Quail Breeding Projects at Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm
At Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm, breeding Coturnix isn’t about chasing color trends. It’s about raising healthy, hardy, and productive birds that still turn heads. Each line and collection here has been shaped through years of hands-on work (and a fair bit of trial and error) to balance size, temperament, color, and consistency.
Some of these projects are still in refinement, while others have reached the point where they consistently produce the kind of birds I’m proud to offer to other small breeders and homesteaders.
Our Breeding Priorities
I breed in small groups and track every hatch closely to make sure each generation gets better than the last.
- Size & Productivity: Birds that reach or exceed the Jumbo standard (10 ounces by 10 weeks) and lay strong, healthy eggs.
- Calm Temperament: Easy-to-handle quail that make everyday care simple and stress-free.
- Visual Appeal: Beautiful birds that still earn their keep.
- Genetic Stability: Consistent traits and dependable offspring, season after season.
I breed in small groups and keep detailed notes on outcomes to make sure I’m always improving, season after season.
2026 Breeding Lines and Collections
Each line below has been selectively bred for the needs of small-scale homesteaders — birds that are beautiful, productive, and a pleasure to keep.
Andalusian
Soft gray plumage with silvery tones and the occasional white highlight makes Andalusian quail a standout addition to any covey. Their unique patterning means no two look quite the same.
Quick Facts
Bird Size: Jumbo
Average Egg Size: 14-16 grams
Feather Sexable: No
Breeds True: No
Black
These sleek, all-black birds are head-turners in any covey. Originally imported from Germany in 2019, the Black Coturnix line has taken years of refining by serious breeders to get where it is today. I’m continuing that work here at Forget-Me-Not, focusing on size, temperament, and consistency.
These birds are standard in size, averaging around 10 ounces, and tend to be calm and easy to manage. Most have deep, solid black plumage, though you might spot the occasional bird with light chest barring or pink toes. This line does not feather sex, so you’ll need to wait until maturity to determine gender.
If you want something bold and uniform-looking to anchor your covey—or just love a bird with a little mystery—this line’s a great choice.
Calico Fee
If you’re into eye-catching patterns and top-notch egg production, the Calico Fee quail might just be your favorite. This line is a blend of Calico and Fee genetics on a Pharaoh base, creating a softer, more refined version of the typical Falb Fee look—with a lighter body color and an intricate elliptical pattern across the belly.
The males sport a striking gray facial crescent, kind of like a little quail mask, which adds to their charm. These birds aren’t just pretty—they’re prolific layers, reliably producing 12–14 gram eggs.
They’re a specialty line here at Forget-Me-Not, offering both beauty and performance in one tidy package.
Mixed Celedons
These birds may come in all sorts of colors, but they’ve got one thing in common: every hen in this line lays pale blue eggs. That signature sky-blue shell comes from the recessive Celedon gene (ce), and all birds in this line are homozygous, meaning they’ll pass it on to their offspring.
While their plumage varies—you might see Range, Tuxedo, or even English White—their egg game is strong and consistent. This line was built for folks who love a colorful covey and want that beautiful blue egg basket without getting too tangled in color genetics.
If your goal is to hatch out your own blue-egg layers, this line is exactly what you’re looking for.
Mixed Jumbos
This line isn’t about fancy feathers—it’s about big, hardy birds that lay well and dress out beautifully. Every quail in this group meets or exceeds the Jumbo standard of 10 ounces at 10 weeks—and most of mine go well beyond that.
Because I breed for size and productivity first, these birds come in a variety of colors. Don’t let that fool you—they’re bred with intention. This line is perfect for homesteaders who want dual-purpose birds that produce both large eggs and plenty of meat.
Jumbos tend to be calm, grow fast, and are ready for harvest or egg-laying sooner than you might expect. Whether you’re stocking your freezer, your incubator, or your egg basket, this line pulls its weight—literally.
If you’re looking to raise Coturnix quail with purpose and practicality, this is the workhorse line you’re after.
Pansy Pearl Fee
This line is one of my own creations, and it’s been an exciting one to develop. I started by crossing Pearl Fee (Fawn + Fee) with Pansy Fee (American Pansy + Fee) to create a bird with striking white plumage and unique, high-contrast black markings. The result is something I haven’t seen anywhere else—a bold, refined bird that’s just as beautiful as it is productive.
We are working towards making this line homozygous, meaning it will breeds true. The birds lay well, have calm temperaments, and grow to solid size. They’re a favorite here for both aesthetics and practicality.
In late 2025, I’m planning to introduce the Sparkly gene to this line to create distinct black-and-white barring, similar to the look of a Barred Rock chicken—but in quail form. It’s a long-term project, but I’m already thrilled with how this line is shaping up.
If you’re looking for a line that blends beauty, performance, and a touch of uniqueness, Pansy Pearl Fee delivers—and then some.
Looking for Chicks or Hatching Eggs?
Chicks are hatched on a rolling schedule from March through October, with pickup starting the Monday after hatch day. I update availability each week and offer birds at multiple life stages depending on what you’re looking for.
Use the pages below to learn more and check current availability:
Please note: All birds and eggs are pickup only at this time. I do not ship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with your goals. Want consistent blue eggs? Try Mixed Celedons. Looking for reliable meat birds? Mixed Jumbos are the way to go. Want something beautiful and true-breeding? Go with Pansy Pearl Fee or Calico Fee.
All my lines are selected for egg production, but the Celedon and Jumbo lines tend to lay the largest and most frequently. You’ll get great production from any line, but those two are especially consistent.
Yes! You can absolutely raise them together. Just be aware that mixing lines can produce unpredictable colors if you’re planning to hatch. If breeding is your goal, I recommend keeping lines separate for more consistent results.
Not all. The Calico Fee, Pansy Pearl Fee, and Black lines are true-breeding (homozygous). The Andalusians and Mixed Celedons are not, but still pass on their most important traits. Mixed Jumbos are bred for size, not color.
A “Jumbo” quail refers to its size (10 ounces at 10 weeks of age), which we breed for specifically to ensure larger birds. Our goal is to have all our color lines reach Jumbo size, which means more meat and larger eggs, providing greater value for homesteaders and backyard breeders.
Breeding homozygous Andalusians can be risky, as these chicks often have a failure to thrive. For this reason, we focus on breeding heterozygous birds to maintain their health and ensure strong, vigorous chicks.
Want updates on availability, new breeding projects, and seasonal farm stand openings?
Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Facebook and Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at the farm.