Chickens vs Quail: Which is the Best Bird to Raise?

Are you thinking about raising birds for eggs or meat? Well, you have two options: chickens or quail. Chickens and quail are both popular poultry birds. They are easy to raise and take care of, but there are some differences between them. In this article, we will compare the pros and cons of raising chickens and quail, so you can decide which bird is the best for you.

pros and cons of raising chickens

What are Chickens?

Chickens are domestic birds that have been bred for thousands of years. They are popular for their meat and eggs. Chickens come in different breeds, colors, and sizes. They are social birds that love to be around other chickens. Chickens are easy to raise and care for, but they require more space than quail.

Pros of Raising Chickens:

  • Eggs: Chickens lay larger eggs than quail. They can lay up to 300 eggs per year. Chicken eggs are also easier to handle and sell.
  • Meat: Chickens are larger than quail, so they provide more meat.
  • Companionship: Chickens are social birds that love to be around other chickens. They are fun to watch and can be great pets.
  • Pest Control: Chickens love to eat insects, so they can help control pests in your yard or garden.
Chickens come in different breeds, colors, and sizes.

Cons of Raising Chickens:

  • Space: Chickens require more space than quail. You need at least 2 square feet of space per chicken in the coop and 8 to 10 square feet of outdoor space per chicken.
  • Noise: Roosters can be noisy, especially in the early morning. If you have close neighbors, they may not appreciate the noise.
  • Mess: Chickens can be messy. They scratch the ground to look for food, which can make a mess in your yard or garden.
Quail are smaller than chickens

What are Quail?

Quail are small game birds that are native to America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. They are popular for their meat and eggs. Quail are smaller than chickens, so they require less space. They are also quieter than chickens and are less likely to make a mess in your yard or garden.

Pros of Raising Quail:

  • Eggs: Quail lay smaller eggs than chickens, but they lay more eggs. Quail can lay up to 300 eggs per year, and their eggs are considered a delicacy in some countries.
  • Meat: Quail are smaller than chickens, but they provide more meat per pound than chickens.
  • Space: Quail require less space than chickens. You only need 1 square foot of space per quail in the coop and 2 to 3 square feet of outdoor space per quail.
  • Quiet: Quail are quieter than chickens. They are less likely to disturb your neighbors.

Cons of Raising Quail:

  • Fragile: Quail are fragile birds. They can get scared easily and can be prone to injuries.
  • Flighty: Quail are more flighty than chickens. They are not as social as chickens and may not be as friendly.
  • Temperature Sensitivity: Quail are sensitive to temperature changes. They need a warm, dry environment to thrive.
If you are looking for a fun and social pet that can also provide you with eggs and meat

Which bird is the best for you?

Now that you know the pros and cons of raising chickens and quail, you can decide which bird is the best for you. If you have a large yard or farm and want larger eggs and more meat, chickens may be the best choice for you. If you have limited space, want more eggs, and a quieter bird, quails may be the best choice for you.

Another thing to consider is the reason why you want to raise birds. If you are looking for a fun and social pet that can also provide you with eggs and meat, chickens may be the best option. If you want a bird that requires less space and is easier to care for, quail may be the better choice.

Final Thoughts

Raising chickens and quail can be a fun and rewarding experience. Both birds are easy to care for and provide eggs and meat. However, there are some differences between them that you need to consider before making a decision. 

Chickens require more space and can be noisier and messier, but they lay larger eggs and are more social. Quail require less space and are quieter, but they are more flighty and fragile.

Ultimately, the best bird for you depends on your individual needs and preferences. Consider the pros and cons of each bird and decide which one is the best fit for you. Whether you choose to raise chickens or quail, you will enjoy the benefits of fresh eggs and delicious meat.

In summary, chickens and quail are both great options for raising birds. Chickens are larger and more social, while quail require less space and are quieter. When deciding which bird to raise, consider your space, needs, and preferences. With the right care and attention, both chickens and quail can provide you with fresh eggs and meat for years to come. Happy homesteading!

7 Ways to Prep for an Economic Collapse

With Trump becoming president, many believe he’ll be able to pull the United States out of its financial difficulties, that everything will finally be ok. However, it doesn’t take a genius to see that things are not necessarily going to get better, especially if you look at the first moves he has made since he came into office.

Trump doesn’t have an alternative to Obamacare, and the almost $20 trillion debt is not going to vanish. In addition, Trump himself said on more than one occasion that we’re in a bubble and, if that bubble were to burst, we’re all in trouble.

No one man, not even the president, is capable of fixing all of the country’s problems. An economic collapse could be triggered by a number of things; let’s not forget that Venezuela descended into chaos after a series of socialist measures followed by the drop in oil prices.

 

Fortunately, the prepper movement can teach us a thing or two about surviving a dollar collapse. Now, I’m not going to talk about gold, silver, hedge funds or any of the topics you guys know much more about than me. Instead, I’m going to stick to what I know and offer you other ways to prepare, ways that won’t make you look like a crazy Doomsday prepper.

economic crisis

#1. Get Out of Debt

Trivial, I know, but it’s worth repeating a thousand times. Why else are 80% of Americans in debt? There are various theories of what would happen to debt post-collapse and none of them are pretty. The most likely scenario is that you’ll still owe money to the banks, and with an inflation spinning out of control, anything can happen.

