Quail were really useless in my experience, at least compared to chickens. Mine went on and off with laying eggs, and then I lost all my females to a hawk apparently. I culled the remaining ones, they're tasty but not great animals.
Dang I'm sorry to hear about your experience. They can be tricky to take care of. Despite being able to fly compared to chickens they still can be picked off by predators like you said from your experience.
Rescued two grown from a feed store. I dewormed and demoted them. They look good, eating well and the two are leaving beautiful eggs!! Here’s my concern. Both have a blister next to one eye. The eye looks fine. Any idea what it is and how to treat it?