A few years ago I talked with a local hatchery about the possibility of raising quail for them. Now I’m kind of sad I didn’t pursue that further. Demand for quail is growing almost as much as the demand for chickens. The quail-raising groups I’m in are growing fast, as people realize they’re easier to raise in confined spaces. Some people are even raising them on apartment balconies, just so they have a steady supply of eggs and meat.
If I had a rooster, I could expand my chicken flock for free. One of my hens goes broody every year like clockwork. I’d love to let her hatch out some chicks.
*sigh* After my house is built. . .
There is a farm that raises game birds about 15 miles from me that would provide chicks, but I would still have problems with suburban neighbors calling the city and shutting it down. (People are tearing down homes around me and replacing them with expensive upscale housing.)
Ideas...A house. If you have a lot of timber...cedar or poplar Stackwood might be an inexpensive way to build. I saw an article in Harrowsmith magazine about a cordwood house in Wildrose that cost $1200 at the time. (about 1975) The house was about 1200 sq feet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordwood_construction
https://cordwoodconstruction.org/