The Bottom Line
Nature Towns: Inspiration photo of Neuf Brisach, France developed in the 1700’s by King Louis XIV of France, and his architect Vauban.
The Bottom Line
Nature Towns: The Best Places to Live!
Nature Towns are complete, walkable communities surrounded by large, regenerative organic farms. Towns feature 1280 households and about 3000 residents, in single-family homes, multiplexes and live-work-retail buildings with shops and services. The farms comprise 75% of the total site area and provide food, energy, water, and climate security for residents, as well as other environmental benefits such as pollination, carbon sequestration, stormwater infiltration, and mitigation of drought, flood, and the heat island effect.
Town and farm are holistically integrated to form a local circular economy that minimizes waste and ecosystem services and nature: For example, farm products feed residents, while food wastes return nutrients to the farm to become compost that feeds the soil. Residents gain a regenerative lifestyle with improved health outcomes, community cohesion, and sustainable living overall.
Comparing Nature Towns to Sprawl
Nature Towns recently completed a Triple Bottom Line Cost Benefit Analysis (TBL-CBA) to explore the environmental, social, and financial impacts of a new pattern of development. We analyzed two different land use patterns: the typical sprawl development pattern versus a Nature Towns model, to compare the impacts of each. We worked with McMac Cx, which provides sustainable best practices evaluation, professional project oversight, and continuous performance outcome verification, and their partner Autocase, the international leader in automated, cloud-based software that assesses impacts of sustainable building and site designs, informing green infrastructure investments and policy guidelines.
The TBL-CBA is an evidence-based economic method that combines CBA and lifecycle cost analysis (LCCA) across the triple bottom line to weigh costs and benefits to project stakeholders. Evidence is drawn from ‘gold standard’ sources such as federal government reporting agencies. It expands the traditional financial analysis (capital and, operations & maintenance costs) to account for social and environmental performance as well. It quantifies in monetary terms as many of the costs and benefits of the project as possible and converts them all into a net present-day dollar value. The triple bottom line net present value (TBL-NPV) of the scenarios is used to compare relative benefits and costs that accrue over their lifetime.
The analysis compared a sprawl scenario of 1280 households on 320 acres to a projected 320-acre Nature Town with 1280 households on 80 acres and a farm on the remaining 240.
Nature Towns: Inspiration photo of Neuf Brisach, France, developed in the 1700s by King Louis XIV of France and his architect Vauban.
Nature Towns are Clearly Superior
The benefits of a Nature Town to the community total almost a billion dollars. For homeowners, this translates to over $650,000 over the 40-year life of a home or almost $17,000 per household per year. This means that people living in sprawl are exposed to an average of $17,000 more yearly in taxes, fees, costs, and risk equivalents than residents of Nature Towns. Perhaps the most interesting finding is that planning and designing for maximum environmental and ecosystem health produces equal financial benefits and four times more social benefits.
Driving Less
A significant portion of the benefits accrue through a reduction of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by residents because the town is designed for pedestrians: any resident can reach both necessary and recreational amenities, including nature, with a short walk. This result arises from the incremental assumption that members of each household in a walkable Nature Town (with 100+ stores and hundreds of on-site jobs) are expected to drive an average of only 12,000 miles/year, a reduction of 25,400 from the assumed 37,500 mi/yr in sprawl zip codes in the Austin MSA. Lower VMT means reduced accident risk, private vehicle operations, commuter time, road maintenance, and noise and pollutant emissions.
Better Health and More Fun
In the financial impact category over 40 years, Nature Towns save more than $30 million in capital expenditures and $70 million on electricity costs, among other things. Most of the benefits from reduced VMT as listed above accrue to the social category and total almost $500 million. Social benefits include improved indoor environmental quality resulting in increased productivity and reduced absenteeism, to $120 million. Other social benefits include increased recreational value and public health through exercise and a reduced urban heat island effect.
Environmental benefits add up to $130 million. These include reduced noise and air pollution and lower carbon emissions from reduced VMT; reduced carbon and air pollution from lower overall energy use; reduced carbon emissions and air pollution due to increased vegetation; and increased biodiversity and pollination.
Combined financial, social, and environmental benefits total over $850,000,000. Some of these benefits accrue to homeowners, some to the NT community as a whole, and some, such as the reduction in risk of accidents, also benefit the community at large outside of Nature Town.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Nature Towns provide the highest quality of life at the lowest cost.
Almost 70% of the total benefits accrue directly to homeowners, with 57% of the total in the form of social benefits for homeowners.
Going Green Pays
Most importantly to some, over $1,500/year was in financial benefits directly to the homeowners, thus exceeding the $1,200 per year paid by each homeowner for Municipal Utility District fees for the green infrastructure. Going green pays off!
