eggs per year varies between 280-310 pieces. Egg breeds include:

• Japanese quail;
• kiteverse;
• black English;
• white English;
• Manchurian gold.

The Japanese quail is deservedly the leader on this list. As a result of long-term selection, these birds acquired high egg production due to the loss of the incubation instinct. Quails begin laying eggs at about 2 months of age, bringing their owners up to 300 eggs per year. Japanese quails have variegated plumage with a predominance of brown shades, a slightly elongated body on strong legs, short wings and a tail. From 20 days of age, sex can be determined in birds: males have a darker beak, brown plumage on the chest and a gland above the cloaca in the form of a pink tubercle. In females, the breast is light gray with large specks, the skin in the cloaca area is bluish-gray, and there is no gland.

Female egg-laying quails are characterized by early sexual maturity and excellent egg production throughout their lives

Adult birds reach a weight of 110-120 g in males and about 130 g in females. The weight of eggs is 9-12 g. This breed is unpretentious to living conditions and is immune to most dangerous avian diseases, so the yield of healthy young animals is on average 90%. Since females are unable to hatch chicks, Japanese quails are bred using an incubator.

Representatives of the Estonian quail breed, or kiteverse, are only slightly inferior in egg production to Japanese ones, showing a productivity of 280-290 eggs per year. At the same time, females begin to lay eggs earlier - at the age of 40-50 days. The incubation instinct of these birds is well developed, so there are no problems with breeding offspring. The kiteverse survival rate is 95%, which is the highest high rate among all varieties of quail.

The plumage of Estonian quails is predominantly brown in various shades, with white and black inclusions. The body is round, with a convex back and short neck, weighing 190-210 g in females and up to 180 g in males. Under normal conditions, birds develop very quickly and at the age of 1 month weigh about 170 g. They are absolutely undemanding in terms of care and diet, so they are excellent for beginner poultry farmers.

English breeds, black and white, are almost identical and differ only in the color of their plumage. English whites can be either pure white or with dark splashes of black or Brown, English blacks have dark brown plumage, without contrasting spots. Females of both breeds lay about 280 eggs per year, the weight of the egg is 9-11 g. The live weight of females is 190-200 g, males - about 160-170 g, while black quails are 10-15 g larger than white ones. The birds are unpretentious and quite hardy, although the survival rate of young animals is only 75%, which is much lower than that of Japanese and Estonian quails.

The Manchurian Golden is also very popular among breeders, despite its low productivity - only 220 eggs per year. For quail egg breed This low rate, but it is compensated by the size of the eggs - about 16 g, while in other species their weight does not exceed 12 g. The birds themselves are distinguished by a strong build, a rounded body and a short neck. The plumage is dense, with a predominance of yellow and light brown shades, making the color appear golden. The live weight of males varies between 150-200 g, females can grow up to 300 g with proper care.

Gallery: quail breeds (25 photos)

Quail breeds (video)

Meat quail

Quail meat is no less in demand than eggs, so many farmers prefer to raise meat quail breeds. They require a special diet that promotes intensive weight gain, otherwise they will not be able to achieve high productivity. In all other respects, the birds are not too whimsical and adapt well to different conditions content. The meat group of quails is represented by 2 breeds - Pharaoh and Texas White.

Quails of the Pharaoh breed are in greatest demand among poultry farmers. The live weight of adult males can reach 260 g, females - about 300 g. They grow quickly, by the 5th week they gain a weight of 140-180 g, but egg laying begins only from 8-9 weeks. The female produces up to 220 eggs per year, weighing from 12 to 16 g.

Quail meat is no less in demand than eggs, so many farmers prefer to raise meat quail breeds

The plumage of the pharaohs is motley, like that of Japanese quails, the body is dense, massive, and round in shape. The birds are distinguished by good endurance, and the yield of healthy young animals is usually 80-90%.

Texas Whites were developed from the Pharaoh quail breed. Their distinctive feature is a record weight for these birds - for adult males 350 g, for females 400 g. The eggs are also large, but their number does not exceed 150 pieces. in year. Texas quails have very lush, dense plumage. white, sometimes with black spots on the head. The birds are distinguished by a very dense build, a wide back and a strong convex breast. The tail is short, the wings are of medium length. The breed is highly valued for the taste of the meat and the attractive appearance of the carcass.

