Covey Management
If you are exploring the idea of raising quail for self-sufficiency, you’ve come to the right place! If you discovered this page through our book, the Beginner’s Guide to Raising Coturnix Quail, this where you’ll find supplemental videos for Chapter 6: Caring for Adult Quail.
How much time does it take to care for quail?
The amount of time it takes to care for your Coturnix quail will vary. Some of you may have automated feed and watering systems that save time. Some of you may be raising your quail in aviaries, which means that manure management is not as time intensive. The list of “quail chores” below will give you an idea of the things you’ll need to do to throughout the year, which can help you get a better estimate of the time you’ll need to devote to their care.
DAILY
Plan for about 15 minutes of daily care for every 50 quail you have.
- Collect eggs, store pointy end down
- Check feed and water, refill as necessary
- Remove any uneaten treats (fruits, veggies, etc.) before they rot
- Observe your birds’ overall health, check for injured birds
WEEKLY
- For cages/hutches, clean poop trays (remove liners or scrape poop into compost) Tip: sprinkle sawdust, pine shavings or pine pellets on poop trays to extend time between cleanings
- For aviaries, turn or rake bedding
- Wash waterers with soap to remove biofilm and bacteria
- Check and adjust timers for your supplemental light
- For dust baths, clean with kitty litter scoop and add more sand
MONTHLY
- Wash auto water tanks with soap to remove biofilm and bacteria
- Check and clean float valves on auto water system
- Replace sand in dust bath
QUARTERLY or SEMIANNUALLY
- For aviaries, add/remove deep litter bedding
- Deep clean cages or hutches (scrub or pressure wash)
- Inspect housing and secure any areas where predators can get in