Quail Pens for the home
Produce nutritious quail eggs and meat birds in your back yard with OneRth’s latest small business initiative called Quail Power.
After several months and beta testing customers, we have arrived at a design that we believe will stand the test of user satisfaction, predator prevention, and time.
Features:
Stands 3’ tall at the top of the wire pen. This makes it reasonable for kids to participate.
2’ deep by 8’ long. This makes it easy for adults to reach to the back of the pen to collect eggs while giving the hens plenty of length for exercise.
Wire floor eliminates the work of collecting the droppings. For nuisance control, such as flies, see below. The main purpose here is to keep rats and mice from attacking the legs of the quail and from trying to get into the feedboxes. Please contact us for pictures of the latest models in the pens.
Feed is supplied with a modified shoe box. 1 shoe box filled to the ‘fill line should be enough for 48 hours per 12 hens, while 2 shoe boxes would be sufficient for long weekends, i.e., 4 days. Water is supplied from the 5-gallon pail, which can be refilled manually or automated with a water hose timer and float valve inside the pail.
Pens can be divided into 2 or 3 sections. Quail hens need a minimum of 0.25 square feet per hen, so a 16-square-foot pen can hold up to 64 birds (Quail are very social and love to snuggle beside each other). We can divide the 8’ front into 3 pens (doors). The maximum density that we will support is 3’ (6 square foot total) for the 12 hens (0.5 sf/hen), and then 2.5’ fronts for up to 2 groups of males for meat, each with 24 males from 3 weeks of age up to maturity. Please note that males enter the pen at 3 weeks of age and do not require as much space. Males should be harvested with the largest first to liberate more pen space for the remaining birds, thus maintaining optimal quail welfare.
Pens are to be picked up at our location. A truck or lightweight trailer is required. The pens are more difficult to handle due to the long dimensions rather than the weight. Accessories such as tin roofing and legs can be easily added for those wishing.
The standard pen comes with 2 doors and no divisions. It is made of 1/2” hardware cloth. It has 4 watering cups and plumbing to hook up to a 5-gallon food-grade pail with a lid. Two feed boxes are included for each pen. Lighting is included with a 24 hr timer.
Accessories
pressure treated 2”x2” legs, three feet tall. ($15)
Tin roof ($40)
Divisions for more groups
Divide the pen in to 2 parts (4’ wide and 4’ wide) ($25)
Divide the pen in to 3 parts (3’ wide for hens, and 2.5’ each for males) ($75)
What you will need:
electrical cord to supply electricity for the LED lighting system
option: water hose and water timer to hook up to the 5-gallon water pail.
Responsibilities
Collect quail eggs daily.
Feed the quail every 2 days or daily if needed.
Replenish the water every 2 days or daily if needed.
Apply sawdust pellets to the droppings below the pen. Standard shavings or sawdust pellets are fine and will capture the nitrogen that causes flies and odors. Regular mixing of the sawdust/shavings improves the compost quality and reduces odors/flies. Consider adding our B-squared mix to improve nuisance control and increase nitrogen capture for your future gardens.
Cost $400 at Quail Power. Note that we do not currently have a delivery option.
Pickled Quail Eggs – delicious nutrition in a quick, compact package
Pickled Quail Eggs – delicious nutrition in a quick, compact package.
Bet you can’t eat just one! Pickled quail eggs are tasty, nutritious, and exciting—because they are a great way to add variety to your diet. These small quail eggs are packed with vitamins and minerals and provide all-around health benefits—they are also full of:
HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and
no LDL (the bad cholesterol)—and full of calcium.
They are made up of approximately 13% protein, about 2% more than chicken eggs.
They also contain significant amounts of Vitamin A and B2.
It can be hard to add variety to our diets with nutritious foods, especially snacks. Pickled quail eggs make a perfect snack since they are a superfood, small and portable. With the variety of flavors we offer, our pickled quail eggs are sure to be a tasty addition to your diet with zesty, sweet, and spicy flavors.
Visit our website for the flavors we have in stock and keep checking our site, we add flavors regularly. Order our pickled quail eggs with a special introductory rate of 25% off. Use code: pqesummer2022
Pickled quail eggs are perfect for bodybuilders and people working on controlling their weight—pickled quail eggs fit in a protein-based diet for your workouts,—as they have 2% more protein than standard eggs.
Benefits of quail eggs
Improve Metabolism
Quail eggs can help your metabolism because they are rich in vitamin B, which can speed up metabolism. They also aid in the quality of your digestive process.
Bone health, stronger teeth and nails
Eating quail eggs regulates and strengthens your bones because of the high quantity of Vitamin D and L-Lysine. Lysine is essential for long-lasting bone strength, and Vitamin D regulates the amount of other minerals involved in bone health, such as phosphorus and calcium.
