What are the rapid fattening methods for culled quail?

When male quail reach 5 weeks of age, you can determine whether to keep them for breeding; those not kept for breeding can be culled and fattened. When female quail have been laying for 1 to 1.5 years and the laying rate falls below 30%, they too should be culled and fattened. How can the fattening process be sped up?

1. Place them in fattening boxes for rearing. The fattening boxes are multi-tier stacked type, with each tier 10 to 12 cm high to prevent the male quail from mounting and crushing each other. Each box has an area of 0.3 sq m, with railings spaced about 2.5 cm apart on the front and back of the box so the quail can stretch their heads out to feed and drink. The left, right and top sides of the box are fitted with fiberboard. The bottom of the box is wire mesh with 1 cm x 1 cm openings.

2. Maintain a dimmer and quiet environment. Fattening culled quail needs to be carried out indoors with dim light and quiet surroundings, and the indoor temperature should preferably be 18°C to 25°C. Any disturbance must be strictly prevented.

3. Restrict movement as much as possible. Culled male and female quail should be raised separately and must not be mixed in the same fattening box. The rearing density should be appropriately increased, with 30 to 40 culled quail per box. By restricting their movement, feed consumption is reduced.

4. Improve feed quality. The fattening feed for culled quail should be based mainly on feeds rich in carbohydrates such as corn, wheat bran and paddy rice, which can make up 75% to 80% of the daily ration; protein feed can be reduced to 18%; 0.5% salt should be added to the feed to stimulate drinking; and green fodder should be appropriately added. During fattening, feed 4 to 6 times per day and night, feeding until they are full, and ensure clean drinking water is supplied in sufficient amounts.

5. Market and sell at the right time. The fattening period for culled quail is generally 2 to 3 weeks. When each bird reaches a body weight of 120 to 140 grams, feels plump in the hand, and when the feathers at the base of the wings are blown apart the skin color can be seen to be white or pale yellow, they can be marketed and sold. If rearing is extended beyond this period, feed consumption will increase.