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Fresh Source of Protein for Quarantine Times

If you're a prepper (you prepare for worst-case scenarios), then you've giving your food intake and sources a lot of thought. I'm sure you have peanut butter, dried chicken and ham, powdered eggs and more. All good sources of protein.

But you might get a little tired of these. So... here's an idea. Make it so you can have fresh eggs from time to time.

Don't want an outdoor animal that you'll need to go out and feed? Or that you'll need to defend?

Raise quail. Indoors.

Quail are very small birds, considered wild game although they have been domesticated for a while. They produce very small eggs - it takes 3 quail eggs to equal 1 small chicken egg.

Have 2 people in your home? Have 6 quail, which could provide 3 small quail eggs per person per day. For this many quail, you only need a square foot cage. I suggest you get a rabbit hutch, with a pan underneath to catch droppings. If the wires that make up the floor are too far apart, get some wire netting from a home improvement store so the birds feet won't get torn up. Keep the cage off the floor and out of drafts.

If you plan on raising quail to eat the birds, then you'll need males too (2 females to 1 male). Keep in mind that in a quarantine situation, if you want to eat the quail, you'll need a place inside your home to kill them, drain the blood, pluck them, and do something with the leftovers (feet, beak, entrails, etc.)

Don't they stink? Not really. Keep the cages clean, but even so, quail make a lot less noise and smell than, say, chickens. Use paper in the bottom of your "rabbit" hutch and it will be easy to change out and keep clean.

Keep a source of bright light on during the shorter days, making it seem like just a long summer. This will "trick" the birds into laying past autumn and they will continue to lay eggs.

Having only 6 small quail in a small hutch will be easy to care for. They don't take a lot of feed, so you can keep it in a rodent-proof trash can with lid. They do need a fresh source of water, but these are small birds and really don't take much. Also, be careful of your other pets, especially cats - don't let them take away your source for fresh eggs!!!

Think maybe you won't have a source of heat to cook the eggs? Remember, quail eggs are small. Use a tea-light candle in a candle-holder, with a small empty clean (but oiled) tuna can on top and you'll be just fine. Add a little spice (onion powder, dried parsley, etc.) and maybe some canned no-need-to-refrigerate parmesan cheese and yummy!

For more information on raising quail indoors, go to:
http://homesteadingbasics.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-to-raise-quail-indoors.html

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