Meat and egg varieties

These breeds are most often raised for personal use, since breeding them for industrial purposes is unprofitable. The weight of birds rarely exceeds 200 g, egg production indicators are 260 eggs per year. Quails do not need a special diet or careful care; they grow quickly and have good disease resistance.

The most famous meat-egg breed is the tuxedo. The birds received this name because of the peculiar color of their feathers: the head, back, wings and belly have dark brown plumage, and the neck and chest are white. By 7-8 weeks, tuxedo quails gain a weight of 160-180 g, and egg-laying in females begins at the age of 1.5 months. During the year, quail produces about 280 pieces. eggs weighing 10-11 g. Chicken survival rate is 85-90%.

Types of quail (video)

Decorative birds

For some breeders, quail productivity is not a priority; many breed them for decorative purposes. There are breeds with unique plumage colors that can become a living decoration of the site. This type of quail is usually kept free-range or in spacious garden enclosures. They are no more demanding of living conditions than other types of quail, and are also capable of providing their owners with meat and eggs.

Decorative breeds include:

1. Painted Chinese quail are small birds with dark brown plumage on the back, a red belly and a contrasting black and white pattern on the throat.
2. California quail are the most spectacular large birds of a dense build with unusual plumage. On the head of quails there is a crest of several dark feathers curved forward; the convex chest is decorated with yellow feathers with a dark border. The back is olive in color, the neck has motley plumage, the throat and cheeks are crossed by white stripes.
3. The Virginia quail is a medium-sized bird with a short beak and a round, dense body. The plumage on the back and wings is red-brown with small contrasting patches. The feathers on the belly are light gray, with a black border; the head is decorated with black and white stripes.

There are also other species, less picturesque, but in demand among true quail connoisseurs. WITH decorative breeds selection work is being carried out, the main task of which is to increase the meat and egg productivity of birds while maintaining their external attractiveness.

Wild quail belongs to the pheasant genus. Its weight usually does not exceed 150 g. The body length of the bird is 20 cm. This is the smallest relative of the chicken. Its feathers are colored ocher. The upper part of the wings and head, as well as the back and the area above the tail, are full of spots of various shades, dark and light. But nature conceived this feature in quails for a reason. This is an excellent camouflage that allows you to hide from predators.

Other features of the bird

If a quail hides on the surface of the ground, it will not be noticeable. The abdominal part of its body is light in color. The neck color of males is dark, while that of females is whitish. Quails also sometimes have spots on their chests.

Birds are classified as Galliformes. They are practically no different from other representatives of this group of birds. They stand out only due to the size and color of their plumage. There are a total of 9 species of wild quail.

The common quail is considered the most common member of this group. It lives in Eurasia, southern and northern Africa. It was also discovered on the island of Madagascar.

During the existence of the USSR, sport and commercial hunting for these birds was organized in the southern part of the country. This led to a decrease in the quail population, especially in the forest-steppe zone. The area of ​​meadows was reduced, which also affected their numbers. The fact is that it was in these areas, allocated for hayfields and pastures, that birds preferred to breed. A large number of harvesting equipment in these areas also led to the death of a considerable number of members of the family. The fact is that wheat was often sown in the meadows, in the thickets of which quails liked to build their nests.

Domesticated species of quail are almost no different in appearance from wild varieties. They are just more well-fed.

Gallery: common quail (25 photos)

Temper and lifestyle

Quails living in warm countries usually do not leave their homes. Only those species that live in cold regions fly south every year. The bird does not have the ability to fly for long periods of time. Even if detected by predators, she prefers to flee. Rising into the sky, the bird does not rise too high. During flight, it often flaps its wings. The quail spends most of its life on Earth. It settles in dense grass cover. This fact left its mark on the habits of the bird and its external features.

Grass acts as an excellent defense against potential enemies. This is why quails do not like to leave their home even for a short time. You will never see these birds settled in trees. Their maximum weight gain usually occurs in the fall. During this period, they prefer to gather to the places from where they will begin their journey to warmer climes. Migratory birds go to winter in South Asia and African countries.

There was a time when quail were valuable songbirds. But only males produce beautiful singing. The melodies produced by females cannot be called pleasant. Quail singing once enjoyed great success in the Kursk province.

An attempt to domesticate quails was first recorded in medieval Japan. Here they were valued for their delicious meat and eggs. They were bred for decorative purposes. Quails came to the USSR in the sixties of the 20th century. The bird immediately became a success, and therefore it could often be seen on the territory of household plots.

