About Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm of Maine

Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm started here in the western Maine woods with my love of self-sufficiency, small birds, and good genetics. What began as a workaround for city chicken rules has grown into a small hatchery where I raise Coturnix quail, offer hatching eggs and live birds, and share what I’ve learned with anyone who wants to raise their own covey.

I’m Jessica Knowles, the homesteader and slightly obsessed quail lady behind the scenes. I studied zoology, I love a good genetics puzzle, and I’ve been raising Coturnix quail for more than a decade.

Whether you’re here for hatching eggs, live birds, or help building a healthy, productive covey, you’re in the right place.

How It All Started

My quail journey began more than a decade ago in a tiny urban backyard. Chickens were allowed, but roosters weren’t, which meant hatching my own chicks was off the table unless I wanted to break the rules. That sent me looking for another option, and once I found Coturnix quail, that was it. I was hooked.

They were quiet, productive, and a whole lot more interesting than I expected. I started with a small covey of Jumbo Browns, and before long, I was deep into the genetics. What began as curiosity turned into a real passion for breeding birds that are both practical and beautiful.

Over time, my quail outgrew the backyard, and honestly, so did the dream. Today, on our five-acre homestead in Maine, I raise multiple color lines and collections, each chosen with health, size, temperament, and productivity in mind.

Every season brings new lessons, but the goal stays the same: raise better birds and help other people feel confident raising them, too.

What Matters Here

Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm exists to make raising quail feel approachable, sustainable, and rewarding, whether you’re starting with your first brooder or adding to an established setup.

Every hatch, every post, and every resource comes back to three things I care about:

  • Health Over Hype: I breed for vigor, temperament, and productivity before anything else. Pretty birds are wonderful, but they still need to be strong, useful birds.
  • Sustainability: Nothing goes to waste if I can help it. Eggs, manure, feathers, by-products, and farm stand extras all fit into the bigger picture of small-scale, thoughtful farming.
  • Real Education: I don’t gatekeep. I want you to succeed, and I share what actually works from hands-on experience, not just theory or pretty internet advice.

This is small farming with big heart.

Meet the Team

It might say “I” a lot around here, but Forget-Me-Not is truly a family effort.

Jessica (that’s me!)

That’s me. I manage the breeding programs, hatches, and day-to-day farm work. I’m also the writer behind The 104 Homestead, where I teach practical homesteading with plenty of real-world honesty.

My background in zoology shapes a lot of what I do here, from choosing breeders to designing brooders and grow-out spaces that actually make sense for the birds.

Smiling woman standing outdoors, holding open Downeast Magazine to an article titled “Q is for Quail: The Other White Meat,” from the March 2023 issue.

And in a very cool, still-a-pinch-me moment, I was featured in Down East Magazine’s March 2023 issue in an article called “Q is for Quail: The Other White Meat,” where I got to share a little about quail, farming, and why these birds deserve more attention.

Declan

My youngest and our resident chick taxi, helping me move babies from one brooder to the next. He has a sharp eye for mischief in the pens and loves adding his handmade crafts to the farm stand.

Adam

My oldest and unofficial security team. He helps keep the birds safe, handles photography, and can wrangle even the jumpiest quail with ease.

Mike

My partner in life and construction. If something around here has a roof, he probably helped me build it. Mike keeps the farm infrastructure running and reminds me to dream big when the to-do list starts getting ridiculous.

Our Breeding Programs

Here, I focus on both beauty and utility: quail that lay well, grow well, and look good doing it.

Each color line and collection has its own charm and purpose. Some breed true, some are managed as mixed collections for variety and genetic diversity, but all are selected with health, size, and temperament in mind.

Whether you’re drawn to blue egg layers, hearty meat birds, unique feather patterns, or the simple joy of opening a hatcher full of surprises, there’s probably a line here you’ll love working with.

See our current Breeding Lines & Collections.

What We Offer

Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm offers:

I’m also working toward hands-on workshops and tours covering incubation, brooding, genetics, and everyday quail care, so you can learn by doing right here in Maine.

Rooted in Community

I’m proud to be part of Maine’s growing small-farm community. From the honor-system farm stand to the Sebago Community Market, Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm brings together local families, homesteaders, and curious beginners with tiny eggs, practical education, and a whole lot of quail enthusiasm.

Whether you stop by the stand, meet us at market, sign up for hatch updates, or just reach out with a question, you’re welcome here.

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Join Us on the Journey

If you’re ready to raise Coturnix quail, or you’re just curious where to start, I’d love to help. Explore the site, read through the guides, check current availability, or reach out with questions.

This work means the world to me, and I’m honored to share it with you.