Here Are Some of Your Interesting Questions Answered 

How do quail make eggs? An egg develops through multiple stages during its time inside a hen. A yolk is encased in layers of egg white and protective membranes, sealed within a shell and coated with a fast-drying protective fluid.

How long do hens lay eggs for? Our quail hens start laying eggs at around 6 weeks old. The first eggs laid by hens at this young age are relatively small at about 5-6 grams. But over a period of about three months, the egg size increases to an average of 15 grams. A hen requires around 24-26 hours to produce an egg and after it is laid, the process starts all over again about 30 minutes later. Adult hens need about 14 hours of daylight to lay eggs consistently. Laying hens continue to produce first quality eggs until they are about one and a half years old. After this, their eggs become fewer and shell quality decreases which leads to more cracking and breaking.

How is an egg formed? A laying hen’s ovary holds thousands of tiny ova, or future egg yolks. Birds are unique among animals because only one ovary (the left) matures to the stage where it releases eggs. See https://www.australianeggs.org.au/farming/how-chickens-make-eggs/. When a yolk is ready, it moves out of the ovary and into the oviduct - a tube-like structure that is divided into different sections. Over four hours, the yolk moves through an area of the oviduct called the magnum where egg white protein is added to it. There are many different proteins that make up the egg white. The different protein layers provide protection for the yolk and create a template for the formation of the shell membrane and shell. After quickly moving through a section called the isthmus where shell membrane fibres are produced, the egg enters the shell gland where the shell forms over about 20 hours. The process is called calcification as layers of calcium carbonate are added to form the shell. During the last two hours of shell formation the bulk of the pigment (white and brown) is produced and deposited into the outer layers of the shell. This includes the cuticle which is laid down to provide protection against bacteria that might try to penetrate the shell and potential loss of water from the egg’s contents. The egg then rotates just before laying to be laid large end first, having moved through the oviduct small end first.

Why do quail eggs have speckled colours and different patterns? Each quail makes pigment in white and brown, however the quantities deposited into the outer layers of the egg vary with each quail. Each quail has her own personalised pigment pattern which makes each of her eggs unique from another quail. The cuticle which is laid down on the egg at the last stage is generally clear in colour. Some quails’ cuticle produces an almost shiny protective coverage. Others are a matt finish and some even mix it with their white pigment and the surface feels a little rough like a chicken egg.

How many eggs do quail lay? Quail hens generally lay 1 egg per day.

Are quail eggs seasonal? When are eggs available? Because our quail are kept indoors they are not exposed to the extreme winter weather as much as if they were in a meshed outdoor enclosure open to the elements.  Our egg production is generally 10-11 months of the year. For roughly 4-6 weeks of the year the hens stop laying as they are in moult. During this time they throw off old feathers and grow in new ones. This can be a light moult or an extreme/catastrophic moult where quail skin can be seen around the neck, breast, stomach, back, tail and rear section. The timing of the moult changes each year and is triggered by a significant weather event or large variance in temperature from one day to the next. Its happened as early as February to as late as May. This year it was a hot 35+ degree day in late February followed by a southerly change and dramatic reduction in temperature to around 15 degrees. It might start with one hen and the whole flock quickly follows. Egg production stops and everyone has some down time.

How big is a quail egg? We sell eggs ranging from 10-16 grams in weight sometimes slightly larger.

What do eggs taste like? Some people are hesitant about trying a quail egg. Perhaps they think they will be an overly gamey flavour like the eggs and meat of ducks or geese for instance. If you like the flavour of free range chicken eggs or have tried chicken eggs from chickens that are raised at home in a garden then you will like quail eggs. They have a high yolk to white ratio so have a lovely rich creamy flavour.

How do you cook quail eggs? Im a puritan at heart and nothing beats a fried quail egg with some lovely Tassie ham or bacon. Fried quail egg with a soft yolk on a beautifully cooked steak or piece of salmon is also heaven on a plate!

Other excellent ways to use them include:

-          Scotch quail egg

-          Pork pie and its many variants

-          Salmon Tartare

-          Beef Carpaccio

-          Soy pickled or tea marbled with dipping salts

-          Caesar salad with both quail and quail meat

-          Yakitori – bacon wrapped quail eggs skewer

-          The list is endless…..

