How to Price Your Live Birds When Starting a Quail Business
Starting a quail business can be a great way to make extra money for your homestead, but one of the trickiest parts is determining how to price your live birds. Whether you’re selling day-old chicks, juveniles, or adult quail, getting the pricing right is essential for covering your costs while remaining competitive in the market.
If you’re considering starting a quail business, it’s worth understanding why raising Coturnix quail can be an excellent addition to a small homestead. Not only are they space-efficient, but their productive nature makes them a great choice for maximizing your homestead’s value. For more details, take a look at The Benefits of Raising Coturnix Quail on a Small Homestead.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the factors you should consider when pricing your live birds, and how to make sure your quail business stays profitable and sustainable.
Know Your Costs
Feed, Housing, and General Care Costs
Before you can set a price, it’s important to know how much it costs you to raise your quail. Start by calculating the cost of feed, which will likely be your biggest expense. Remember to factor in how much food each bird consumes from hatchling to the point of sale. You’ll also need to consider the costs of bedding, electricity (for incubators, brooders, or supplemental lighting), and housing maintenance.
For example, a general rule of thumb is that an adult Coturnix quail eats about 20-25 grams of feed per day. Calculate the total cost based on the length of time you’re keeping the birds before selling them.
“One of the first lessons I learned was how quickly costs add up when raising quail. Feed, bedding, and even small maintenance expenses are all factors that need to be included when setting prices for your live birds.”
One cost to consider when pricing your live birds is the equipment needed for brooding. A good brooder setup can make a significant difference in the early stages of raising quail. If you’re curious about brooder options, I’ve reviewed one popular choice in Is the Hatching Time Brooder Worth It?, which might help you decide on an investment that works for your budget.
Ways to Lower Your Costs
While pricing your quail fairly is important for making a profit, reducing your own costs can also significantly improve your bottom line. Here are some strategies that sellers can use to lower their costs while still raising healthy, productive quail:
Buy Feed in Bulk
Feed is one of the largest expenses when raising quail. Buying feed in bulk, either from local feed stores or online, can result in significant cost savings. If you have space to store it properly, bulk purchasing can reduce your per-pound feed cost. Look for deals, seasonal sales, or even form a buying co-op with other local farmers to split large quantities.
Tip: Consider using homemade quail feed options when possible to further cut down on costs. You can mix your own feed using ingredients like grains and seeds to meet your quail’s nutritional needs.
Reduce Bedding Costs
Bedding is another recurring cost that can add up. Instead of buying expensive commercial bedding, consider sourcing free or low-cost bedding materials like shredded newspaper, straw, or pine shavings from local suppliers. You can also compost used bedding to create a cycle of sustainability on your homestead.
Use DIY Pens and Equipment
Instead of purchasing expensive, pre-made quail pens or brooders, consider building your own from materials you may already have on hand. Upcycling items like old wood pallets, plastic containers, or repurposed wire cages can significantly reduce your startup costs. For brooders, many sellers use DIY setups with heat plates or pads instead of expensive commercial brooders.
Hatch Your Own Eggs
Rather than continuously buying new chicks or eggs from other breeders, investing in a quality incubator and hatching your own eggs can reduce the cost of building your flock. Once you’re experienced with hatching, you can also sell hatching eggs as an additional source of income.
Use Solar Power for Lighting and Heating
If you’re using supplemental lighting or heating in your quail pens, switching to solar-powered solutions can reduce your energy costs over time. Solar panels can be used to power heat lamps, incubators, or LED lights, especially if you live in an area with abundant sunlight.
Minimize Waste
Keeping a close eye on feed waste can help lower your overall costs. Use feeders that are designed to minimize spillage, and make sure you’re not overfeeding your quail, which can lead to unnecessary waste. Properly store feed in airtight containers to prevent spoilage or rodent problems.
Barter or Trade with Other Local Farmers
Building connections with other local farmers or homesteaders can open opportunities for bartering. For example, you might trade eggs or chicks for feed, bedding materials, or even labor. This can be a win-win situation that reduces out-of-pocket costs while strengthening your local farming community.
By implementing these cost-saving strategies, you can increase your profit margin while ensuring your quail business remains sustainable and efficient.
Factor in Labor and Time
Your time and effort are valuable, and it’s important to factor this into your pricing. Consider the time spent caring for your birds, from feeding and cleaning to maintaining brooders and pens. Incubating eggs, monitoring the hatch, and ensuring your birds grow up healthy all require significant attention, and this labor needs to be reflected in your prices.
Make sure you are paying yourself for the time spent caring for the birds. If it takes several hours each day, that time should be accounted for when determining your selling price.