Maintaining sugar level regularity
Quail eggs have a low glycemic index which has been found to regulate sugar levels in your blood. As sugar can create instability in your blood, eating quail eggs can contribute to weight loss by reducing blood glucose and creatinine levels in your blood. Studies also show that the amino acids in quail eggs help diabetes patients regulate their sugar levels.
Great addition to protein-based diets
Quail eggs are made up of approximately 13% protein, about 2% more than chicken eggs and have higher levels of vitamins and nutrients. They also have 80% more vitamin B than chicken eggs which helps keep your energy higher and aids in maintaining focus.
Glowing skin
The antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins in quail eggs help keep your skin hydrated and healthy along with assisting in rebuilding damaged skin due to the antioxidants present in quail eggs.
Did we mention kids love them?
Most parents are constantly battling their kids to reach for more healthy snacks, especially in the summertime. Quail eggs are easy to eat, easy to digest, and adorably cute.
Other uses for quail eggs
Cocktail garnishes like bloody mary’s and martinis
Top with cucumber and onion for a party appetizer
Cheese and charcuterie boards
Salads—egg salad and a topping on your regular salad
Quail eggs are not widely available, and their uses and benefits are not known by most people. However, adding quail eggs in your daily diet has big benefits to your health. Give them a try today!
Visit our website to learn about our pickled quail eggs, and as always, get in touch with questions!
Quail Eggs as a Service – A New Way to Live Sustainably
Do you work really hard to take care of nature, feed your family healthy foods, and contribute to the natural environment in which we Iive?
Do you work really hard to take care of nature, feed your family healthy foods, and contribute to the natural environment in which we Iive?
We understand how living sustainably is vitally important. We must take care of our planet, for our sake, and our children.
It turns out that living sustainably is great for both the planet and our own health by creating a cleaner environment, healthier food, and more.
Now, the problem is that despite the benefits of living sustainably, it’s not easy for everyone. Healthy food and green products can come at a premium and restaurants don’t always have healthy options to choose from. Luckily enough, OneRth has created a solution. Quail Eggs as a Service (QEaaS) gives everyone the opportunity to live healthy, save money, and the best thing about it is that it’s kid-friendly!
When you hear the term Quail Eggs as a Services (QEaaS) for the first time, you may think “what is QEaaS?” Created by an Austin-based company, Quail Power, QEaaS brings the exciting opportunity of getting into micro-livestock with quail at an entry-level. Great for new or young farmers, QEaaS gives a peek at how micro-livestock production works and even how future entrepreneurs can start producing quail for their neighbors.
The best part of Quail Power’s backyard quail package is it is subscription-based. That means they become your “farmer partner”. They offer you care help and tips, answering questions by phone or email. If the quail stop laying eggs for any reason, they replace them.
I’m not a “green thumb” person or a “super gardener” but this is totally doable for me, especially with Quail Power’s help.
Quail eggs are a great replacement for chicken eggs. Quail yolks make up a bigger percentage of the egg than chicken egg yolks – making them more nutrient-dense. They also have more of the “good cholesterol” (HDL) which reduces your “bad cholesterol” (LDL). When I cook with quail eggs, I use 3-4 quail eggs in place of one chicken egg. That’s what makes them so nutritious, and delicious!
A few more reasons to love quail:
No smell, no hassle! It only takes minutes per week to take care of quail
Did we mention kids love them?
Thousands of people are already enjoying quail, but it’s not as mainstream as it should be (and that’s what OneRth is trying to change!)
What is it like? Check out this video:
Food made from quail egg
Living sustainably doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive and even sometimes, going green can help you save money. Whether you’ve already started your organic garden, composting at home, participating in your community’s farm share, or catering your diet to support this lifestyle, implementing quail eggs can add even more value to living sustainably.
A few more reasons to love quail:
Quail eggs are delicious and one dozen quail hens yield approximately 72 eggs per week
Substitute Quail eggs for chicken eggs 3:1 in any recipe calling for eggs
Quail eggs have a healthier mix of beneficial cholesterol than chicken eggs
Quail enjoy living in close quarters so quail pens are more efficient than traditional chicken coops
Raising and being around quail is safe for pregnant women (they do not carry salmonella)
Fun and safe for children and aspiring entrepreneurs/farmers
Quail droppings grow 25% more nutrient-dense foods when used as compost for your garden
As a part of the peacock family and not considered poultry, they are more welcomed by HOA communities
Do yourself and our planet a favor and raise quail! As a new retiree, hobby gardener, or as a family, you’ll find raising your own flock to be fulfilling and practical. You no longer need acres of land to start your own farm. Urban micro-livestock has always had a positive impacton our planet, but as our resources continue to dwindle down, it’s now a necessity. QEaaS offers you a turn-key quail operation - how to care for them and their pens. As a hobby or integrating as a serious lifestyle change, quail is a great addition to your life.
