Raising Quail: What You Need to Know
In terms of raising poultry in your backyard or on the homestead, chickens are by far the most popular. That’s because chickens are an excellent source of egg and meat production. However, what if I told you that you could get fresh meat and cage-free eggs with less space and less resources than what is typical for chickens?
If you’re interested in how that sounds, then you’ve got to consider raising quail. Quail are quickly becoming a favorite choice for folks who enjoy raising poultry for egg and meat production.
In this article, I share everything I learned about raising quail, including their many benefits, choosing the “correct” quail breed, their basic requirements regarding feed and water, and quail sicknesses to look out for.
**J&R Pierce Family Farm is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to allow sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. I often link to Amazon when recommending certain products, and if you choose to purchase, I may earn a small percentage of the sale. It costs you nothing extra, and all recommended products are ones that I personally vouch for.**
Are Quail Easy to Take Care Of?
Yes, quails are considered somewhat “easy” to take care of because they are smaller in size when compared to other types of poultry. I will go into more detail later in the article, but the core reasons why some consider quail easier to raise compared to other poultry are:
Their smaller size means they generally require fewer resources, in particular, space and feed.
Quails mature quicker, which makes sexing quail easier, as well as producing eggs and meat more convenient.
What Are the Benefits of Raising Quail?
If you are considering raising poultry on your farm or homestead, raising quail instead of chickens, turkey, or weeder geese makes a lot of sense. Let me explain some of the benefits of raising quail when compared to other birds.
Their smaller size makes them more convenient to care for: This generally means that the costs associated with raising quail are lower because they are less expensive to feed.
Quail are small and take up less space on your property: Their small size also means they take up less space compared to other poultry. With the right conditions, quail can even be raised indoors.
They can be raised in areas where chickens cannot: Due to their size, temperament, and relative noise level, quails can be raised in areas where chickens and roosters cannot. I’ll explain more in the coming section.
Quail are quiet: In general, a flock of quail makes less noise than chickens. Some male quail can get loud during mating. However, they are nowhere near as noisy as roosters.
Quail eggs (and meat) are delicious: quail eggs (and meat) are nutritious and delicious. Plus, quail eggs are typically considered to be a higher-quality egg than chicken eggs, which means they can get a higher price at the market if you want to sell.
Sexing some quail is easier: This depends on the breed; however, sexing some quail (determining the sex) is much easier and faster than sexing chicken breeds. For example, the Cotornix Quial can be sexed as young as one month old.
Quails mature quickly: A quail reaches a mature age to begin laying eggs as young as six to eight weeks. On the other hand, chickens take upwards of six months to begin laying eggs.
Can I Have Quail in My Backyard?
Absolutely! The backyard is where the majority of farmers and homesteaders raise their quail. Raising quail in the backyard is a lot like raising chickens, if not a little easier, due to quail’s small size. For the same reason, a small flock of quail can also be raised entirely indoors.
However, before you jump down the rabbit hole (quail-hole?) and invest in all the materials and resources you will need to raise quail in the backyard, it’s imperative to verify your local ordinance and zoning regulations. Regulations for raising quail can vary based on state, city, and your purpose for raising.
State Regulations
In some states, quail are considered “domesticated poultry,” like ducks and chickens. In these states, quail can be raised without a special permit. On the other hand, in some states, quail are considered “game birds,” which might necessitate a special permit or license.
City Regulations
Even if your state does or does not require special permits or licenses for raising quail, the local city you live within may have their own rules. For example, some cities have rules about the total number of birds you can raise (typically accounting for other domesticated poultry like chickens and ducks), while other cities may prohibit raising quail entirely.
Purpose for Raising
Your stated purpose for raising domesticated poultry may also impact the permits or licenses you might require. For example, raising quail for commercial breeding operations will follow a different set of rules than hobby farming a small flock of quail in the backyard.
Here are my recommendations for determining the special requirements (or lack thereof) for raising quail in your backyard.
Do Some Research: the best place to start to find rules and regulations for raising quail is your state’s wildlife or agriculture website. Typically, information regarding poultry and game birds is easily located.
Contact Local Authorities: besides understanding the rules for your state, it is also a good idea to speak with local authorities, for example, your city’s animal control office.