Research Your Local Market
Pricing your birds too high might turn customers away, but pricing too low can undervalue your efforts and leave you struggling to make a profit. To find a middle ground, research the market in your area. See what other breeders are charging for quail in different life stages, such as day-old chicks, juveniles, or adult egg-laying quail.
Below is a table displaying average regional prices for various quail life stages across the U.S., to give you a sense of typical pricing ranges:
| Region | Day-Old Chicks | Laying Hens (6-8 Weeks) | Meat Males |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast (Maine, NY) | $3 – $5 | $15 – $20 | $8 – $12 |
| Southeast (Florida, GA) | $2 – $4 | $12 – $18 | $7 – $10 |
| Midwest (Ohio, IL) | $2.50 – $4.50 | $14 – $18 | $7 – $11 |
| West Coast (CA, WA) | $3 – $6 | $16 – $22 | $9 – $13 |
| Southwest (Texas, AZ) | $2.50 – $4 | $13 – $17 | $8 – $11 |
This table provides a general idea of pricing in various regions, but local factors such as demand, competition, and specific breed availability can cause prices to vary. If you’re raising unique quail color lines or offering additional value like a health guarantee or starter kits, you can price your birds on the higher end.
Pro Tip: Regularly checking prices from other breeders in your area and keeping an eye on online marketplaces can give you valuable insights into local demand and competition.
Differentiate Based on Age and Breed
Day-Old Chicks vs. Adult Birds
The age of the bird has a significant impact on the price. Day-old chicks are cheaper because they require more care and time to raise. However, they’re also more vulnerable and require specialized setups like brooders and heating, so buyers may not want to take on that responsibility.
Juvenile or adult quail that are already laying eggs or nearly ready to lay will sell for more, as they’re closer to providing value through eggs or meat. Make sure to factor in the extra feed, care, and time it took to raise those birds when pricing adults.
Standard Size vs. Jumbo Coturnix Quail
Another important factor when setting prices is whether you are selling standard-size or jumbo Coturnix quail. Jumbo quail are larger and grow faster than standard-sized quail, making them more desirable for both meat production and egg-laying purposes. Due to their larger size and the fact that they produce more meat per bird, jumbo Coturnix quail typically sell for a higher price.
- Standard Coturnix quail typically weigh around 8-10 ounces when fully grown, making them suitable for egg production and small-scale meat use.
- Jumbo Coturnix quail, on the other hand, can weigh 12 ounces or more, offering more meat and larger eggs. Because they require more feed and care during the growing phase, jumbos can command higher prices.
If you are selling jumbo Coturnix quail, make sure to highlight their advantages—such as their larger size, faster growth rate, and better meat yield—when marketing to potential buyers. This can justify a higher price point, especially when selling to customers looking for efficient meat production.
Specialty and Unique Lines
If you’re breeding specialty Coturnix quail color varieties or specific lines, you can price your birds higher than the average market rate. Rarer color lines like Pearl Fee or other less common varieties can attract buyers who are willing to pay more for unique birds.
Consider Seasonal Demand
Quail sales often follow seasonal patterns. Spring and early summer are generally the peak periods for selling live birds, as many people are starting their homesteads or expanding their flocks. During these high-demand times, you can price your birds higher because more buyers are actively looking to purchase.
However, during the fall and winter, demand tends to drop. Adjusting your prices or offering promotions during slower times can help maintain sales throughout the year.
Include Value-Added Services
If you want to stand out and justify higher prices, consider offering value-added services. For example, providing health guarantees or offering advice and support to first-time quail owners can make your birds more appealing. You could also sell hatching eggs or offer guidance on incubating and brooding quail.
Offering starter kits with feeders, waterers, and a small bag of feed is another way to increase the value of your birds. Customers who are new to raising quail may find these add-ons convenient, making them more willing to pay a premium price for the full package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Day-old chicks are typically priced lower than older quail, often ranging between $2 to $5 depending on local demand and the genetic line. Adjust pricing based on the time and resources you’ve invested.
Yes, rare color varieties like Pearl Fee or specialty genetics can be priced higher than standard colors. These unique traits often attract buyers who are willing to pay more for rare quail.
The best time to sell quail is in the spring and early summer, when demand for live birds is highest. Many people are starting or expanding their coveys during this period, allowing you to price your birds higher.
Final Thoughts
Pricing your live Coturnix quail is a balance between covering your costs, valuing your time, and staying competitive in the local market. By considering factors like feed costs, labor, market demand, and the age of the birds, you can set prices that ensure your quail business is profitable. Remember to adjust your pricing as your business grows and as market trends change.
“Pricing my quail correctly has been key to keeping my business sustainable. Understanding my costs and the local market gave me the confidence to price my birds fairly, while still making a profit.”
Whether you’re just starting or looking to expand, selling live quail can be a great way to earn income while raising these fascinating birds on your homestead. See the live birds I have available and how I price mine.
