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How to Raise Quail for Eggs

By Aryeh Wiesel  •   5 minute read

How to Raise Quail for Eggs

Table of Contents

Looking for a compact and rewarding way to produce fresh eggs and meat? Raising quail might be your answer. These birds are perfect for small backyards and urban homesteads. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about how to raise quail, from their benefits to housing, feeding, egg laying, and more.

Benefits of Raising Quail

  • Efficient use of space: You can raise quail in a small backyard or even a garage. Quail require just 1 square foot per bird.
  • Fast maturity: Coturnix quail start laying eggs at 6-8 weeks old and can be ready for meat processing at 7-8 weeks.
  • Prolific egg layers: Expect around 300 eggs per year per hen, especially during their peak laying period in the first 12–18 months.
  • Quiet and discreet: Male quail make soft warbles; hens are nearly silent.
  • Low regulations: Many urban areas that ban chickens allow quail.
  • Hardy and adaptable: They tolerate a wide range of temperatures when sheltered properly.

Getting Started with Quail

Before raising quail, decide your purpose: eggs, meat, pets, or breeding. Then choose your starting point:

  • Fertile eggs (for incubation)
  • Chicks (require brooding)
  • Adult birds (ready to lay)

Coturnix quail are ideal for beginners due to their docile nature and rapid production.

Quail Housing and Setups

Quail need secure, well-ventilated, and predator-proof housing. Choose from cages, hutches, or mobile pens. Cimuka quail cages are best for raising happy quails. Key housing tips:

  • Space: 1 sq. ft. per bird minimum.
  • Cage height: 8-10 inches (to avoid injury from flushing).
  • Ventilation: Prevent ammonia buildup.
  • Predator-proofing: Use hardware cloth; secure underneath cages.
  • Egg collection: Slanted floors allow eggs to roll out, keeping them cleaner and easier to collect.
  • Bedding: Pine shavings, sawdust, or sand.
  • Winter protection: Keep dry with added bedding or move to an indoor shelter. Some keepers move birds into layer cages post-molt in fall.

Avoid free-ranging quail, they’re skittish and vulnerable. Choosing a quail setup is essential; learn more details.

Close-up view of Coturnix quail with brown and gold feather patterns inside cage

Feeding and Watering Quail

Proper nutrition is crucial, review our poultry feeds to find best options:

  • Chicks (0-7 weeks): Game bird or turkey starter with 25-30% protein.
  • Adults (7+ weeks): Layer crumble with 18-22% protein. Some keepers mix 30% game bird starter with lower-protein feeds to reach 22–27%.
  • Calcium: Offer crushed oyster shells or eggshells to laying hens.
  • Water: Use shallow waterers or nipple systems. Keep clean and elevated.
  • Grit: Provide if feeding whole grains or greens.
  • Treats: Offer insects, seeds, or leafy greens in moderation.

A deficiency in protein may lead to feather picking. Monitor and adjust accordingly.

 

Comparison of three different types of eggs including quail, chicken, and duck held in a hand

Raising Quail Chicks

Chicks are fragile in the first few weeks:

  • Brooder temp: 95°F in week 1, reduce by 5°F each week.
  • Cleanliness: Spot clean daily; change bedding weekly.
  • Drowning prevention: Use shallow dishes or add marbles.
  • Feathering: Fully feathered by week 4.
  • Flight: Start flying by week 3, cover brooders or raise walls.

Common Quail Breeds for Beginners

Coturnix (Japanese quail) is the most popular breed. Feather-sexable varieties include:

  • Pharaoh (Wild-type)
  • Egyptian
  • White-winged
  • Pearl

Sex at 3-6 weeks based on breast speckling (females = spotted).

Raising Quail for Eggs

Want a steady supply of eggs? Ensure:

  • 3-5 hens per male (or no males if not breeding).
  • High-protein diet and calcium source.
  • Clean, quiet environment.
  • Consistent light cycle (14-16 hrs/day). Use a timer to automate e.g., 6 AM to 8–10 PM.

Coturnix quails usually lay eggs in the evening and do so wherever they are standing. Cages with roll-out trays simplify egg collection and keep eggs cleaner.

Egg production is most reliable in the first 12–18 months. Plan to replace hens by 14–20 months to maintain productivity. Remove poor producers to optimize feed cost.