Consider Your Neighbors: your city or state may not have special requirements, but your neighbors might. So always consider chatting with your neighbors to avoid disputes or complaints.
Consult Other Quail Farmers: you can learn a lot from other passionate people who raise quail. For example, there may be an online group local to your area that can share their experience and knowledge regarding raising quail in your city.
Choosing the Right Quail Breed
Choosing the right quail breed for your farm will depend on the purpose for raising, available space, local climate, and breed availability.
The Purpose for Raising: Are you raising for meat? Eggs? Or as a game bird?
Available Space: How much space do you have available?
Local Climate: What’s your local climate like? Some breeds are more cold-tolerant, while others do better in warmer weather.
Breed Availability: Some quail breeds may be harder to find in your local area than others.
Common Quail Breed for Backyards, Homestead, and Farms
Not sure what kind of quail chicks or hatching eggs to buy? Here are some popular breeds of quail for beginners:
Coturnix
Also known as Japanese quail, the Coturnix is the most common quail breed in the United States. They are easy to handle and small, perfect for if you have limited space. They are very efficient egg layers and good for meat.
Bobwhite
The Bobwhite quail is a popular breed for game hunting. They are not very efficient egg layers but are also popular for their meat. They are a larger breed compared to the Coturnix. They are hardy birds and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, and are well-known for their self-sufficiency and ability to free range.
Gambel’s
Native to the southwestern United States, the Gambel’s quail is a popular game bird. They are not usually raised for meat or egg production. Instead, they are raised for their unique aesthetic quality as a game bird. They require a larger living space than other breeds and prefer an arid environment.
California
Similar to the size and appearance of Gambel’s quail, the California quail is another quail breed typically raised as a game bird. They are also native to the western United States. They are also hardy birds and can tolerate a spectrum of temperatures and weather conditions.
Button Quail
Also known as the Chinese painted quail, the Button quail is the smallest breed. They are raised as pets and for their unique aesthetic. They are not normally raised for meat or egg production. Due to their small size, they do not require a lot of space and can even be raised indoors. They are fragile birds who prefer a warm and dry environment.
How to Set Up Your Quail Farm
Here are a few tips to get your quail housing up and running:
What Are the Requirements for a Quail Enclosure?
The size of your quail coop or quail cage matters. Regarding square footage. the rule of thumb for quail is that each bird requires 1 square foot of space. So 10 quail require at least 10 square feet of space. However, the more space, the better because quail are active little birds who like to move around. This is especially true as you consider the size of adult birds versus chicks, and jumbo breeds versus smaller ones.
Don’t forget that young quail will need a heat lamp for the very first week of life (if not more). You will also want to consider including things like nesting boxes.
How Many Acres Do You Need for Quail?
Quail do not take up a lot of space. Especially the smaller breeds like Coturnix and Button Quail. You can do a lot with even just one acre of land, especially if your goal is to raise a small amount of quail as pets or for egg and meat production.
For larger quail management plans, you may want more space. However, even then, there is no perfect number. Your acreage will depend on various factors.
The quantity and size of the quail covey you want to support
The proximity of the nearest estalbished population of quail
The quality of your habitat regarding the amount and distribution of resources
In general, though, quail require little space.
Protecting Quail from Predators
Foxes, raccoons, snakes, hawks, rats, and coyotes are common predators of quail. To keep your quail safe, use predator-proof fencing material. In addition, the enclosure should be fully contained, meaning it needs to have a roof. This will keep predators out but also keep quail in because they can fly.
Feed and Water Requirements
The feed requirements for quail will depend on their breed, age, and purpose. For example, baby quail need more protein compared to other baby poultry. In addition, they need crumbles instead of pellets because they are so tiny when they are born.
And quail for meat production require different feed from quail raised for eggs, since quail meat birds generally require a high protein diet to get them ready for butchering, while egg-producing quail need a diet formulated with extra calcium for creating lots of delicious eggs.
You can find more information on feeding quail here.
Regarding water: clean and fresh water should be freely available to your quail at all times. Clean water troughs and replace with fresh water everyday.
Can You Raise Quail With Chickens?