Compared to their wild relatives, domestic birds of this type have almost completely lost the ability to fly. Their craving for winter flights is also weakly expressed.

Quails are often bred in agriculture for the purpose of obtaining eggs. These birds are distinguished by their meek character and are not particularly picky. To keep a quail, you do not need to create any special conditions. They hardly get sick and feel good even in a small cage.

Quail eggs are highly prized for increased content vitamins and many beneficial properties. They are stored for quite a long time.

In quails heat bodies. For this reason, they get sick relatively rarely compared to other birds. Good health promotes and good exchange substances. They do not require vaccination. You can buy quails online and at special poultry farms. The maximum benefit can be obtained by breeding them to produce eggs.

Quail meat is very good for health. You can start breeding this bird by purchasing special cages and boxes for keeping young animals. The cost of one copy depends on the age. Chicks cost about 50 rubles. per piece, while for adults you will have to pay from 150 rubles.

At one time, in Central Asia, these birds were bred to organize spectacular fights. They were carried out according to the standard scheme. Participants placed bets on individuals. Owners usually kept fighting quails in their bosoms and valued them for the income they brought.

Nutritional Features

To find food for itself, the quail bird rakes the earth with its paws and scatters it to the sides. Trying to answer the question of what quail eat, it is worth pointing out that most of the food consists of animal food. Birds prefer to eat caterpillars and various insects, worms, and small invertebrates. As they grow older, they increasingly switch to plant food, consisting of:

This feature should be taken into account by those people who intend to breed quails. At an early age, birds are always given more animal food. Quantity herbal ingredients gradually increase.

The chicks grow and develop quickly. For this reason, in addition to standard components, their food should include proteins, vitamins and other useful compounds. You should not resort to the use of exotic types of food. Compound feed is quite enough if it is selected correctly. It can be replaced by:

• crushed grain;
• sunflower;
• meat and fish meal;
• boiled vegetables;

The bird must be protected. This will increase the number of livestock. Young animals are bred in specialized farms. Hobbyists often keep not only domestic species of quail, but also wild representatives.

Quail usually arrive at nesting sites in late spring. In northern regions this sometimes happens even at the beginning of summer. Birds do not form permanent pairs. For this reason, the male is free to choose any partner for the mating period. Potential suitors often engage in fierce battles for the attention of the female they like. She, in turn, may give preference to several partners. During the breeding season, quail and quail put on impressive scenes with songs that mostly resemble calls.

Birds make nests directly in the ground, digging shallow holes for this. At the bottom they lay out dry grass and feathers. Usually a quail lays up to 20 eggs. They are distinguished by a brownish tint with dark spots. Males do not take any part in caring for future chicks, while the mother does not leave the nest for 15 days. This is why expectant mothers diligently gain weight before surviving. This allows them to stock up on nutrients for the specified period, since they practically do not leave the nest.

The chicks break through the shell, being covered with thick red down. There are stripes on the back, head, wings and sides. From the first days they demonstrate high mobility. As soon as they dry out, the birds leave the nest. They grow incredibly fast. Literally after 5 weeks, the chicks turn into adults.

The mother surrounds them with care all this time. In case of danger, she covers them with her wings. The presence of genetic affinity with chickens is indicated by the fact that after artificial mixing of these species, viable birds may appear. Quail hens are usually kept for no more than one and a half years. After the first year they do not lay eggs well. Quails do not live long. If they live to be 5 years old, it is considered very old.

Quail Hunting Options

The first option involves hunting in areas where birds build nests. In this case, hunting dogs are used, which, based on smell, look for camouflaged birds. As soon as frightened quails fly into the air, they immediately become a target for the hunter. If the event is held in places where there are a lot of these birds, then there is a chance to find up to several dozen birds.

The next option involves shooting on the coast before wild quails fly to warmer climes. Working in a limited area greatly facilitates the process, since a large number of birds are concentrated here. It's quite easy to hit them with a gun. You must have a well-trained hunting dog. A spaniel is best suited for this purpose. The dog will look for game and then bring the fallen bird to its owner. In some cases, hunters demonstrate indiscriminate shooting of quails, which is incorrect. This is due to the presence of a large amount of game.

