Setting Up a Quail Brooder: The First 3 Weeks

October 20, 2026

Coturnix quail chicks under a heat lamp in our brooder

Quail chicks are tiny and fragile for their first few weeks. A good brooder covers five basics: heat, water, feed, footing and space. Set it up and warm it a day before the hatch.

1. Heat

Start with about 95°F at chick level under the heat source, then lower it about 5°F each week. Leave a cooler side so chicks can move away from the heat.

Huddled and peeping loudly under the heat: too cold.
Spread out at the edges and panting: too hot.
Spread around and resting calmly: about right.

2. Water

Quail chicks can drown in very little water. Use a shallow chick drinker and fill the channel with clean marbles or small stones for the first week or two.

3. Feed

Feed a high-protein game bird starter crumble, usually around 28 to 30% protein. Grind it finer for the first few days if the crumbles are large.

4. Footing

Use paper towels or a non-slip liner for the first days. Smooth, slick floors can cause splayed legs. After that, pine shavings work well.

5. Space

Coturnix grow fast. Plan to give them more room each week, and use a lid or cover. Quail jump and start trying to fly at only a couple of weeks old.

Week by week

Week 1: About 95°F, marbles in the drinker, paper towels.
Week 2: About 90°F, switch to shavings, check water often.
Week 3: About 85°F. Coturnix are getting feathers and need much more room.

Coturnix are usually fully feathered by about 4 to 5 weeks and can move to their grow-out housing then, depending on the weather. Bobwhite grow more slowly and need heat longer.