Interesting.... I read the last post too..
Is this a just for fun thing or are you doing it for the eggs... it seems like you could be self sufficient in protein with four hens easily.
That noisy incubator reminds if my cheap noisy hydroponics pump.
I'm not sure apartments are good places for quail breeding or hydroponics!
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I do not have power in the garden.
I have to hatch them and raise them for at least a week in my apartment.
Depending on the feed, they can be smelly.
I would not say it is ideal, but you can absolutely have them indoors, in your garage or on your balcony.
About the self-sufficiency:
I have to buy extremely high protein feed, or they will not lay every day.
I feed them scraps but that does not really help much - their main protein source in nature would be insects.
Unless I start an insect farm, I am not at all self-sufficient for protein.
If I have more eggs than I can eat, I will try to swap them for feed and try to be more self sufficient that way.
Next spring, I will incubate chicken eggs.
Chicken eggs are a serious food source.
It's all very interesting... sounds like you need a small piece of land.
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I am working on it :)
Don't do chickens - do ducks. You only need a small blow up pool for them to splash in. A lot cuter, have individual personalities, less stinky, eggs are nicer, will eat all your slugs if you grow veggies, no problem having them in your kitchen, you can train them although to a lesser degree than dogs.
I thought about ducks.
Water is an issue. I rely on storing rainwater.
This year I ran completely out of water.
Also, I would have trouble keeping a container of water from freezing in the winter.
I have no electricity or water in the garden.
I will go for a solid breed of chickens - they should be able to forage much better than ducks and they come with different personalities, too.
Perhaps I will just get Silky Chickens.
I'm sure they will love your bathtub inside your apartment in winter :D