Coturnix hens, however, need less than two pounds of feed to produce a pound of eggs. Chickens need almost three pounds of feed to make that same pound of eggs. You can use the eggs yourself or sell them in gourmet markets. Because of their small size, they are especially attractive as hors d oeuvres, either pickled or hard-cooked. Five Coturnix eggs equal one chicken egg.
Quail eggs are all different in appearance, being speckled and mottled.
Coturnix are very easy to prepare for eating, also. Because of their small size, three can be beheaded at the same time. Bleed the birds and then dunk them into scalding water briefly. After scalding in 148 F water plucking should be easy. Recipes for quail are easy to find, they can be prepared any way chicken is cooked.