Partridge and quail: differences

The quail is similar to the partridge in many ways. Both of these birds search for food on the ground and love to bathe in dust. They arrange nests according to a similar principle. The partridge stands out for its size. Her body is brighter:

• there is ash-gray down with a brown tint on the chest;
• a darkish spot can be seen on the abdomen.

It is almost impossible to see a bird while it is hiding in its nest. Ptarmigan chicks hatch and are independent. By appearance they resemble chickens. They are not with their parents for a long time; they almost immediately leave their “father’s house.”

If in winter the quails fly south, the partridges remain. As soon as the first snow falls, these birds settle close to humans. They collect food on the roads. Sometimes they can be seen even in the poultry yard and near the barns.

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Wild quails are almost impossible to notice in the grass, not only due to their variegated coloring that camouflages birds well, but also because of their very modest size. Modern quail breeds and numerous breed lines are larger birds adapted to life in captivity, which, depending on their orientation, produce a large amount of dietary eggs and supply tender meat to the table.

Although wild quail species, widespread throughout the world, have long been the subject of hunting, the inhabitants of southeast Asia were the first to show interest in domesticating the bird. Therefore, it is believed that the ancestors of the main quail breeds are the feathered inhabitants of the Japanese islands. Later, in the course of artificial selection and thanks to many mutations of the rapidly reproducing bird, interesting varieties appeared in other parts of the world.

What are the modern quail breeds and their characteristics? What birds are best to raise in your own backyard?

Colorful photos and descriptions of the most popular quail breeds in the world and among our poultry farmers will help you understand the huge variety of this poultry and purchase birds to suit your liking and needs.

IN different parts The world has its own unique species of common quail. Wild quails, once first domesticated by the Japanese, are still found today in many regions of the Russian Federation. Far East and Primorye, in China and at home - in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Japanese quails are small, motley-colored birds with an elongated body, short wings that are practically unsuitable for flight, and an almost invisible tail feather.

Like most of their relatives, male Japanese quails have brighter colors than females. Their breasts are brown, while those of chickens are light.

The weight of an adult bird reaches 130 grams, and the egg production of a female reaches 300 eggs per calendar year. Having fallen into the hands of breeders, Japanese quails today have become more active and lay eggs longer, and varieties with greater weight have been obtained. At the same time, they were preserved as much as possible positive features this breed: unpretentiousness to living conditions and immunity to a number of diseases dangerous to birds.

The beautiful golden birds resemble their Japanese counterparts in appearance, but their plumage is much lighter and has a distinct yellowish tint. Among Russian poultry farmers, this breed of quail enjoys well-deserved popularity due to its versatility. The birds are distinguished by both good meat performance and decent egg production. In addition, crossing meat Manchurian quails with females of other breeds gives very useful results. The offspring of such unions are distinguished by their large size and rapid weight gain.

Over the course of a year, a female of this breed of quail produces up to 220 eggs, which are very large for this type of bird. The average weight of one piece is 16 grams, when in most relatives the egg weighs from 9 to 12 grams.

This egg weight is not surprising if you know another characteristic of the quail breed. A female of the Manchurian variety can grow up to 300 grams, which is more than twice the carcass weight of a Japanese quail. Males are slightly smaller; their plump, attractive carcasses weigh about 200 grams.

Today poultry farmers use two great friend from a friend, methods of growing Manchurian, golden quail. To obtain large table eggs, the population of laying hens is kept away from males. Parental families are created only when necessary.

Pharaoh meat quails are the result of the work of American breeders. The appearance of the bird differs little from its natural “wild” coloring, while the quail is much more massive than its Japanese ancestors. Like their Manchurian relatives, these birds easily gain weight, which reaches 300 grams in females and 240 grams in males. The egg production of this breed of quail is relatively low. During the year, the female brings up to 220 large table eggs.

The excellent characteristics of the quail breed, declared by breeders and American poultry farmers, have been confirmed in Europe and Russia. Today, there are several lines of the Pharaoh breed, obtained by poultry farmers in different countries. And American breeders did not stop in their work.

Based on Pharaoh quails, other birds were bred in Texas meat breed, which immediately attracted the interest of poultry farmers around the world. These are white Texas quails or white pharaohs, even surpassing their ancestors in weight.

An adult female of this species grows to a record 400 grams, while males are slightly smaller. However, birds can be distinguished not only by their fatness and size, but also by their appearance. Texas quails have thick white plumage, sometimes with small single spots, and a wide back and chest. The unusual coloring for the species affected the color of the bird’s skin, so the carcasses of white Texas pharaoh are more attractive to lovers of gourmet gastronomy than the meat of dark or motley quails.

