Quail Care

We raise Coturnix and Northern Bobwhite quail on our NPIP-certified farm. These are the care basics we use every day, from the first hours in the brooder to a healthy laying flock. Each section points to the book that covers it in full.

Jump to: Brooder · Feed and water · Housing · Laying · Health · Books

Brooder basics

Heat: Start near 95°F under the heat source in week one, then drop about 5°F each week until the chicks are feathered.
Warm side, cool side: Chicks piled under the heat are cold. Chicks pressed against the walls are too hot. Spread out and peeping softly is right.
Run it first: Turn the brooder on a day before hatch so the temperature is steady.
Bedding: Use rubber shelf liner or textured drawer liner the first week, then pine shavings. No paper towels: they get slick when wet, which leads to splayed legs, and chicks pick at and eat them.
No smooth floors: Bare cardboard, plastic and newspaper are too slippery for tiny legs.

Read our guide: The First 48 Hours with Quail Chicks

Learn more in The First 48 Hours. An hour-by-hour plan for the two days that decide how many chicks make it.

Feed and water

Chick feed: Game bird starter at about 28 to 30 percent protein. Crumble it fine for the first week so tiny beaks can eat it.
Laying feed: Switch to a game bird or layer feed with about 20 to 24 percent protein once hens start laying.
Calcium: Offer crushed oyster shell on the side for laying hens.
Safe water: Fill chick waterer trays with marbles or clean stones for the first two weeks so chicks cannot drown.
Keep it clean: Fresh water every day. Dirty or empty water is one of the fastest ways to lose birds.

Learn more in The First 48 Hours. Our full brooder feed and water setup, with checklists.

Housing and space

Space: Plan about 1 square foot per adult Coturnix. Bobwhite are larger and wilder and need more room.
Low ceilings for Coturnix: They flush straight up when startled. A low or soft top helps prevent head injuries.
Predator-proof: Use hardware cloth, not chicken wire, and check for gaps and dig marks often.
Dry and draft-free: Good airflow without cold drafts, and bedding changed before it gets wet or smells of ammonia.
Shade and shelter: Heat is hard on quail. Give shade and cool water in summer.

Read our guide: Quail Housing: Cages, Coops and Space per Bird

Learn more in Ultimate Beginners Guide to Raising Quail. Picking a breed, building housing and raising your first flock from chick to laying hen.

Laying and eggs

When they start: Coturnix hens usually lay at 6 to 8 weeks. Bobwhite start later and lay mostly in spring and summer.
Light: Hens need about 14 to 16 hours of light a day. Short winter days are the top reason laying stops.
Why laying drops: Stress, too little light, low protein, no calcium, molt, age or heat.
Collect daily: Gather eggs every day and store them pointed end down in a cool spot.

Read our guide: Quail Laying and Egg Production Basics

Learn more in The Master Quail Handbook. A full-year plan for your flock, from egg to laying hen and breeding.

Health checks

Every day: Count the birds, check feed and water, and look for birds puffed up in a corner or droppings that are bloody or watery.
Every week: Handle a few birds and check weight, eyes, nostrils, vent and feet. Look for feather loss from pecking or crowding.
Sick bird: Move it to a quiet, warm spot by itself, write down what you see, and call a vet or your state poultry lab if more than one bird shows signs.
Prevention: Enough space, dry bedding, clean water, and quarantine new birds for a few weeks before they join the flock.

Read our guide: Quail Health Checklist

Learn more in The Master Quail Handbook. The full symptom guide and our sick-bird plan.