Four Rules for Housing Quail
Here at the farm, we've had a lot of different setups for quail: hutches, mobile tractors, and many kinds of cages. We make adjustments after every mistake. There aren't many hard and fast rules about raising quail, but when it comes to housing, there are four:
#1 - Keep feed and water available 24/7
This one is the most important! Never let your feeders or waterers run dry. Why? It triggers aggression. Despite how cute these birds are, their aggression is no joke. A lack of food or water can trigger their inner T-rex and the next thing you know, there's a scalped or dead bird in the cage. It's not fun.
#2 - Keep your quail at the right density
Coturnix are flock animals, so they feel safest when they are around a lot of other birds. But they are also territorial, which means they will fight each other to establish and protect their space or a mate. You can manage this love/hate relationship and prevent death or injuries by following these guidelines about density (how many quail you put in one place):
Brooders
You can put 6 chicks per square foot in a brooder. If you can, give them a bit more space as they grow. Be sure to subtract the space your feeder and waterer take up when calculating your square footage!
Cages and Hutches
After extensive testing, we found that 3 adult quail per square foot in a cage setting works best. At this density, there’s not enough room to establish territory, so they are less likely to get territorial.
Aviaries
In this system, we recommend giving your quail 1-3 square feet per bird. Be sure to give them lots of places to hide.
#3 - Make sure your housing is the right height
Coturnix have the instinct to pop up or flush when they get scared. If they get enough momentum on their way up, they could get head injuries or even break their necks. To offer the best protection:
- Cages and hutches - 8-12 inches high
- Aviaries - 6+ feet high
#4 - Use hardware cloth
Quail have SO many predators. They are tasty snacks for rats, snakes, skunks, racoons, coyotes, dogs, cats, hawks, owls, and bears. If you're building your own cages, using 1/2 x 1/2 inch hardware cloth will give you the best protection from predators.
We use 1/2 x 1 inch coated wiring for the floors of our indoor cages. Coated wiring is easier on quail feet. It can greatly reduce or even eliminate cases of bumble foot, a common foot ailment of quail raised on wire flooring.
Learn more about quail housing in our Quail 101 course!