Poultry farmers speak of Texas white quails as unpretentious, fast-growing pets, extremely moderate in diet.

Based on the blood of such quail breeds as Pharaoh, English white Japanese, Estonian quails were obtained. This is an excellent meat-egg variety of poultry, which received from its ancestors the ability to maintain egg production, endurance and unpretentiousness for a record long time.

Representatives of this quail breed have a rounded body, short wings, like all related birds, a short neck and a convex back. The color of the bird is close to natural. Males are brighter and more expressive than larger females. Telling everything about quails native to Estonia, one cannot fail to mention their excellent early egg production.

A female that begins to lay eggs at 37–40 days of age can produce up to 30 dozen eggs weighing 9–12 grams each in a year. The birds themselves weigh less than their meat relatives. The average carcass weight is 120–130 grams, but with such a small weight the meat is very tasty.

From Japanese quails in Great Britain a population of fairly dark birds with brown and sometimes almost black plumage was obtained. The breed was called English black quail and quickly spread throughout European countries, ending up in Russia. Compared to its ancestors, this breed of quail is more well-fed, but lags behind in growth speed and is not as willing to lay eggs.

Female English black quails grow up to 200 grams of live weight, males have an average weight of about 170 grams. Every year the hen produces 260–280 small, delicious eggs. Due to their unpretentiousness and stable egg production, the birds are popular among amateur poultry farmers.

Second British breed Quails are strikingly different in appearance from their black and brown counterparts. White English quails belong to the egg variety, but once in the kitchen, their carcasses look better than dark ones, which increases the interest of lovers in this poultry.

Quails have predominantly white plumage, although spots of brown, black or golden hues are acceptable. Beginning to lay eggs at the age of 40–45 days, quails produce 280 eggs over the course of a calendar year. The live weight of female English white quail is 160–180 grams, and males grow up to 160 grams.

The original appearance of tuxedo quails attracts many interested glances from poultry farmers to this breed. The variety obtained by crossing white and black English birds has an egg orientation, but is also of meat value for private farms.

Representatives of the breed owe their unusual coloration, dark above and white below, to the tendency of quails to mutations, thanks to which Lately Breeders obtained not only tuxedo quails, but also birds with beautiful “marbled plumage.” In such quails, against a white background, a bluish-gray reflection on the feathers is clearly visible. It is not uncommon in farmsteads for pizzas in golden, blue, and fawn colors. The average female tuxedo quail weighs no more than 160 grams, and the cockerels are even smaller. But this does not prevent this interesting bird from laying up to 280 eggs per year.

In addition to Japanese quails, painted Chinese birds with a red belly and rich tints of colors on the neck and back are widely known in the world today. Unlike Japanese quails, which are polygamous, this bird prefers to spend its entire life with a single chosen one. Quails are unpretentious and easily adapt to different conditions maintenance, jealous of their own housing and its protection.

Since these quails are quite small, selection work is currently underway in Asia and Europe to breed breeds with the best meat and egg characteristics.

Having achieved significant results in the domestication of ordinary quails, poultry farmers are making successful attempts to raise birds previously considered exotic in private farmsteads. An example is the native American species, the Virginia quail. It is distinguished from familiar breeds by its elongated body, large eyes and shortened beak. The birds are tan in color with striking black and white markings on their feathers. White stripes are clearly visible on the heads of males.

These quails are larger than usual, but it is too early to talk about their meat orientation and the consolidation of breed characteristics, although after good fattening they have a certain culinary value. Egg production is also not great. But lovers of ornamental birds will appreciate golden and snowy Virginia quails.

The most unusual and beautiful of the quails is the Californian variety. The head of representatives of this quail breed is crowned with a miniature plume of several dark feathers. The body of large birds, up to 25 cm long, is round and dense; the tail, although longer than that of other relatives, is still short. Quails have a convex chest, decorated with whitish or yellow feathers with a black border, white contrasting stripes on the forehead and cheeks. Olive back and mottled neck. Females are not as bright as males, but noticeably brighter than many domesticated counterparts.

Birds are already bred and raised for meat, as well as for decorating gardening areas. Birds are monogamous and precocious. California quail chicks may begin adult life already at 35 days of age.