Whether you’ve already started your organic garden, composting at home, participating in your community’s farm share, or catering your diet to support this lifestyle, implementing quail eggs can add even more value to living sustainably.
When you decide you’re interested in expanding your knowledge and lifestyle to include quail, it is easy to get started!
Do you live in the 787– or 786– zip codes? We can deliver to you. Get started by raising your own flock with your own quail hens delivered to your home with 1:1 quail-care lessons.
Nature Towns: Something Worth Building
Something Worth Building
As children, we learn that our sandcastles can get washed out by the waves, that wind and rain can break up our forts, rearrange things in our sandbox, and that fire can destroy. We learn that bullies can pick apart our creations. We learn that most things are not permanent and many will need to be rebuilt.
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That is what I think of when I read the news of late. I am looking for a spark of hope, for a place that is worth building in the face of climate change, a place that I can eventually give to my children.
I want them to have a place where their bodies grow stronger with good nutritious food, not weaker from poor nutrition and toxins. A place where the community is resilient against the tides of the economy. A place where they can have careers based on stewarding and managing nature, not being tied to a computer screen. A place where their children can be free-range rather than raised in the backseat of a car. I haven’t found the place yet, so my partner and I decided to create it.
There is very little innovation in urban planning, but we have figured out a new idea and how to make it profitable for homeowners, builders and stewards. It is economic development that improves the environment. It starts with building a small town inside a regenerative agriculture farm.
Nature Towns is an old term for a fortified community. At least 1,500 years ago or more, they were designed to defend against marauders and invaders. Now we need Nature Towns to fend off the extreme weather of climate change, whether it be flooding, wildfires, drought, or the secondary effects of insufficient food, extreme temperatures, etc. It’s important because, for many of us, our homes and properties represent the biggest single investment of our lives, as well as, eventually, a financial gift to our children.
The Quail Egg Opportunity
Quail eggs across the US are overpriced and that can mean an opportunity for you!
What if you could sell quail eggs by the dozens to your neighbors, and make enough margin to pay for your own eggs as well?
Check out our Quick Quail Math tables and you will see that quail eggs regularly sell for $4- $6 per dozen of quail eggs or even much greater. Yet QuickQuail sets up production in your home for just $1.50/dozen.
For roughly the same amount of work, you can double the number of quail hens and production. If you sell the quail eggs to neighbors and friends at a price of $3/dozen or greater, the $1.50 margin would cover the cost of your household's egg consumption (1 dozen). In effect, your friends and family are paying for your egg supply as well, while getting a discount on the famer's market price for quail eggs.
Quail & HOA's
Is your HOA pro quail? Why are quail different from chickens? And why do HOA's make exemptions for quail versus chickens?
Wikipedia entry for quail.
First, it is important to recognize that QuickQuail specializes in the quiet egg-laying female quail that descend from the Japanese quail lines, not the pheasant type quail that are popular on ranches throughout the USA which are known as the Bob White Quail. Japanese quail hens are widely recognized as quiet domesticated birds. It is their male counterparts that make some noise, albeit far less than roosters.
Second, QuickQuail does not provide its customers with roosters. There are no males that make the louder noises.
Third, unlike chickens that roam backyards, Japanese quail remain penned 100% of the time. The greatest joy for Japanese Quail is dust bathing, which is provided with a small tray inside their pens. When you visit a QuickQuail pen, you quickly see that the quail are happiest in their dust tray. This makes it possible for the pens to be located in garages, screened porches, or on patios adjacent to the house.
Japanese Quail are very similar to a cage of budgies inside your house. While we recommend keeping them in screened porches or similar environments, they do not require special structures in the yard. Thus, they are not vulnerable to raccoons or other critters that might spread diseases such as rabies, etc.
Japanese Quail are much easier to raise than poultry. With their dust baths, they regularly control their skins for parasites. With the addition of diatomaceous earth to the sand, small insects such as ants are also easily controlled.
Quail Eggs: The Perfect Food for Kids
Children benefit from eggs because they are such a dense source of nutrients for young growing bodies. Diminutive quail eggs make the perfect food for kids. They are just the right size to be baby’s first food or a toddler’s little snack. And they look so cute your children will want to pop some right into their mouths!
Mothers of babies just starting on solid foods are often encouraged to give them eggs, and for good reason. The chicken egg is a nutritional powerhouse. By several measures, quail eggs are even better.
