Thanksgiving Quail

    We had quail for Thanksgiving—not for dinner, but as house guests.  The week of Thanksgiving we had two sets of our Japanese quail, Coturnix Coturnix Japonica, hatch out and had about 60 new house guests.

    Our other guests, Patrick’s parents, loved visiting with them while they were in town. When the quail hatch they are so small and active we love to call them “Pot Corns” because they seem like popcorn popping in a pan. 

    These are day old chicks.

    Our Thanksgiving Feast included an organic, local grown, heritage turkey from our friends at Natural Trading Company here in Newcastle.  I am hoping to get a few from Bryan next year to grow out on our own; we will see what he has in the spring. 

    I think it is important to know where the animals we eat come from, and how they were raised.  We love and care for our animals and when purchasing meat we try to choose local farmers growing them the way they were intended to be raised.  There are studies showing that the eggs, meat, and dairy of animals raised this way are healthier and we feel that they also taste better.

    At the October PlacerGROWN Farm and Barn Tour I had a booth at the fairgrounds with a friend and her booth. 

    While I was there I met a great gal, Johnna who helps run the Mount Vernon 4H club.  Later in the day she thought it would be fabulous to schedule her group to come to our farm and get a lesson in Raising Quail at our farm. 

    Over 20 folks came to learn about our little Teacup Chickens and some of the things you can do with them.  Many had not ever seen the real birds and all loved the babies. 

    I will have another 4H club come in January to learn about the quail and probably host a class for the public.