#2. Stock Up On Basic Foods

Beans, rice, water… you’ll needs lots of if you’re going to survive a long-term disaster. Many non-preppers think that stockpiling is all about MREs and freeze-dried foods. Quite the opposite; you should be storing foods you already eat, and have a variety of them in your pantry.

#3 Stock Up On Barter Items

Before money, there was bartering, and each economic collapse or recession sees people going back to this form of trading to avoid cash. You probably heard about preppers stocking up on toilet paper, right? This cheap item is going to be one of the most sought-after item when store shelves are empty… but you don’t have to fill your attic with it, you know.

There are other items you can add to your stockpile for dark days: tooth paste, floss, gardening tools, clothes, books and so on.  Add to these food, water and medical supplies, of course, most people living in cities will be desperate for them.

#4. Always Have Cash on Hand

Unless you want your money trapped in banks and your cards locked (like people in Greece experienced during their economic collapsed), you’re going to need cash to pay for things. No, I’m not saying money will be useless; that’s not what prepping is about.

always have cash on hand

 

#5. Think About the Other Disasters and Emergencies That Could Affect You

An economic collapse will bring with a huge amount of problems: riots, gun fights and an increase in looting, burglaries, home invasions and so on. I’m not saying they will affect you, but you have to think about your safety and security.

#6. Become Partially Self-Sufficient

You don’t have to move out to the wilderness and live in a wooden cabin with no Internet. Starting a garden, installing a few solar panels and setting up a rainwater harvesting system are few things you can do to ensure you have food, water and energy, when the others won’t.

#7. Focus on Your Skills

No, I’m not going to suggest you should learn how to milk a cow or how to forage for wild edibles. Unless you’re interested in learning them, of course. The thing about skills is that, once you learn one, you can barter with it again and again because everyone will want you to help them.

So which skills will be useful in an economic collapse? Things like first aid, plumbing, woodworking, fixing cars, fixing computers and other electronic devices come to mind… but the reality is that any skill could come in handy.

I’m willing to bet almost everyone knows how to do something that could be useful post-collapse. The “trick” is to improve on that skill so you’re able to help as many people as possible. In addition, how about you take on a hobby you were meaning to, but never got to? Gardening, fishing, woodworking – these are just a few of the skills that could come in handy post-collapse.

Final Words

Regardless of whether or not you believe an economic collapse is coming, one thing is clear: there is a chance it will happen. So why not take a few simple steps to prep for it?

Dan F. Sullivan

 

 

The Importance of Survival Caches

A Survival Cache is essentially a hidden storage for important survival gear/supplies that you can go to in the event that your home has been destroyed or you’re unable to get home for whatever reason. Caching your supplies is a highly recommended action for several reasons. Just as squirrels bury their nuts before winter to provide food in spring, you too can learn something from nature. Here are a few good reasons for caching:

Small geo stash

  • If the disaster has destroyed your home and has damaged your main supplies, you’ll have a back up to keep you going.
  • If for any reason your house is looted and ransacked, you can dig up a cache.
  • If you’re forced to leave your home (either by looters or natural disaster), you can live on by digging up a few caches.

If the crisis persists for a long period of time, you’re likely to have looters and raiders going from house to house, demanding your supplies or your life. Historically they’ll only kill you if you put up a fight and really you should just give them what they want (unless you’re prepared to take them on). Another alternative to protecting your self from looters is to just hide your supplies in your own home. Don’t bother storing your food in the obvious places (like the kitchen) it will be the first place they look. If they can’t find it, they’ll just go to the next house.

Supply cache

The best way to hide your food is to bury it. You’ll need airtight containers, I suggest 5 gallon buckets and you’ll need to plan ahead. Bury your supplies at night so nobody will see you, and bury your supplies next to memorable object (not in the middle of a field). You could make a map to remember where you hid everything but it’s recommended you just remember the information and keep it in your head (it’s much safer there). Bury your caches next to signs or next to other memorable object so you don’t lose them. It goes without saying but try to get the ground to look normal after you’ve buried the supplies.

A safe trick is to keep a small amount of food in the kitchen or some obvious place, so that if and when the looters come by they can just take what they want and be on their way. If you want to make sure they don’t come back… poison the food! You’ve got to be creative. Hide your food in the walls, the floors, and odd locations around the house. Try not to advertise your supplies and don’t make a point of telling people that you have a year supply of food. Word gets around fast so don’t be surprised if get a lot of knocking on the door when shit hits the fan. You’ll be better off telling people you have nothing.

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Three R’s of Survival

These three R’s are just as important to survival as they are in everyday life.

#Recycle #Reuse #Repurpose

The 3 R's of Survival

In times of emergency and survival, you will have to be creative with your supplies and make do with whatever you can find and use to live and survive.

We will not be given the option to change our wasteful ways and find the most suitable ‘green’ way of living in a survival crisis. Every day items we take for granted will be unavailable and we need to ask ourselves what can be use to replace them. Thinking outside thebox will be a must.

So remember these 3 R’s of survival, Repurpose, Reuse, Recycle. Be prepared.

 

Be Ready when disaster strikes, prep for the unknown at Year Zero Survival