Eggs contain a complete protein, all 9 essential amino acids for building muscle and tissue. They also contain carotenoids, which maintain eye health and boost the immune system, as well as choline, which is a B vitamin essential for memory and mood, in other words, brain health.
Eggs are one of very few natural sources of Vitamin D, an essential nutrient. D helps the body to maintain healthy bones, absorb calcium, and prevent inflammation. Eggs do contain high cholesterol, which for a time was viewed as a risk for heart disease. However, recent research has shown that dietary cholesterol has little effect on blood cholesterol, and thus poses little risk to heart health.
Quail eggs beat out chicken eggs on a number of metrics, according to the USDA FoodData Central. For every 100 grams, quail eggs contain more protein and calcium, and almost double the iron (3.65 versus 1.75 mg).
Children benefit from eggs because they are such a dense source of nutrients for young growing bodies. Diminutive quail eggs make the perfect food for kids. They are just the right size to be baby’s first food or a toddler’s little snack. And they look so cute your children will want to pop some right into their mouths!
When are quail eggs good value compared to chicken eggs?
When do you know that you are getting good value in quail eggs versus chicken eggs? In many countries across the world, quail are the most common form of eggs in urban households. That is because they are so simple to keep in smaller residential spaces. That is great news for people in American HOAs or townhomes with balconies and little to no backyards.
However, quail in the USA are still very difficult to access. If you live in an urban environment, you will need to raise the quail and decide what to do with the males once they mature. You are also buying 50lb bags of feed (9 quail consume about 15lbs/month) and thus have the issues of managing feed containers as well as heavy bags.
Quail Eggs? Yes!
Quail are starting to take the egg world by storm. These birds are so much easier and cheaper to keep than chickens, and they produce like crazy. Their eggs are enjoyed around the world, from South America to Europe to Asia. Just like chicken eggs, they can be fried, scrambled, poached, boiled, pickled or baked. The perfect food.
You must be kidding, I hear you saying. But no, I’m serious. Quail are a great way to increase your food security and have fun doing it. Quail are a lot cheaper and less work than a puppy, but the kids will still love them.
An adult Coturnix quail is super cute, about the size of an 8-week-old chicken.
And if you think the mama is cute, just wait until you see the adorable little eggs she lays! They are about the size of a very large olive or grape tomato.
Chickens are generally about 6 months old before they start laying, but the female quail starts laying at only 2 months of age.
My youngster squealed with delight the first time the tiny quail eggs, pale ivory-colored with dark brown speckles, appeared in our house. And this is a child who visits our 70 chickens daily, collecting white, blue and brown eggs each time.
Be careful if you put out a bowl of quail eggs as decor – your friends might grab a handful of what they think are fancy new chocolates.
Once you finish admiring these tiny works of art, you might want to eat them. As quail eggs are so small, it takes 4 or 5 to equal a chicken egg. And the flavor is similar.
Superior Nutrition
But quail eggs stack up a little better nutritionally in comparison to chicken eggs. By weight, quail eggs have fewer carbs and more protein and fat – just what you need if you’re doing the keto diet. Plus, they have double the iron content and almost double the amount of Vitamin B12.
Eggs are one of nature’s superfoods. Ideal as one of Baby’s first solid foods, the egg yolk is extremely nourishing for the brain. And for a very small person, the very small quail egg is just right.
Furthermore, quail eggs have a higher yolk-to-white ratio than chicken eggs do, which is great for those of us whose children wish they could eat yolks only! This higher yolk ratio yields a creamier and thicker texture in baking.
Quail are starting to take the egg world by storm. These birds are so much easier and cheaper to keep than chickens, and they produce like crazy. Their eggs are enjoyed around the world, from South America to Europe to Asia. Just like chicken eggs, they can be fried, scrambled, poached, boiled, pickled or baked. The perfect food.
Have you ever thought about keeping quail?
Contact Patrick to learn how you can get quail producing eggs in your own backyard - starting almost immediately!
How much do quail eggs cost?
If your grocery store sells quail eggs, they are likely located near the delicacies, like foie gras and pate. On a recent visit, we found them priced at $0.79 per egg. That's $9.48 per dozen.
It might be worth it for the convenience; but compare that price to the farmer's market price of $6/dozen, or online at about $5/dozen, excluding shipping.
The real message from the market is that quail eggs are hard to find, and because of that, they are not being sold in great volume. The American poultry industry doesn't seem interested in quail eggs, most likely due to the enormous investment they have already made in confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) for chickens.
Quick Quail can help you get quail eggs conveniently and affordably. Sign up for our newsletter and learn more!
