South Carolina Quail Farm Grows from Backyard Hobby to Major Operation

Manchester Farms in Columbia, South Carolina has transformed from Bill Odom's backyard hobby into one of the nation's leading quail producers. The second-generation family business now operates on over 380 acres, selling nearly 35 million eggs and processing 80,000 meat birds weekly in 2024.

A small backyard project started by Bill Odom has grown into a leading quail production facility in the United States. Manchester Farms, currently operated as a family enterprise by second-generation owner Brittney Miller in Columbia, South Carolina, specializes in breeding, raising and processing pharaoh quail across more than 380 acres.

The business launched in 1974, initially shipping products directly to restaurants and culinary professionals through mail orders. During the 1980s, growing demand exceeded the farm’s production capacity, prompting partnerships with food distribution companies to reach customers nationwide.

Recent years have seen Manchester Farms diversify beyond meat production to include egg operations. Last year, the company achieved sales of approximately 35 million eggs while maintaining weekly production of 80,000 meat birds.

Specialized Knowledge Required for Delicate Birds

According to Miller, successful quail farming demands expertise developed through Manchester Farms’ five decades of experience. She describes the birds as “delicate, persnickety,” needing careful management of numerous factors that inexperienced producers frequently miss.

Miller notes that lighting intensity, feed formulation, water temperature and bedding materials all demand meticulous attention in quail operations.

The farm focuses on pharaoh quail, a breed recognized for rapid development and strong performance in both meat and egg production. This domesticated variety, bred in captivity for hundreds of years, displays calm behavior when confined. These birds remain much smaller than chickens or turkeys, weighing just 13 ounces when fully grown.

Weather conditions create significant production challenges requiring ongoing adjustments. South Carolina experiences extreme conditions ranging from hurricanes and ice storms to temperatures reaching 120 degrees with 90% humidity levels, all affecting hatching success, breeding schedules and bird health.

“We have to change our programs every season with whatever is going on,” Miller stated, explaining that while chicken and turkey farms face similar seasonal issues, quail respond differently due to their distinct behavioral traits.

The facility maintains an almost antibiotic-free approach, with only one historical exception when contaminated feed required treatment for aflatoxin exposure. Anti-parasitic medication represents the sole regular feed supplement, necessary because ground-raised birds face parasite risks. This health management strategy emphasizes prevention through sanitation rather than medication.

While some quail producers use outdoor flight enclosures, Manchester Farms houses birds in protective barns, shielding them from numerous predators including hawks, owls, snakes, bobcats and domestic animals.

Strict Disease Prevention During Bird Flu Outbreak

As highly pathogenic avian influenza continues threatening poultry operations across the country, Manchester Farms has established thorough biosecurity measures designed to prevent any contamination.

“It’s not to say that we won’t ever get hit one day, but we are crazy about trying to make sure everything’s safe,” Miller explained. “As soon as you let your guard down, it can happen.”

Workers must disinfect equipment when entering and leaving buildings, change clothes during facility transitions and sanitize vehicles. The operation requires pest control spraying inside vehicle interiors to eliminate flies that might carry contamination from other farms.

The facility’s feed mill includes its own truck washing station after each delivery cycle, creating additional protection. Importantly, their pest control service works exclusively for Manchester Farms and avoids other poultry facilities, removing a contamination pathway many operations ignore.

“You need just one weak link that didn’t do what they were supposed to, and they bring it in on their shoes or tires or clothes,” Miller noted, recognizing the difficulty of maintaining perfect protocol adherence.

Geographic location provides natural advantages for disease prevention. Manchester Farms sits almost half a mile from the closest river, with no stagnant water or ponds on company property. Although located in the Eastern flyway for migrating waterfowl, this distance reduces contact with wild birds. The operation also maintains clean grounds with shortened grass to discourage disease vectors from gathering near buildings.

Manual Processing Sets Quality Standards

Manchester Farms distinguishes itself from mainstream poultry producers through manual processing instead of mechanical systems – a workforce-intensive decision that raises costs per pound but delivers quality that machines cannot achieve, Miller explained. The company employs dedicated security and inspection staff to examine birds before processing, where they receive three separate quality checks.

“We’ve done really well over the years with it,” Miller said regarding their hand-processing method. “We’re very intrinsically hand performance versus automation. It puts us at a price more expensive for a pound as well. But that’s just what we do.”

Expanding Market Opportunities

The six-week growing period for quail enables quicker flock turnover compared to chickens and turkeys, creating operational advantages valuable in specialty protein markets. Miller observes growing consumer demand for protein alternatives beyond traditional chicken and turkey as quail and duck products appear in additional retail stores and restaurants.

“We’re closing in on more and more every day,” she said about retail growth. “It’s exciting to see. And then when people get on them, they come up to me later and they’re like, they changed my life. They made my life better.”

Source: https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-future/consumer-trends/article/15771934/manchester-farms-perfecting-the-art-of-quail-production