ABOUT

Back Yard Farmer – Quail Farming

For the past 12 years I have farmed Coturnix coturnix quails at my home in Dunedin, New Zealand

What began as an interest in keeping quails has developed into a specialised breeding enterprise supplying breeding birds, fertilised eggs, eating eggs, quail feed and other quail products

My approach is based on selecting and breeding birds for useful characteristics rather than simply multiplying birds for sale. I keep detailed records and select for productivity, longevity, body development and the characteristics required of good breeding stock. My aim is not to produce the biggest possible quail, but healthy, productive and practical birds that perform well under New Zealand conditions

My background in animal nutrition and genetics strongly influences the way I breed and feed my quails. In fact, my association with quails goes back many years before I began farming them in New Zealand. During my research career I worked closely with quails in genetic and nutritional improvement programmes. Their calm nature, rapid generation turnover and short genetic interval make them particularly useful research animals, allowing genetic and nutritional developments to be evaluated over relatively short periods

That experience continues to influence the way I manage my birds today. Back Yard Farmer is a small operation, but it is run as a genuine breeding enterprise rather than simply as a source of occasional surplus birds

The FOR SALE section contains the quails, eggs, feeds and other products currently available, while the QUAILS section contains more detailed information about breeding, feeding, housing, incubation, lighting and general quail management

Sustainable Living on a Small Block

Back Yard Farmer is also about demonstrating what can be achieved on a relatively small city or town block of land

I believe that people with access to a backyard, lifestyle block or community garden can produce a surprisingly large proportion of their own food while making better use of resources and reducing waste

At my home in Dunedin I put this philosophy into practice by growing fruit and vegetables, keeping poultry and bees, producing eggs and meat, composting and worm farming, and preserving the food that I grow and produce

I try to follow a simple principle — as little as possible should be wasted and as much as possible should be produced and used at home

I also have a strong concern about the increasing use of agricultural chemicals and the contamination of our environment and food supply. Producing some of our own food gives us greater control over what we eat and provides an opportunity to reduce unnecessary exposure to agricultural chemicals

Preserving food is an important part of this approach. I preserve surplus fruit and vegetables and also make many other foods at home, including wine, cheese, sausages and cured meats such as salami, prosciutto, coppa, mortadella, pancetta and much more

Much of my cooking is based on the traditional food of Northern Italy, where my family lived and farmed for many generations

The purpose is not to suggest that everyone should become completely self-sufficient, but to demonstrate how much can be achieved on a small piece of land with good planning, practical knowledge and a willingness to use what is available

About Me

Food production has been a passion throughout my life

I have postgraduate qualifications in Animal Science, Animal Nutrition and Animal Genetics and spent approximately 40 years working in the animal industry, including agricultural research, experimental farming, university teaching and national and international agricultural enterprises

My work included animal nutrition and genetics, establishing pilot farming units in developing countries, and contributing to the development and improvement of animal breeds and production characteristics including egg, milk, meat and reproductive performance

This professional background continues to influence the way I approach my own farming. I am interested not only in keeping animals, but in understanding why they perform as they do and how nutrition, genetics and management can be used to improve their performance

My other abiding interest is Italian regional food and traditional cooking. My family lived and farmed in Northern Italy for many generations, and I am fortunate still to have the family estate that was occupied by my family for more than four hundred years

Today, Back Yard Farmer allows me to combine many of these interests — animal breeding, nutrition, gardening, food production, cooking, preserving and traditional Italian food

I enjoy sharing what I learn and, equally, learning from other people with similar interests

Back Yard Farmer
Dunedin, New Zealand

22 thoughts on “ABOUT”

    • Heinrich – Thanks for the enquiry. Yes, quails are available and legal to ship, but unfortunately all the pet / animal couriers have closed down and will only be open again after lock down is over (if they are going to open at all). So unfortunately if you do not have a private person travelling, we shall have to wait. Have a nice day.

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  3. I live in Paeroa in the Waikato, 20 minutes from Thames, on a 2000 sq m section. Am very keen on rare breeds and sustainable small scale agriculture. Your blogs are really interesting. If you ever come up as far as Hamilton or Auckland, I would like to meet with you.

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  5. Hi,
    I just found your blog and it’s amazing!! All the info I’ve been looking for in one place, and local to nz! Exciting!
    We’ve recently moved out to a quarter acre section in canterbury and are trying to get ourselves established for food production. So far we’ve gotten our garden set and are just starting to get produce from it, although we haven’t figured out what our crop rotation will be like yet – and we’ve got a few chickens which will hopefully be laying by mid Feb.
    We’re keen to give rabbits and quail a go too once we’ve got a handle on what we’ve already got. Maybe next spring. How far in advance do you need to order to get quail from you? Your breeding program sounds intense!!
    Thanks for all the amazing posts, I’ve really been enjoying them 🙂

    Reply

    • Thanks for the kind words! Please keep in touch with progress and if I can be of any assistance, let me know. I am breeding quails every week and they are almost always some available. If you want larger quantities of specific breeds, it may be advisable to order. Collect eggs over two to three days – incubate 17 days – grow for about 35 days. So if you order you should have point of lay pullets in about two months from order. I am going back home (Italy) for four months commencing February and even though I have a person looking after all the animals, numbers and availability may be restricted during this period. Chickens, rabbits, quails and a vegetable garden compliment each other perfectly for a continuous healthy food supply using predominantly recycled materials and by products. Do you provide additional light for the chickens, if not, they will cease laying soon. Have fun!!

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  6. Rob. Thanks for the inquiry. Yes it is 100 % acceptable to keep rabbits and chickens together. Quails also mix well with chickens provided they have enough space to escape as some chickens may peck at them. Quail are grund dwellers and do not roost – so provide small cages for them (upside down box with a small door cut into it) as well as bushes and plants where they can hide.

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  9. yes it’s the californian Quail I’m after once my replacement workshop is finished I will make the necessary equipment ready for the Spring season; looking forward to ??!!

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  10. I will be looking for some fertile Quail eggs in the spring, my intention is to reintroduce Quail to my immediate area, The area has been cleared of residential houses because of the Christchurch earthquake leaving a much bigger open area of grass and low vegetation I have successfully established ringneck pheasants in the past

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  12. Would be very keen to know if you ever do a trip to The North Island,and Im sure others would to.
    Cheers Denise Tippett.

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