Quail Eggs = Food Diversity
You're Eating Corn - Even When You're Not
Did you know that over half the typical American’s diet is ultimately derived from corn? I first gained an inkling of this from Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. But even though I’ve been paying attention to this issue ever since, the list here of products derived from corn amazed me. Most of those additives are generally encountered in small quantities.
However, most Americans consume corn in far larger quantities in another, indirect way. Remember that expression: “You are what you eat”? In terms of health, this is absolutely true. Except that you can go another layer deeper: “You are what you eat, eats,” as in, if you eat meat from animals that ate corn, you are also consuming that corn.
Michael Pollan elaborated on this concept in his book. On his behalf, a lab analyzed multiple foods and determined that corn was the basis of his McDonald’s hamburger - as well as the salad dressing, French fry oil, and more. Remember that cows are supposed to eat grass, not corn, so finding that beef is essentially corn-based is highly problematic.
Today 92% of corn grown in the United States is genetically modified (GMO), and the majority of it is used to feed livestock.
Ditto Soy
Soy is also almost exclusively GMO, at 94% of the US crop. And almost all livestock - especially cattle, pigs, and chickens - are fed diets mainly of corn and soybeans.
This means that if you eat beef, pork, chicken or eggs, you are almost certainly eating corn and soy. And if your food is not organic, you are consuming GMO versions of those.
In other words, our diets tend not to be very diverse, and they may be less nutritious than we think. Animal products are corn- and soy-based, while almost all processed foods contain added (and often harmful) corn and/or soy-derived ingredients.
And Then There's This...
Furthermore, contrary to industry claims, GMO crops use more herbicides and pesticides than non-GMO varieties. If you aren't eating 100% organic (and how many of us can manage that?), you are consuming trace levels of herbicides and pesticides on a regular basis anyway. If you are eating GMO-fed meat and eggs, you can assume you are ingesting even higher levels of -cides, so unfortunately, our exposure to these toxins is significant.
Unless ….
Quick Quail Austin has one solution to this problem. Our laying quail eat premium feed that is completely corn- and soy-free, as well as being non-GMO. One of the main protein sources in this feed is milo, a type of sorghum common throughout Africa.
With a subscription to Quick Quail Austin, you get cute little egg-layers for your own backyard and ultra-fresh eggs for breakfast or a healthy school snack any day of the week!
Quick Quail Austin enables you to avoid the corn, soy, and GMOs that form the basis of almost all other eggs and animal protein sources on the market. Avoiding corn, soy and GMOs may also reduce egg allergies. Try Quick Quail Austin today!
Pickled Quail Eggs
Can your recall the taste of the sweet and tangy pickled quail eggs? They have long been a favorite of immigrant families, particularly the Germans.
Quick Quail is now offering the following flavors of Pickled Quail Eggs for sale at Austin Farmer's market locations at $15/pint:
Cajun Spicy
Mild
These eggs have been prepared in home kitchen and have not been inspected by the Texas Department of State Health Services or a local health department. The eggs are from Quick Quail and produced using non GMO/Corn/Soy feed.
Summer Update 2021
We have just completed USDA grant season which was extended this year for new programs to make stronger food systems. We have submitted grant requests for approx. $1.5 million between our own projects and those of our customers. Sign up for our newsletter where we will announce project awards relevant to Quick Quail. Lots of exciting things to share if they win their respective awards.
We are gearing up for the Fall installation season. We have been working hard on our production systems so that we can ensure a steady supply of mature quail hens for our customers. We have tried out some different approaches to the transition stress for the hens. We are moving forward with supplying the most mature hens that are already proven egg layers.
Pickled Quail Eggs are a hit at the markets and we are ramping up those sales.
The subscription program is getting great responses, but the summer season is not the time to start producing quail eggs. This is not for reasons of the quail, but the homeowners. We will be rebuilding our customer's journey over the coming days to reflect this new learning.
Watching quail eggs hatch is addictive. We are working hard on scaling this opportunity. It requires all new equipment, sensors, cameras etc. It also requires us to be more accurate about when the eggs will hatch, and that requires repetitions. We are now up to 4 hatches (each a separate hatcher), per week. More details coming to those on our newsletter list.
Comparing Quail and Chickens
Austin's latest innovation in micro-livestock gives all homeowners new options in nutrition, food security and gardening. What many people realize is that quail are kept differently than chickens. They are in fact quite complementary. In many cases, poultry owners are better for adding quail to their micro-farm. Here are some of the reasons:
Compost
Compost. Quail do not rest on perches like chickens. They actually sleep on the ground or floor. In order to keep the eggs clean, it is common to keep them up off the litter. The Japanese have been breeding domesticated quail for 300 years using bamboo. Wire mesh flooring provides an even better material. The result is that you can capture the quail droppings in pans. When combined with wood pellets, this absorbs any nitrogen or methane super quick, and that means you can produce high nitrogen compost super easily. Our chickens are great at building soil, but because they roam so much more, it is much harder to capture the nitrogen for the garden compost. Just type in the price of guano into Amazon to find out what it costs to buy the highest quality compost.
