Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Lynch.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Although I had raised poultry for a number of years, in 2020 when Covid was on the horizon, I did not have any. The possibility of food scarcity combined with my dog boarding business on hold due to the lockdown, convinced me to invest in some chicken chicks. Having some chickens turned into having a full-on farm – geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens, pigs, goats, and even a couple of emus! It wasn’t long before a friend offered me a dozen Coturnix quail for the cost of the cage they lived in.
I was immediately hooked. These cute birds lay an egg a day, don’t take up much room, don’t make much noise, and the meat is pretty tasty!
What really got me invested was their genetics. I am a total genetics geek, and discovered that not only were there quite a few known plumage genes, there were also many that hadn’t been studied!
I can’t do anything “just a little”. I went all in.
I am now one of the largest breeders of Coturnix quail in the country, supplying hatching eggs and live birds all over the US, and have even exported to Canada. I helped form the American Coturnix Breeders Association and have been the Vice President since its inception. I helped author a written standard of perfection that allowed Coturnix quail to be entered into American Poultry Association shows, and gives breeders a guide to bettering their birds.
I was honored to be interviewed on the Sirius XM radio show Sharkfarmer, as well filmed for their RFD TV show. (www.sharkfarmer.com). I currently cohost a podcast and YouTube show with my best friend, Lea Kulas, called Two Chix Coturnix. Our goal is to help quail keepers of all ages and experience levels, and move the industry forward through science and education.
My business also provides everything needed for raising and keeping quail – cages, feeders, waterers, enrichment toys, and more!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I was fortunate to have formed friendships with some of the most respected quail breeders in the industry who helped guide me with both my breeding and business. Learning about Coturnix quail has been a bit of a challenge as there are many genes that have not yet been studied in laboratories and so we are left to study them on our own on our own farms. In fact, I have identified and named more than one genetic mutation that had previously not been studied anywhere in the world!
We’ve been impressed with Thieving Otter Farm, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Thieving Otter Farm is a leader in the quail industry, focusing on breeding for temperament, health, conformation, and production. I take great pride in producing birds that people all over the country enjoy and take pride in. We are about as small-business as they come. Just one farm hand and a hard-working couple that love our furred and feathered farm companions.
We have about 4k quail, as well as chickens, ducks, geese, emus, turkeys, dogs, cats, snakes, and lizards!
Thieving Otter Farm is known most for quail, but we have also been developing two of our own chicken breeds for a number of years. I have a crazy goal – be the second woman in history to have a chicken breed accepted into the APA (American Poultry Association). We hope to be offering our Tennessee Whitney chickens to the public in the next 1-2 years.
Thieving Otter farm got it’s name from real river otters who steal fish from our pond. It’s ok. We’ll buy more fish. We love our otters!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m a huge fan of true crime podcasts and a wide variety of book genres that help me unwind. Farming is a 24/7 job, so its helpful to have an escape. I also take weekly ballroom/latin dance lessons and compete in dance competitions as a form of relaxation and exercise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thievingotterfarm.com
- Instagram: @thieving_otter_farm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thievingotterfarm
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TwoChixCoturnix
