Caring for Coturnix Quail
Coturnix Quail are easy to raise and fast growing birds — going from chick to laying in just eight weeks. Quail can be raised for meat, as well as for their distinctive small eggs. Females are fantastic egg layers that lay as many eggs as a productive chicken.
Quail eggs are known for being healthy and packed with flavor — all you need is a serrated knife to open them.
BROODER RECOMMENDATIONS
0-2.5 WEEKS OF AGE — Raise under brooder or heat lamp. Chicks should have radiant heat of 100°F directly under lamp and 95°F around outside of lamp. Use thermometer or heat gun to check temperature. Keep chicks at 95°F for the first 7 days then drop 1° Fahrenheit daily as long as chick behavior is healthy.
OVER 2.5 WEEKS OF AGE — When birds are mostly feathered and are circling away from the heat light, you may remove heat lamp. Keep room temperature around 70-75°F. You may begin to drop temperature 1-2° daily to reach the temperature of where birds will be placed permanently.
**Egg production is best at 70°F **
RECOMMENDED TEMPERATURES FOR RAISING QUAIL
0-7 days 95°
Week 1-2 95-89°
Week 2-3 88-81°
Week 3-4 81-77°
Week 4-5 77-72°
Week 5-6 72-69°
Week 6-7 69-64°
Week 7-8 64-58°
Week 8+ < 58°
QUAIL NUTRITION AND FEED
**DO NOT FEED CHICKEN FEED TO QUAIL**
0-4 WEEKS OF AGE — Coturnix Quail require a 28% game bird or turkey starter with amprolium. Use a mini crumble to ensure that particles are small enough. If they are not, use a food processor to grind feed into smaller particles.
AFTER 4-5 WEEKS OF AGE — Feed a 19-21% breeder or grower/maintenance game bird feed. Use a regular crumble or mini pellet.
EGG PRODUCTION AND BREEDING
LAYING — Female Coturnix Quail will begin laying eggs at 6-8 weeks of age. To promote egg laying, the quail must have ample amount of daylight hours. Follow the chart below for a proper lighting schedule.
DAYLIGHT REQUIREMENTS FOR LAYING QUAIL
Week 1 24 hours
Week 2 17 hours
Week 3 13 hours
Week 4-5 10 hours
Week 6 12 hours
Week 7 13 hours
Week 8 14 hours
Week 9 15 hours
Week 10+ 16 hours*
*At week 10 and above, you may increase up to 17 hours of light, but not more is recommended due to stress on the birds.
BREEDING — If you want the birds to breed it is recommended to keep a ration of 3-5
females to 1 male.
SPACE REQUIREMENTS
Coturnix Quail make great backyard birds — with their small size, they can easily be set up in a pen on a deck, garage, or backyard.
Females Only — 46 square inches per bird
Breeding — 64 square inches per bird
MEAT PRODUCTION
Male Coturnix Quail are great for meat production or breeding. As a meat bird, Coturnix will average 3-6 ounces at maturity, and ready to process at 8 weeks.