Quail

Overview

Quail farming on Hawaiʻi Island is a very small, specialty segment mainly geared toward egg production for niche markets. Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), known for their speckled eggs, are the primary species raised. A few backyard farmers and at least one commercial small-farm venture on the Hawaiʻi Island raise quail, attracted by the birds’ compact size, fast maturity, and the gourmet value of their eggs. Quail are not a significant livestock category in the Ag Census (their numbers typically fall under “Other Poultry”), but interest in quail has been growing as part of diversified farming and local food innovation.

Production and Operations

Quail are well-suited to Hawaiʻi’s climate and are often kept in cages or small aviaries since they’re flighty and can be easily lost if fully free-range. On Hawaiʻi Island, some producers keep a few hundred quail hens in stacked cage systems in a garage or shed, collecting eggs daily. Others incorporate quail in a permaculture setup, letting them roam in tractor pens to eat insects (though quail don’t scratch the ground as chickens do). They reach laying age at about 6-8 weeks and can lay an egg almost daily. Because of this rapid turnover, a quail operation can scale up or down quickly compared to chickens. One farm on Maui (Kihei Poultry LLC) became known for its quail egg production and even sought funding to expand into chickens and ducks due to strong demand. On the Hawaiʻi Island, a couple of farms in East Hawaiʻi offer quail eggs at local markets. There’s also a community of hobbyists breeding quail for fun or home consumption.

Quail Eggs Market

Quail eggs are the star product – a delicacy often pickled, used raw atop sushi, or boiled as garnishes. Their novelty and reputed nutrition (higher yolk-to-white ratio) make them popular among foodies. A typical package of a dozen or 15 quail eggs might sell for $5–$7 at a farmers’ market or gourmet store in Hawaiʻi. Restaurants use them occasionally (e.g., a quail egg on a loco moco or in a cocktail). On Hawaiʻi Island, because supply is limited, quail eggs tend to show up in specialty retail or by direct sale. Consumers who keep an eye out on local Facebook farming groups will sometimes find quail eggs advertised. This is still a very niche market – not everyone knows how to use quail eggs – but it has been steady enough that producers often sell out their limited output.

Quail Meat: Quail meat is even more niche than the eggs. It’s considered gamey and is usually consumed as semi-boneless whole birds. A few restaurants in Hawaiʻi have featured local quail or “Island-raised game birds” on their menu as a gourmet item, but there’s no large-scale production. Processing quail for meat is labor-intensive relative to their size, and yields are small (a quail is 4-6 ounces dressed). Some quail raisers will process excess males or older birds and may sell them informally to interested chefs or customers, but this is not a significant commercial endeavor.

Integration and Value-Add

Quail can play a role in a diversified farm’s pest control regimen by eating small insects, and their manure, while small in quantity, is high in nitrogen and can be used in gardening. They are also quiet (aside from male crows) and space-efficient, which is an advantage in Hawaiʻi where land is costly. A few Hawaiʻi Island farms use quail as part of educational tours, showcasing the variety of livestock that can be raised sustainably in a backyard. Pickled quail eggs are a potential value-added product; one could find jars of spiced pickled quail eggs at some craft fairs or local grocers, often made by home-based businesses.

Scale and Outlook

Given quail’s low profile, any growth in this sector is likely to remain small-scale and specialty-oriented. The barriers to entry are low – a person can start a quail setup with a few cages and an incubator – so we might see more micro-producers coming and going. Their contribution to food security is minor but not insignificant: quail eggs can provide protein and variety, and the birds have a short production cycle that could be advantageous for quick turnover. If feed costs and import issues persist, quail’s efficient feed-to-egg conversion (they eat much less than chickens) might attract more folks to raise them. However, without a strong existing market, expansion will rely on educating consumers and chefs about using quail eggs and meat. Quail will likely remain a boutique livestock on Hawaiʻi Island, adding diversity to the local food scene more than volume.

• Sources:

  • Hawaiʻi Island Pulse – diversified farm mention (quails included)

  • Honolulu Civil Beat – coverage of small poultry start-ups (mentions quail production on Maui)

  • Farm crowdfunding pages (Kihei quail farm expansion, 2020) – indicates demand for local quail eggs

  • Hawaiʻi Dept. of Ag (2017) – minor poultry inventory (quail falls under “others”)

  • Personal communications in farming community (anecdotal evidence of quail egg sales in Hilo/Kona farmers markets)