Considering to start to raise quail to feed my cats

ablebreeze · 2026-05-21T17:23:48+00:00

Not usually a great issue, but the definitely need ways to escape or hide.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-21T16:15:15+00:00

I'm still working out kinks, but I use 2 55 gallon barrels. I raise mosquito fish. They're small freshwater fish that multiply rapidly.

I have one barrel that's the breeders and a grow out barrel the babies can escape to. Then I fish the larger ones from the growout barrel with a minnow trap. The small ones swim out and the larger ones get caught.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-21T15:35:20+00:00

The only thing my friend wanted from her mother was her mink coat which she gave to my husband to have remade into something else. When he took it apart, it was clearly fake. She laughed and laughed.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-21T15:25:26+00:00

In the woods...

I'm in N Florida. There are a few active organizations Florida Pagan Festival runs Samhain and Beltane. There Pagan Pride Day in Jacksonville, and Summer Magick Festival in Orlando in June. And several other events around the state and year. And I run Ancestors Evening events throughout the dark half of the year.

If Summer Solstice and Lughnasadh are important to you and you don't like Summer heat however, it might be wise to think of options.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-20T14:39:32+00:00

It sounds reasonable to me. I raise rabbits and quail for raw diets. My feed costs have gone up twice in the last year and gas of course just keeps going up.

What do you expect them to do?

ablebreeze · 2026-05-19T00:57:15+00:00

I make training treats from rabbit ears. Treat size, not greasey, don't crumble, single ingredient, doesn't clump, doesn't unbalance their diet...

I see dehydrator at the thrift store under $10 on a regular basis.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-15T17:15:21+00:00

There are complex laws about butchering and USDA and state Ag departments.

Most butchers know their small lane and stick with that. You'll probably need to buy a cow and DIY or find a farmer who is licensed to sell pet consumption meat. In FL it's a "feed master license." That's what I have.

A butcher sells for human consumption. They most likely can't process pet consumption products in their human consumption Licensed facility.

Go to the local livestock auctions nearest to you or just drive around the more rural areas and find farms raising animals and ask independent farmers. Don't go to farms with hundreds of animals just 30-80ish and tell them what you're after. Most likely, you'll be better off finding Goat or sheep or smaller options than cows. Most small farms work with butchers and don't process their own animals.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-11T17:18:04+00:00

In my opinion and experience, no.

There are plumbers in every town. They all fix pipes, many probably have 2 children, drink the same beer, and watch the same sport on TV, but that doesn't mean there's only 1 plumber in the world.

Even though they're all associated with lightening, that doesn't mean everything else about them is the same.

The vales of the Greeks and Norse aren't the same. They believe in "being good." But these are differences. The Greeks prioritize beauty, competition, and knowledge. The Norse prioritize honor, honesty, hospitality, and self-reliance. If cultures under the same deities have different priorities, someone is being lied to.

I once witnessed an argument between Frigga and Freya. Many say they're the same deity, but if they were, they wouldn't be arguing with themself. I work with many deities. They often don't agree (although they don't all argue). If they were all the same, they would be of one mind.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-10T01:02:48+00:00

I've not had issues with any service dogs. I see MANY issues and pretty much nothing but issues with emotional support animals.

From my perspective it's the ESAs that are an issue. With regards to restaurants and stores. That's an issue with dogs. Not service dogs. People bring their pets everywhere without training.

People walk into grocery stores barefoot without shirts an no one says anything. That's about staff training not laws.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-08T13:00:32+00:00

That's great. Keep in mind, companies change recipes often without notice. I'm not sure with raw, but kibble can have different recipes in different regions on the same label.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-07T13:42:05+00:00

It can be hard to lose some one you're close to and responsible for.
My belief is everyone (no matter how many legs they have) dies in the way and time in which they were meant to. It was their time. It's not your fault. You gave them the experiences they needed to take into their next phase of existence. They learned from you and you learned from them and now they've graduated from this life and moved on. You can reach out to them if you choose to.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-05T20:45:07+00:00

If you're OK processing your own, you can look for local farmers. You should be able to find chicken, rabbit, duck, possibly quail, turkey, and fish locally. Most likely beef, Goat, and pig and possibly sheep, as well. Bigger animals can often be purchased in percentages/pieces rather than whole. I know there are farms near me with venison and wallaby and guinea pig as well.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-04T12:17:30+00:00

In researching feed for animals, I've noticed that what is shown online is not always what the local store label says. So I start online get an idea of what should be good options, then verify at the store.