Hiring a Sales Manager
Quick Quail is hiring a sales manager thanks to a USDA grant of $250,000. The grant supports the expansion of our online and Austin area farmer's market activities. Our challenge is to help homeowners develop their food security, nutrient density and relationship to nature through the hottest development in micro-livestock - Quail.
Activities will focus on:
Prospecting and Closing sales
Refining and improving the sales strategy and tactics.
Recruiting, training and managing sales reps.
Advising sales reps on their current deals and helping problem solve.
Leading sales growth to new metropolitan areas.
What we are looking for:
Someone with experience selling at an early stage company, typically in the first five hires. We sell to to intelligent home owners focused on nurturing their health, wealth, planet and pocketbook. Further, you might also have had tenure in that company to a much larger team/higher revenue. You are self-motivated and have an ability to persevere through tough times. The position is focused on the Austin MSA and requires regular travel.
We offer a competitive salary and bonus, plus mileage. Perks include free pet snacks, and CPG products. We also offer a limited number of Quick Quail service packages for your personal use.
Quick Quail offers unique, industry leading services such as Quail Hatch/Quail Power, CPG products such as Pickled Quail Eggs, and pet foods. Quick Quail is part of a larger vision at the intersection of Climate and the Environment, Nutrition and Food Production.
Diversity Commitment: We are focused on building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome people of all backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives and are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Comparing Standard Pens with Quail Pens
Which pens should you purchase for housing your quail? Will chicken or rabbit pens work? What do quail need that would make chicken or rabbit pens inadequate?
Check out the following pictures of pens available to choose from
$250
Quick Quail double decker pen interior
Picture coming. Classic kit for purchase at farm stores.
Consider the cost per square foot. Callahan's sells two pens, a large at 2'x4' (8 sf) for $250 or $31/sf. This is picked up at Callahan's. The pen is not painted and has no equipment such as a drip pan, water, or feed system. It also does not have a cover for sun or rain protection, and no lighting for maintaining the laying period of the hens. The smaller 2'x2' pen is $195, or $48.75/sf.
You will be needing a minimum of 6 sf for 12 quail (2 hens/sf), and the highest animal welfare standard for hens is 2 sf per hen (organic certification standards). Keep in mind that is for an average 7 lb hen, thus 3.5 lbs/sf. With quails, they're about 0.75 lbs/bird, so at 2 hens/sf, you are housing them at a rate of 1.5 lbs/sf or 233% improved animal welfare standards as per spacing requirements.
What unique penning requirements do quail have?
Quail have been domesticated for 300 years by the Japanese, where every household has a bamboo cage at the back of the house, housing the quail. The best pens are slightly sloped so that the eggs roll out into a holding area at the bottom. Thin bamboo strips are used for the quail, so that the bird droppings can easily fall through.
Quail Spacing
As mentioned above, the comparable standard for animal welfare is lbs/square foot, when considering just space requirements alone. The space standard for certified organic chickens is 2 square feet (sf) both inside and outside. Domesticated quail do not roam outside their pens, so lets make that 2 sf total (inside their pen), for approximately 7 lbs/2 sf or 3.5 lbs/sf. The largest of the quail laying hens weigh about 14 ounces or 3/4 of a lb, so that would mean 4.66 quail/sf to equal the certified organic laying hens standard. With a 2' x 3' single tier pen, you are providing the hens with 6 sf for 12 hens or 2 hens/sf, providing superior animal welfare (in terms of space) to the quail. When you purchase the double decker pen, that standard improves even more to 1 hen/sf. That is superior to chickens.
Callahan's
Large 8 sfQuick Quail
Double DeckerTSC
DIYPen Price$259$250$500$/SF$31$20$20
Does the pen need to be painted?
As a farmer, I can tell you that bird droppings are very high in nitrogen, and that means rust and rot of unprotected surfaces. We even take the extra step of painting your pen twice, first with the KILZ interior coat and then with an exterior finish. This makes it possible for you to power wash the quail droppings off the hard surfaces of the pen. (Typically you do the first pass of high-pressure water to blast off any dust or easily removed dirt, and to let harder things soak for a few minutes followed by a more concentrated effort at difficult to remove dirt). Cleaning your pen can be done as often as every 3 months, but usually every 6 months. This means that exposed wood is going to get lots of cleaning.