Yes, it is possible to raise a mixed flock of quail and chickens. Watching a mixed flock of quail and chickens forage is super heartwarming. However, there are challenges that come with attempting to raise a mixed flock. To make it possible, you have to make a range of accommodations in order for each species of bird take have what they need to lead happy and healthy lives.
Quail should not be housed with chickens: Chickens are much bigger than quail. This may result in bullying or dominance issues regarding access to food and water. Keep quail and chickens separate both in the brooder, coop, and in the run.
Quail require different feed: Quail are granivores while chickens are omnivores. This means that they require different food and should not be fed simultaneously.
Quail are more fragile than chickens: For example, a relatively “normal” case of coccidiosis in chickens can be a big deal for quail. Even worse, avian coryza is a disease chickens can pass onto quail and for quail, it’s often deadly.
Common Health Problems in Quail
Quail are susceptible to a host of infectious, infectious, and parasitic diseases. Many of the diseases in quail are similar to other poultry, like the avian coryza I mentioned above.
The below are some diseases to keep an yee out for:
Colibacillosis (Coliform infections)
Avian pox
Ascarids (intestinal roundworms)
Mycoplasmosis
Newcastle disease
Cecal worms
Fowl cholera
Infectious bronchitis
Capillaria (threadworms)
Necrotic enteritis
Quail bronchitis
Tapeworms
Ulcerative enteritis (Quail disease)
Lymphoid leukosis
Gapeworms
Pullorum disease
Marek’s disease (visceral leukosis)
Poultry mites
Fowl typhoid
Infectious Bursal disease (Gumboro)
Poultry lice
Botulism
Fowl ticks
Infectious Corzya
Chiggers, red bugs or harvest mites
Omphalitis
Erysipelas
Preventing Health Problems
Remember, disease outbreaks are typically caused and spread by the bird caretakers, not by birds. Therefore, Good management practices will help mitigate the severity of these health problems.
Examples of good management practices that help prevent diseases in quail include:
Carry out routine medical administration, including vaccines and antibiotics when necessary
Wear clean clothes and footwear when working in quail rearing areas
To increase flock size, hatch chicks from eggs– do not bring new birds onto the property
Clean and disinfect all equipment
Avoid letting visitors into quail rearing areas
Maintain clean water troughs at all times (or use nipple waterers)
How to Breed Quail
To begin the the breeding process, you must wait for your quail to reach sexual maturity. This normally takes six to eight weeks. Attempting to breed immature quail may lead to weak offspring and death.
The number of times you can breed quail per year will depend on the breed. For example, Gabel’s quail can breed up to three times per year while Coturnix quail only breed once. How many times quail breed will also depending on the time of the year (temperature). Like most animals, quail prefer to breed in the Spring.
Once a male and female have been paired off, they will build a nest together. This may take up to one week. Aftward, the female can begin laying eggs, normally between six and 12 eggs is normal.
Afterward, both the male and female incubate the eggs for three weeks. Once the chicks are born, both parent will care for them until they can fend for themselves.
How to Market and Sell Your Quail Products
Your specific quail breed and your purpose for raising quail will impact how you market and sell quail-related products. For example, a homesteader raising Coturnix quail for egg production will make different decisions than someone else raising Gambel’s quail for game bird production. Nonetheless, here are some tips for marketing and selling your products.
Build a Brand: A personal brand will help you stand out from your competitors
Create Attractive Packaging: Unique packaging will help differentiate your product from competitors.
Offer Subscription Services: Monthly subscription-based services are the best way to normalize income.
Go to Farmer’s Markets: Your local market is an ideal way to put your products in front of various potential customers.
Connect with Local Restaurants and Chefs: Restaurants that prioritize farm-to-table dining are great resources for quail eggs and meat.
Use Social Media: Meta, Instagram, and X are good ways to connect with your customers and advertise.
Final Thoughts
If you want to raise egg and meat producing poultry but are concerned about the space requirement to raise chickens, then raising quail may be your best option. In general, quail require much less space. This is a huge advantage for those of you with smaller properties.
In addition, they mature much faster than chickens. This means you can have an efficient production of eggs and meat all year long.
From there, you can enjoy the product at home, take them to the local market, or supply your favorite restaurant. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Want to learn more about raising poultry? Be sure to check out these articles!
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