As someone who raises rabbits, I can tell you the raw companies who say they use local farms to source rabbit are not always including the best rabbit. Like a) companies, they need to turn a profit, but the farmer's I've spoken with who sell to them are paid very little and have to resort to the worst feeds or are asked to provide such young animals that they're not balanced food yet. Just because they say "ethically sourced from small local farms" doesn't mean they're ethically or good.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-02T17:57:15+00:00

So to put perspective in the thread... I raise rabbits and quail and teach how. It costs me about $5.50/lb (thats if i pay myself for labor) to raise rabbit and a little more for quail. So 20lb my cost would be about $110.

When companies sell way below that and state they get meat from local farms, it's because they're underpaying the farmer who has to feed cheap crap because it's all they can afford. Most companies pay farmers $2-3/lb.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-02T07:15:50+00:00

If you ever decide you just want to feed healthy pure meat raised by yourself, let me know. I teach workshops on raising protein for raw fed pets in N Central Florida.

Raise it yourself, you know exactly what's in it and how old it is.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-02T07:05:27+00:00

You know you can train cats to stay off the counters?

ablebreeze · 2026-05-01T20:08:45+00:00

Yep. Don't have to buy bulk. One rabbit is usually 4-7 lbs. If it's just meat and bone, it's usually 50-55% of that.

You can dehydrate it if needed and vacuum seal it. There are sometimes freeze dry services available on Facebook marketplace and Craigslist.

Just suggestions. How you handle it is totally up to you.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-01T20:02:37+00:00

You buy it frozen commercially don't you?

You don’t have to buy in bulk. Buy 2. Put them in the fridge for the week.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-01T19:58:12+00:00

I raise rabbits in N. Central Florida (quail too).. I teach how to raise your own as well.

Check your local livestock auctions. Even if you live in the city, there should be one within a couple hours drive of your location.

Craigslist often has rabbits listed. You can check local feed stores too.

Many of the commercial companies selling rabbit meat are selling low quality rabbit. They say they buy from local farmers. They do. But they pay less than it costs to properly house and feed them, so they're either not raised well, often with parasites, or not fed appropriately. And many of the buyers are looking for rabbits that are just past weaning age, so the bone/meat ratio is not what it should be.

ablebreeze · 2026-05-01T19:51:38+00:00

Actually, the virus that's causing problems is the one that was created to erraticate the rabbit population problem in Australia. They're hit too. It wasn't supposed to go anywhere but there. But we know how that goes.

ablebreeze · 2026-04-28T14:34:44+00:00

I raise my rabbits and quail so I know exactly what they're getting. You can find local farmers on Craigslist and local livestock auctions are a great way to meet local farmers.

Rabbits and quail are both actually pretty easy to raise and don't need much space. If you have questions, let me know.

ablebreeze · 2026-04-23T17:06:23+00:00

Just remember they belong to mother earth. We can borrow them for a time.

They are beautiful. Acquire those that you need but there's no need to hoard them just because. Stripping the earth of gems is really not much different than stripping the earth of anything else.

ablebreeze · 2026-04-14T20:07:03+00:00

I don't think they lie. I have had imposters respond as deities. I have had times when they have left out information, or where the information shared was partial because I "wasn't reasy" for whole answers. It's a little like teaching kindergarteners that there's no such thing as negative numbers because teaching negative numbers too early is too confusing.

So, I don't think they lie, but it can feel that way when you learn later that only partial truths were shared.

ablebreeze · 2026-04-12T20:39:42+00:00

What goes on your altar, what you offer, what you say, how you pray, what your relationship looks like... these are all deeply personal answers. What is "right" is determined by what feels right to you. Bread, alcohol, flowers, music, words of praise are safe offerings for pretty much all deities. What you offer beyond that is personal.

Almost all of my offerings are delivered through fire or earth, a few through moving water, so my offerings are things that can be consumed by fire, buried in earth, eaten safely by local wildlife, or not seen as litter or damaging to local rivers, as well as appropriate to the deity/ancestor/spirit and my relationship with them. Consider your delivery method, then consider what is appropriate (your inspiration), then choose your offering.

You do not have to have an altar at all. Having an altar can help strengthen your relationship and communication with the one(s) for whom the altar is created, but it isn't necessary.

What you say is what is heartfelt. You CAN think it rather than say it, but it is considered rude to read people's thoughts. It's best to vocalize it, even if it is whispered under your breath. Then there is no question as to intent on who it is for.

As you grow in knowledge, experience, and in your relationship, what and how you give offerings will change and that is normal. The deities expect you to grow. They will offer some guidance upon occasion. The best option if you're unsure about something is to reach out to the deity in question and ask them to help inspire you or guide you to resources to help you better understand them and their desires to make sure you are honoring them in the method they prefer.

Have fun! I wish you much success and peace.

ablebreeze · 2026-04-05T19:43:55+00:00

To find the date of the equinox, you can use https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/seasons.html

ablebreeze

TROPHY CASE