Texas quail: description of the breed and characteristics, breeding at home

Texas quails are grown by farmers who appreciate not only the benefits of eggs, but also the taste of dietary tender meat. Adult birds gain up to 800 grams of weight. Because of these properties, the breed received the unofficial name of the white giant. Bird care is easy. Even beginners cope with breeding albinos. But you need to know some features of the content.

History of the breed

American breeders worked on the creation of the species. The breed was bred in the state of Texas, which was the reason for giving the name to snow-white birds. Quail coloring received from English ancestors.Among the plumage there are several black blotches. In purebred individuals, a dark spot is located on the head. 3 markings are considered normal. The Texans inherited their large size from the Japanese breed. Today white giants are in demand all over the world. In Russia, quails were first bred for eggs. But today meat is also popular in the consumer market.

Appearance and productivity of Texas quails

Texas quails have a number of distinctive external features:

1. The body of the birds is large, with a protruding chest and a straight back.
2. Head size is small.
3. The pink shade of the beak is not only a sign of the breed, but also a characteristic of the state of he alth of the bird.
4. Dense white plumage with a black spot on top.

Texans are the biggest representatives of quails. Albinos grow up quickly.Weekly weight chart for birds:

8400 and up

Age in weeks	Body weight , r
1	30
2	up to 150
4	up to 260
6	up to 390

Females are usually larger than their cavaliers. And representatives of other breeds of Texas quail are one and a half times larger in size. With good care, giants gain 700-800 grams of weight. Birds begin to rush when they reach almost 2 months. On average, the egg production per year is 260 pieces, weighing 16 grams each, or 4 - during the week.

Pros and cons

Texans compare favorably with other quails. But, along with advantages, birds also have disadvantages.

Pros and consRapid weight gain.The yield of meat after slaughter reaches 260 grams.Early onset of egg production.High quality products.Calm character.Undemanding to the conditions of detention.Average egg production. The weight of the product is about 13 grams, sometimes up to 20. But eggs are suitable for incubation, the mass of which does not exceed 11 grams.Low sexual activity and, accordingly, a small percentage of fertilization. For 1 quail, usually no more than 2 females are purchased.Weak offspring. Survival rarely exceeds 70%. Young growth requires increased attention and care.Increased food consumption.

Difficulty also causes the impossibility to distinguish a male from a quail until a certain age. Sexual characteristics appear when it is time to lay eggs.

How to tell a female from a male?

Among the young, the first 2 months of life, males and females look the same. The maturation of broiler breeds occurs at the age of 50 days. To find out the sex of a Texas quail, you need:

1. Take the bird in your hands and put it on your back.
2. Carefully spread the plumage around the anal canal.
3. In females, the area around the passage is pink and smooth.
4. The male genital organ looks like a small growth that, when pressed, releases a small amount of white foam.

An indirect sign of the feminine gender is a more melodic chirping. Quails make sharp and staccato sounds.

Features of maintenance and care

Calm and peaceful Texas quails are undemanding in care. But this does not mean that farmers should not follow the rules when breeding.

Lighting

When kept at home, great attention is paid to lighting issues. Texas quails do not like bright light. It is preferable to choose a room with windows to the south or east.Close the openings with mesh or light cloth. But the birds will perceive the early onset of darkness negatively. The day at the livestock lasts up to 18 hours. After sunset, they turn on several lamps with a power of 40, a maximum of 60 watts. Newborn birds need light around the clock.

Ventilation

The air in the quail pen must be fresh, so the room is ventilated and ventilation is monitored. For sluggish birds, walks in a spacious courtyard are useful. In close quarters, large broilers begin to show signs of restlessness. To protect against rats, dogs or cats, it is better to protect the territory with a mesh fence. The canopy will protect the Texas quails from the bright sun.

Cells

When keeping birds in cages, a number of conditions are observed:

1. For each individual, a compartment is allocated with a size of 35x45 centimeters and up to 40 centimeters in height.
2. From the outside, feeders and water tanks are installed.
3. Retractable pallets are mounted for cleaning the litter.

