I raised quail at one time--coutornix(sp?). They only lay until they get a clutch 10-20 eggs per season. It takes about 4 or more quail eggs to equal one hen. So eggs from quail are almost a nonissue for eating but very important for raising quail. Buy a $100 Hova-Bater incubator (forced air fan) and raise quail for meat and hatching eggs, not eating. My Hova sets 49 hen eggs and with the quail turner it must be close to 100 every 21(?) days. You'll get 95% hatch with a good rooster-quail. That's perfect for the home meat operation!! Another plus, they eat very little compared to my yard birds. Need a small space for several hundred birds. Go with another breed, not coutornix--very small bodies. I have never tried partridge, that might be neat. If you are hatching, remember to keep birds through the winter or you'll have to buy new adults next year. If your trying to be self-supporting raise your own stock after that initial buy--then it's only feed and electric. I'm moving in that direction. I have a dozens hens (chickens) and sell just enough eggs at work so that my feed is "free" and we have enough eggs for home use. That's the way to get ahead. Any more hens and feed costs increase. I started with 40 hens but could only break even on selling and feed. I sold cheap though!