Caring for quail

Quail need fresh feed and water daily. Quail can be fed ad libitum (i.e., as much as they want), but their feed should be checked regularly and any food found in the house that is old, mouldy, or stale should be cleaned up and thrown away to prevent rats and mice being attracted in.

Quail need good quality feed formulated for quail, as well as supplemental fresh food such as fresh leafy greens. Quail-appropriate feed is designed to meet their nutritional needs and is made up of a balanced blend of grains and seeds that provide the necessary carbohydrates, nutrients, and protein levels that quail require to stay healthy and well-fed. Look for feed for quail, game birds, or turkey starter feed if quail-specific feed is not available. Quail may need supplementing with calcium if you are finding their eggs have soft shells. It is also a good idea to give your quail grit to help them digest properly. Supplemental fresh food should be fed in moderation, making up about 10% of the quail’s overall diet, to prevent health issues. Safe vegetables and greens for quail include clover, grass, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, kale, dandelions, cucumber, broccoli and apples.

Quail need clean, fresh water from a watering system that is easy for the birds to drink from. Birds do not have lips, so it can be hard for them to drink water when it is down low. Hanging drinkers can be a good way around this, but ensure the quail can reach the drinkers. The water container should be placed somewhere where it is out of the sun (so it does not get too hot).

Your quail need a safe, comfortable and interesting environment to live in, away from other animals that may harm them (e.g. cats, dogs, pest species and birds of prey).

This can be provided by a well set up house, that is the biggest and best you can afford. The house should have an indoor area where the quails can shelter, sleep, roost and lay their eggs. Quail don’t always make nests, but they do like to lay their eggs somewhere dark. Bedding should cover the whole floor, and be deep (at least 5cm) and the material used should be dry and friable. The house should be well-ventilated and allow natural light to come in. The house needs to be secure and predator-proof.

Your quail should also have access to a safe outdoor area where they can exercise, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, and express normal behaviours, such as scratching, foraging and dustbathing. The outdoor ranging area should have good overhead cover to protect the quail from predators and protect the birds from the sun, rain and wind. Also, because quail are capable of flying vertically if they are startled, it is best to have a permanent cover, such as fruit net or similar soft material, over the run.

Quail are susceptible to the cold, so making sure to give them extra deep bedding during colder periods and closing windows and doors to reduce draughts is important.

Your quail should be wormed regularly and you should discuss with your veterinarian about parasites to watch out for in your area. The house should be regularly cleaned to reduce the risk of parasite infestations. Remember after giving any kind of medication to your quail you will need to avoid eating their eggs for a certain amount of time, called a withdrawal period, which varies with different medications and will be stated on the medication information, or ask your vet. Remember that your quail may need veterinary care over their lifetime, so take this into account when considering the costs of caring for your flock of quail. 

Quail have innate behaviours they should be able to express, such as dustbathing and foraging, and if these are prevented it can cause your quail frustration. Quail should be given a complex, interesting environment where they can move freely, groom, explore and forage for food, ideally with access to an outdoor range which offers a more natural environment, fresh air and natural light. Quail are quite nervous birds and like places to hide. They are also social animals, so it’s important to ensure you have at least two quail to keep each other company.

Quail should be handled using low-stress, force-free methods. Quail should never be caught or carried by their legs or wings or inverted. Instead, quail should be caught gently and carried around the body and kept upright. Quail can fly vertically upward when startled, so you should move quietly and slowly to avoid startling them.

Provision of enrichment is important for quail because it promotes natural behaviours and provides opportunities for positive mental experiences. Different types of food, such as green leafy vegetables (e.g. kale or brussel sprouts), can be provided to give quail choice of what to eat. Giving your quail pecking pans or blocks and sandboxes in which your quail can scratch and dustbathe are all great ideas for enriching the house. Quail naturally like to hide under bushes and thick brush, so providing cut branches and small logs securely raised off the ground can give your quail places to hide and rest.

If it is not possible for your quail to have access to an outdoor range then it is of even greater importance to provide them with enrichment and a varied diet.