 

Multiple Coturnix quail in a cage with one looking directly at the camera

Egg Quality Control

New layers often produce irregular eggs: soft shells, double yolks, or small yolkless eggs ("fairy eggs"). These issues usually resolve with regular laying.

Persistent soft shells signal calcium deficiency. Supplement diets with crushed oyster shell or eggshell.

Raising Quail for Meat

Jumbo Coturnix are ideal for meat:

Harvest at 7-8 weeks.

All dark meat, flavorful and easy to cook.

Use scissors, buckets, and a hose to process.

Quail meat is considered gourmet and has a growing demand.

Troubleshooting & Common Issues

  • Aggression: Separate fighting males. Maintain a proper male-to-female ratio.
  • Odor/cleanliness: Clean cages weekly. Ensure dry bedding.
  • Health: Watch for lethargy, diarrhea, or feather loss. Keep the environment dry and stress-free.
  • Short lifespan: 2-3 years. Plan for staggered hatching to maintain stock.

Sustainability: Incubating and Breeding Quail

With a male in your flock, you can:

  • Collect fertile eggs
  • Incubate at 99.5°F, 45% humidity (first 14 days), then 55-60% for the last 3 days
  • Hatch in 17-18 days

Maintain your flock and control genetics for better productivity.

Quail vs Chickens: Which Is Better for You?

Feature Quail Chickens
Space needed 1 sq. ft. 8-10 sq. ft.
Noise Quiet Noisy roosters
Maturity age 6-8 weeks 16-20 weeks
Egg production 300/year 250/year
Free-range option No Yes
Lifespan 2-3 years 5-8 years


Final Thoughts: Is Quail Raising Right for You?

Raising Quail in your backyard offers a fast, efficient way to produce food at home. Whether you're interested in fresh eggs, tender meat, or simply enjoy caring for poultry, quail are a practical and profitable option. Start small, learn the basics, and expand as you gain confidence.

About the Author

Aryeh Wiesel Headshot

Aryeh Wiesel

Poultry Enthusiast & Expert

Aryeh is a 2023 Rutgers University graduate and majored in Agriculture & Food Systems Science. Aryeh has almost a decade of experience working with chickens and other poultry. At Aryeh's family's house in Central New Jersey, Aryeh has a small flock of chickens and pigeons. Besides his passion for poultry, Aryeh is also an avid phalaenopsis orchid grower. Aryeh met Hatching Time at the end of 2020 when doing poultry research with a Rutgers professor.

Tagged:

Brooding Eggs Incubating & Hatching Quail Raising

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our this blog post

  • Coturnix quail mature incredibly fast! A healthy hen will begin laying eggs at just 6 to 8 weeks old (compared to 16-20 weeks for chickens). During her peak laying period in the first 12 to 18 months, you can expect a single hen to produce around 300 eggs per year. Because quail tend to lay their eggs wherever they are standing (usually in the evening), using a cage with a slanted floor and roll-out tray is highly recommended to keep the eggs clean and make collection effortless.

  • One of the biggest benefits of raising quail is their incredible space efficiency. Unlike chickens, which require 8 to 10 square feet per bird, Coturnix quail need only 1 square foot of space per bird. This makes them the perfect poultry choice for urban homesteaders, small backyards, or even garages. To maximize your footprint, many keepers use stackable wire housing like Hatching Time’s Cimuka Quail Cages, which provide optimal ventilation, safety, and hygiene in a very compact area.

  • Quail have higher protein requirements than chickens. For the best egg production, adult quail (7+ weeks old) should be fed a high-quality layer crumble containing 18% to 22% protein. Some keepers mix a 30% game bird starter with a lower-protein feed to achieve the right balance. Because they lay almost every day, laying hens also need supplemental calcium - such as crushed oyster shells or baked eggshells - to prevent soft-shelled eggs. Always provide access to clean water using a shallow dish or an automatic nipple hydration system.

  • No, it is highly recommended not to free-range quail. Unlike chickens, quail are skittish ground-dwellers that will easily flush (fly straight up in a panic) and fly away rather than returning to a coop at night. They are also highly vulnerable to predators like hawks, neighborhood cats, and raccoons. For their safety and your peace of mind, quail should always be kept in secure, predator-proof enclosures with hardware cloth and a ceiling height of 8–10 inches to prevent them from injuring their heads if they jump.

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