Six Things You Should Know Before Getting Quail

If you’re thinking about getting quail, you’re looking for all the information you can get so that you know what to expect. Raising quail is very rewarding. They are great producers and super cute and friendly. However, there are a few things that you should be aware of before you decide to bring them home.

Are quail easy to care for?

1) Quail Aren’t As Cold-Tolerant As Other Types Of Poultry.

Quail have small bodies, which means it is harder for them to generate as much body heat as larger birds like turkeys and chickens. It is very important to make sure that have an enclosed shelter for the winter.

They can still survive sub-zero temperatures just fine, but you must make sure that they are well sheltered from the wind and snow. They also don’t produce well in cold weather and aren’t good at seeking shelter if you keep them in an outdoor aviary.

A bit of supplemental heat in the winter can go a long way towards keeping them productive, although may not be necessary.

2) Quail Can Be Brutal To Each Other.

This is something that often ends up turning off new quail owners, so it is important to address. Quail have a tendency to pick on each other, often in shockingly brutal fashion. Your birds can be getting along perfectly fine and then the next morning, you come out to find several mutilated horribly.

Unfortunately, this is an issue you are probably going to face at some point, and it’s very discouraging. There are some ways to prevent your birds from doing this, though. Make sure your quail have distractions in their pens like dust baths, branches, and other things to keep them entertained. Don’t overcrowd them.

Be careful of weather changes. I have found that when the weather suddenly gets colder, birds are more prone to pick. Caged birds are the most likely to pick on each other. I raise many of my quail on the ground, and while there are disadvantages to doing so, I have never had a problem with them picking on each other.

If you’re worried about your quail picking on each other, try raising them on the ground with plenty of space, and if you have to keep them in cages, try to give them at least a square foot for each bird and plenty of distractions, and keep a close eye on them during weather changes or other sources of stress.

Thankfully, quail are surprisingly resilient birds and can recover from injuries remarkably well. I have had birds that I thought for sure were gone make full recoveries with a little quarantine time. So don’t despair if your quail looks badly pecked.

3) They Smell.

It’s true that all poultry smell, but quail have an especially strong and distinct smell. Many people who raise quail in their garage end up wanting to move their quail out. So before you get them, make sure your garage is well-ventilated, or better yet, keep them in a shed where you can’t smell them.

4) They Tend To Be Higher Maintenance Than You Might Expect.

This doesn’t mean that quail are hard to raise, per se. It does mean that they have specific feed requirements and you have to pay closer attention to their health and wellbeing than you might with many other birds. You can pretty much throw chickens on pasture with some supplemental feed, clean water, and a shelter, and they'll stay healthy. Quail, not so much.

Chickens aren’t picky about what they need. But quail definitely need closer monitoring and a bit more attention to detail. They may take a bit more time out of your day to make sure everyone’s happy and healthy.

The babies are surprisingly hardy, but you must be very careful not to let them get chilled, and they need special waterers that are designed for quail so that they don’t get soaked or drown accidentally.

Overall, quail are hardy birds, but you are going to spend a bit more time caring for them and monitoring their health than you might with other types of poultry.

5) They Are Prone To Predation.

Because they are so small and often not very fast, quail are very susceptible to becoming a meal for your cat, dog, or the neighborhood Cooper’s Hawk. A coturnix quail that gets out of its pen is a target for multiple predators and not likely to last long. It is important to make sure your cages or run is predator-proof because we aren’t the only ones who find quail tasty.

6) They Are Difficult To Raise On The Ground.

We all want our birds to be as happy and healthy as possible, so it would seem that raising quail on the ground is the best option. Unfortunately, I have not found this to be the case. While I’ve had no problems with them picking on each other on the ground, and it’s fun to see them running about and pecking at my shoes, the drawbacks are real.

Quail are escape artists. Even if your aviary is very secure, you’re probably going to have one stealthily slip out at some point. And unlike chickens and other poultry, they won’t know how to stick around. I’ve had several quail get out and been able to catch them again, including ones that have gotten out and hung around for a few weeks before I managed to catch them. Because they are so friendly, if they do get out, chances are you will be able to catch them. But since they are so prone to predation and simply leaving forever, this is real concern.

Quail on the ground are also more prone to picking up parasites and getting manure balls on their toes. They can also spook suddenly and fly up and hit their heads on the top of the enclosure or crash into the sides, causing serious injury.

The quail I have on the ground are very healthy and sleek, but I’ve had more success, especially with young quail, raising them in cages. Young quail do fine in cages but just don’t seem to do great on the ground, but once they are fully grown up, I have had success keeping them on the ground.

Anyway, these are important things to know before purchasing your first quail. Quail are amazing birds that are very productive, but as with all animals, you need to be conscientious and knowledgeable about how to raise them.