How do you crack a quail egg? The quail egg shell and the membrane that protects the egg is thicker than a chicken egg. I tap it on a hard surface like I would with any egg and then use my thumbs to pull the egg shell and membrane apart. Another option is to use cigar cutter scissors. Have the egg pointy end down and place the cutters over the top of the egg, the base of the egg peaks through the hole of the cutter and you simply cut the shell bottom off. Then you pour the egg contents out into a bowl. You get more shell and fine shell bits doing it this way so you need to wash the scissors under water regularly to help stop this getting into your scrambled eggs.

How do you hard boil a quail egg? Take your eggs out of the fridge and allow them to come to room temperature. Place them in a saucepan and just cover them with water. Add a little dash of vinegar to the water. Bring the water to the boil and allow to boil for 1 minute for a runny yolk. Boil for longer say 1.5-2 minutes for a hard yolk.

How do you shell a boiled quail egg? This can be a fiddley business and a bit tricky if only lightly boiled. Older eggs are easier to shell so don’t try to shell a boiled egg that has just been layed. Vinegar in the water is said to assist the process. After boiling, I put the saucepan under the cold water tap and quickly bring the eggs to cold water temperature. This stops the cooking but also helps the shell and the membrane to release a little from the egg. I then shell the eggs under lightly running water. The water gets under the shell membrane and helps you to pull the egg shell away, sometimes in little ribbons if you’re lucky!

How long do quail eggs keep for? The best before date is 6 weeks from point of lay.

How do you store quail eggs? It is recommended that you store your eggs in the fridge.

Can you separate a quail egg yolk from the white? Yes, just crack the egg and separate the yolk and white using the 2 parts of the shell in the same way you would any other egg.

Can you use quail egg shells in compost? Yes, egg shells are great for compost. You can also crush them up and put them in your worm farm, mix it in with potting mix for a new pot plant or put them around new planted seedlings to stop snails and snugs.

Where can I buy quail eggs? You can buy them directly from us. We deliver for free across the Hobart CBD. Or simply call or visit your local providore and ask if they sell Kettering Quail eggs. We currently supply several Hill Street Grocers across Tasmania. If they don’t have them in stock, simply ask, and they may quickly be able to get them in for you.

If you enjoy sampling great food across Tassie’s great restaurant and café scene, keep an eye out for quail eggs on the menu and if they don’t have them on the menu, ask!

Do you sell quail? No. We don’t sell live quail or quail meat. If someone is after a replacement male quail for their hens we may be able to assist from time to time.  

What type of quail do you farm? We have chosen to rear and raise Japanese Quail (Coturnix) for egg production. They are a very versatile quail, used for both meat production and egg production. There are many colour variations and standard to Jumbo sizes. The Japanese quail have been raised in captivity for centuries, were highly revered and are even seen in Egyptian hieroglyphics.  

Are your eggs free range? No, we use a barn-laid system. Free range eggs come from hens that have access to an outdoor range during the day but are housed securely and comfortably in sheds at night. To be classified as a free range egg farm, the hens must have meaningful and regular access to an outdoor range during daylight hours. Farmers facilitate this by opening up doors to the sheds (called pop holes) every morning and closing them up in the late afternoon when the hens are back inside. A free range farm system works well for chickens, however, not so much for quail due to their size, habits and temperament. See https://www.australianeggs.org.au/farming/free-range-eggs/.

 What does Barn Laid eggs mean? There are many similarities between free range and barn-laid farming in terms of the shed structure and indoor environment. In both systems, hens are able to roam freely in a shed equipped with nesting areas, feeding and watering systems. The main difference between barn and free range is that in a free range system, hens are given the opportunity to roam outdoors during daylight hours, whereas barn hens are kept indoors at all times. No one system is better than the other. A well-managed barn can answer a hen’s behavioural needs just as well as a free range facility. Hen welfare has less to do with the type of production system and more to do with the management of the farm itself. See https://www.australianeggs.org.au/farming/barn-laid-eggs/. For us a barn style system works best for our quail. They need protection during the day from raptors. Quail don’t like open spaces, preferring to be near vegetation, hollow logs or something structural so they feel safe. Quail spook easily and are excellent flyers when startled. Our expansion plans do include an annex/extension of the shed with a grass, sand and pebbled area and another enclosed area in our fruit and vegetable garden. The perimeters of these will still need to be meshed and have bird safe roof netting to protect the quail.

Are there any regulations around quail egg production? Yes, we follow a very comprehensive food safety program for egg production. We are audited by the Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment on a regular basis. We were the first quail egg farm to obtain accreditation in December 2017. Our accreditation number is E31 and our egg stamp is KQ 01.  Please see https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/product-integrity/food-safety/eggs for further information.