Poultry farmers are also advised to keep quails separated by gender. Cages for laying hens are equipped with egg collectors to prevent crushing of a fragile product.

Temperature

The productivity of Texas quails is affected by temperature conditions. The cold makes the birds huddle together. Crowding and nervousness often lead to injury. Excess heat negatively affects well-being. In the heat, the birds develop shortness of breath.A comfortable temperature is 20 °C.

Humidity

Humidity indicators affect the he alth of birds. 60-70% is considered optimal. Excess dampness is harmful to Texas quails. Birds begin to lose weight, lay fewer eggs, and become sick.

Diet

The appetite of white giants is excellent. With a balanced diet, Texas quail recover quickly and achieve high productivity rates. Albinos eat up to 50 grams of food per day. Young animals almost immediately switch to the diet of adult birds, provided that the products are well chopped. Feeding rules:

1. After being released from the shell, quails need proteins. For the first 3 weeks, chicks are given boiled eggs and fermented milk products.
2. After 21 days add greens, crumbs of crackers.
3. Month old chicks are already allowed to add compound feed, as well as bone meal, chalk or ground fish waste.

The diet of adult quails includes:

1. Compound feed based on cereals.
2. Boiled vegetables. Carrots and mashed potatoes are especially helpful.
3. Fresh grass.
4. Fish oil and other mineral supplements.
5. S alt and sea fish for layers.

Farmers make their own feed mixes or purchase ready-made kits, the composition of which is carefully balanced.

Slaughter and culling

For the cultivation of Texas quails, specimens with signs of pure breed are selected. Usually they are white birds with occasional dark spots. The best are considered individuals with a minimum number of inclusions.Small, small stature chicks that are lagging behind in development are not used for breeding. By 5 months, Texas quails are suitable for slaughter. The productivity of laying hens decreases at the age of six months. More than 6 months to grow white giants is impractical.

Subtleties of breeding

3% of Texas quail laying hens have the ability to incubate. Chicks of this breed are bred only in incubators. Breeding details:

1. Eggs of 10-month-old females are chosen for cultivation. In adult quails, the percentage of fertilization is much lower.
2. Products are harvested within a week, stored at a temperature of 20 °C before laying.
3. Eggs don't need to be turned in the incubator.
4. Mass pecking of chicks occurs on the 17th day.

Kids are left in the chamber to dry for 2 hours. If newborn quails are immediately moved to a brooder, then wet feathers will stick together and harden. This often causes the death of babies.

Frequent diseases

Texas quails are more prone to disease than other breeds. Most he alth problems are due to an unbalanced diet, poor living conditions, or the spread of infection. Quite often, beriberi is observed in birds, cases of cannibalism and baldness have been recorded.

Farmers should call the vet if quails start to get restless and pluck their feathers. Other danger signs:

1. Food and sometimes drink.
2. Tousled look.
3. Lack of energy and the desire to hide in a corner.
4. Eyes are often half closed.
5. Stretched neck and head thrown back.

Quails with such signs are immediately separated from the general herd. After the diagnosis is established, treatment begins. But, in most cases, improvement comes after adjusting the diet, eliminating drafts, dampness, or other negative factors. It is useful to strengthen the body of quails with vitamin complexes from birth. They begin to be added to the feed of chicks from the third day of life.

Approximate cost and where to buy

There are 2 varieties of Texas quail on the market. When choosing birds, pay attention to productivity:

Pharaohs 18

Weight of male and laying hens, g	360 and 450	250 and 300
Egg production per year, pieces	200	220
Egg weight, g	15

Texas quails are recommended to buy in large farms that are engaged in mass breeding of poultry, or from private traders with a good reputation.

For laying hens they usually ask for up to 200 rubles for each individual. Young quails are even cheaper. The price of daily chicks rarely exceeds 50 rubles. Sometimes there are offers for the sale of hatching eggs. The cost of such a product is low (15 rubles), and the risks are high. There is no guarantee that the raw materials are from the Texans. The material may also be infertile. Texas quails are gaining more and more popularity. Farmers are not stopped by difficulties with breeding chicks. The content of the bird is not difficult. And the demand for products is only increasing.

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