Quail farming brings him solvency

Shamim-al-Mamun of Kachua village in Sakhipur upazila under the district has gained solvency by rearing quails.

After passing the SSC examinations, he discontinued his study and asked his parents for money to start a quail farm but they sent him to Saudi Arabia for work, Shamim said.

Upon returning home after seven years, Shamim set up a quail farm on 20 decimals of land adjacent to his house in 2012. 

He bought 500 quails for Tk 20,000 from Bogra, following information from the local livestock officials.

"I started taking care of the birds as per the knowledge gained from books, livestock officials and bird sellers," Shamim said.

In three years, the number of quail at Shamim's farm has risen to 12,000 including 7,000 layers and 5,000 broilers and he has employed five workers to look after the farm.

The layer starts laying eggs when they reach 42 to 45 days and it continues for around 18 months.

A quail gives 280 to 300 eggs in a year.

Broilers become saleable in four weeks. 

"At my hatchery, 8,000 to 10,000 quail chicks are bred in incubator every week. Those are supplied to 30 farms in Sakhipur upazila and different districts including Dhaka, Bogra and Netrakona," said Shamim, locally known as 'quail Shamim'.

Now he earns at least Tk 1 lakh per month by supplying the birds and eggs worth Tk 4 lakh to Tk 5 lakh to different places, he said.

More people would engage in the profitable farming if easy term bank loans are arranged for the purpose.

Fazlul Haque, who sales boiled eggs at Sakhipur Bazar, said people like to take quail's eggs considering its nutritional value and low price.

Helal Ahmed, upazila livestock officer in Sakhipur, said quail farming can be started with a small investment and it is also environment friendly.

"The eggs and meat of quail are tasty and nutritious. Quail farming is relatively risk-free. The vaccine for chicken can be used for treating quails too," he added.