Another Quick Quail penning feature is that we place the metal (fabric metal) on the inside of the frames, so that the droppings don't sit on the wood of the pen sides. This reduces odors, flies and work cleaning your pens.
One Rth Soil Testing Services for Austin and Central Texas
One Rth is pleased to announce that we are offering a soil test service in partnership with Logan Labs of Ohio.
Why should you choose this?
It is not the standard NPK chemical fertilizer approach, but much more microbe friendly.
We save you time by including a cost estimate along with the test results. This saves you from having to find someone to interpret the data and what to add to your soil.
We can direct you to local vendors for the full bags of materials, and that saves you money by buying direct.
We ship the rest of the soil prescription to your doorstep, with all of the small quantities premixed in a bag. This saves you time making multiple passes over your field, and from owning and storing the surplus minerals. Please note that adding too much of any mineral is like adding too much salt to the soup!
Compare
State of Texas Ag. / Conventional
Microbe Friendly / Organic Minerals Test
Minerals + Paste Test
Basic Test for pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, NA, S
Included
Included
Included
Micro Nutrients: Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn
Extra
Included
Included
Test for Organic Matter Levels
Extra
Included
Included
Test for Salinity
Extra
No
Included
Tests for Salts/ Chlorine toxicity
Extra
No
Included
Tests for Carbonates
No
No
Included
Paste Test (test for plant available nutrients)
No
No
Included
Budget Estimate based on test results
No
Included
Included
Cost
$10-$74 excl. Shipping and trips to USPS
$70 incl. Free shipping from your mailbox (i.e. Postage included)
$100 incl. Free shipping.
Suitable for
Farms/fields using conventional agriculture
Garden Beds
Problematic soils, market gardens
Options for the delivery of minerals based on test results
Home Delivery
No
Available
Available
How to proceed?
A. Visit us at our farmer’s market locations and pick up a soil test bag. Follow this procedure to fill the bag and complete this form for submission to the lab. You can pay for the service at the market either when you pick up the bag, or when you drop off the soil sample.
B. Alternatively, you can use the same procedure and place the soil into a zip lock bag (i.e. without the sample bag option A above), and bring it to the market. Again, please download and complete this form to submit to the lab. You can pay for the service at the market when you drop off the sample, or in the website store here. You can also mail us your soil sample to: One Rth, 405 Academy Drive, Austin, TX 78704
Quail Power Producer
Quail Power Gardener works with market gardeners of 1 acre size or more to fertilize their garden beds with high nitrogen quail droppings that are Soy-Corn & GMO free. Quail Power provides you with the elements of success and cash flow for producing the quail eggs.
Quail Power Gardener works with market gardeners of 1 acre size or more to fertilize their garden beds with high nitrogen quail droppings that are Soy-Corn & GMO free. Quail Power provides you with the elements of success and cash flow for producing the quail eggs.
Producing premium quality fruits and vegetables is a rapidly growing opportunity for small scale market gardeners. Nothing says premium like ‘Corn, Soy & GMO-free (CS&GMO)’. Yet, gardeners can’t easily find CS&GMO free composts.
Quail Power boosts your market garden’s success and income by providing high nitrogen content CS&GMO free compost for your garden beds. In combination with Quail Power’s marketing support, we give your produce a distinctive advantage with customers willing to pay a premium for CS&GMO free fruits and vegetables.
By adopting Quail Power’s unique and exclusive Gardener Program, you earn money for your time ($25,000/year for about 20 hrs/week) and keep the high nitrogen, premium compost for your gardens. Add up to 1” of compost to your beds every year, for 1.5 acres of garden beds (assumes 50% of area in production), worth $5,000/year.
To learn more, submit your email address in the following form and we will send you an overview of the economics, etc. If you like that, then we can proceed to a zoom call to discuss your operations and the impact of Quail Power’s exclusive opportunity.
Micro-apartments movement big hit in Netherlands, and not just for students - DutchNews.nl
A fascinating article about how small we can go. These apartments are ranging from 29 square meters (312 square feet) to 32 sq. m. (344 square feet). That is 14-22% less space than in tiny homes!
As with Tiny Homes, design reigns supreme in micro-apartments. There are clear limits regarding just how many places you can put the plumbing, etc.
I see a future role for micro-apartments, especially in fast-growing cities. I think it could be quite feasible to work 40 hours over 4 days, spending 3 nights in a micro-apartment in town, and then going on Thursday evening to an agrihood, where you enjoy 3 days until travelling back into town on Monday morning for work. The micro-apartments could be easily rented on weekends to visitors as a sort of hotel. Contact us if you want to know more (hint: hit submit a request in the top right).
Micro-apartments movement big hit in Netherlands, and not just for students - DutchNews.nl:
Google Images link to Micro-apartments