People raise birds like quail, pheasants, turkeys and partridge for many reasons. One often cited reason is for release. Just as some people raise swans so they can enjoy seeing them, people raise game birds for the joy of knowing there is a healthy 
population on or near their property. Hunters also raise game birds for release so that there will be an adequate supply for hunting.
Regardless of your reason, if you are thinking about raising game birds for release, there are a few things you need to know:
1. Some states have strict rules regarding what can and cannot be raised and released, and many states require special licensing and permits for individuals to do so. Check with the Department of Fish and Wildlife or the Department of Natural Resources in your state.
2. A 5-10% survival rate is considered successful. You should not expect to have a huge increase in population in the first or even second year you raise and release game birds.
3. You should be aware of disease and proper management techniques. For one thing, you do not want to introduce disease into the native population and for another, you do not want to see the birds you are raising stricken with disease.
4. Do not mix domestic poultry with game birds you plan to release. Some bacteria and viruses that do not make domestic poultry like chickens sick can make game birds ill. Also, the more you interact with the game birds, the less their chance for survival after release.
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Coturnix Quail
With the recent and growing interest in urban farming, along with the many restrictions facing city dwellers who might want to raise chickens, quail are worth close consideration. These small game birds require very little space, as they can be raised completely indoors as in a garage, basement or outbuilding, they are quiet and relatively easy to care for. Obviously, you should still check to see if there are specific restrictions against raising quail or game birds in your city.
One of the most popular species that is raised for food production is the Coturnix, also known as Japanese quail. Coturnix quail are a good choice because they don not need a lot of space, they grow quickly and hens lay about 300 eggs per year, given adequate lighting. Coturnix is pronounced courtney, the x is silent. Males are polygamous, unlike some other species of quail, so the ratio of females to males should be about two or three to one.
Coturnix hens lay 10-20 eggs per clutch, and the eggs should incubate for about 17 days, and incubation is far more successful with an incubator than naturally. Quail kept in captivity do not do well hatching their own eggs. Coturnix hens will begin laying at about six weeks of age, as long as there is at least 14 hours of daylight. The birds can be processed for eating by five or six weeks of age.
Purely Poultry carries two types of Coturnix quail, the Pharaoh Coturnix and the Tibetan Coturnix. Both produce a large amount of eggs and make good meat birds. The main difference between the two is their coloring. Pharaoh Coturnix are colored the same as Coturnix in the wild, and are sometimes called common quail, while Tibetan Coturnix have darker feathers.
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