Raising Quail in the City: How to Keep Coturnix Quail in Small Spaces

If you’ve ever looked at your tiny backyard, porch, or apartment balcony and thought, “There’s no way I could raise livestock here,” think again.

Coturnix quail make small-space homesteading totally possible. They’re quiet, efficient, and thrive in places you’d never expect, like a garage, porch, or that forgotten corner of the yard. I started keeping quail long before I had acreage, and honestly, they’re what made raising my own food feel possible in the first place.

Here’s what I’ve learned about raising quail in tight spaces—how to keep them happy, keep smells under control, and make sure the neighbors don’t even notice.

Why Coturnix Quail Just Fit City Life

Chickens might get all the attention, but quail win hands-down when you don’t have much room.

Coturnix quail need far less room (2–3 birds per square foot in stacked pens or hutches, or about 1–1.5 square feet per bird in walk-in style setups). They reach maturity fast (about 6–8 weeks), start laying almost immediately, and produce eggs year-round with consistent light.

Since they’re small, they eat less, make less noise, and don’t leave nearly the same mess behind. A few hens will easily keep you supplied with fresh eggs, and with a protein feed around 17–20%, they’ll stay productive even in confined spaces.

And the noise? It’s minimal. Hens make gentle coos, and even the males’ trills are soft enough to blend into normal city sounds.

If you’re torn between chickens and quail, I’ve broken down what’s really different about raising each one. It might help you figure out which one actually makes more sense for your setup.

Where You Can Keep Quail When You Live in the City

You’ve got to get a little creative in the city. I’ve seen thriving coveys on apartment balconies, in garden sheds, and even in detached garages.

Garages and Sheds

Garages and sheds can work great as long as you keep the air moving. You’ll want:

• A screened vent or open window for fresh air
• A small fan or air purifier to prevent ammonia buildup
• Consistent light (14 hours per day for laying hens, on a timer if natural light is limited)

Keep pens raised and dry. I like using trays under cages with pine shavings or paper bedding. They absorb moisture and make cleaning quick. I use small clip-on fans and a quiet air purifier made for pet spaces to keep airflow steady and odor low. Little things like that make a bigger difference than you’d think in small spaces.

Covered Porches and Balconies

Porches and balconies are almost ideal because they naturally provide airflow and light. Just make sure to:

• Avoid direct midday sun, though in cooler northern climates, morning and late-afternoon sun help keep pens warm and bright
• Use shade cloth and hardware cloth to protect from weather and predators
• Keep rain from blowing in and wetting bedding

A single tier of cages or a small hutch works great in that kind of space. To keep smells down, I just spot-clean every few days and swap out bedding once a week.

Small Backyards or Side Yards

Even the narrow strip beside your house can hold a small quail pen. Ground setups work best when predators are managed. Use ½-inch hardware cloth, not chicken wire, and if raccoons or cats are common, elevate the pen to keep curious paws out.

If you’ve got chickens or ducks too, most of the same tricks work. I’ve shared the methods I use for securing coops, runs, and pens in my post on keeping poultry safe from predators. It’ll help you spot any weak points in your setup.

For a more natural setup, a simple walk-in aviary with a soil or sand base gives quail room to dust bathe and forage while staying protected. If you’re thinking about keeping your covey directly on the ground, I’ve shared what’s worked best for me in my guide to raising quail on the ground that stay healthy and easy to manage year-round.

Setting Up Your Small-Space Quail Pen

From what I’ve seen, your setup decides how well this whole thing goes.

For city setups, stacked wire pens are the most space-efficient. Each tier can hold a small covey, and you can collect eggs from the front trays.

If you’d like to buy something ready-made, I’ve had really good luck with the Hatching Time quail cage systems. They’re sturdy, easy to clean, and stack neatly. Great for garages or other predator-proof spots. The droppings trays slide out for quick maintenance, and the sloped floors make egg collection simple. They’re pricier than a DIY setup, but if you plan to keep quail for a while, they’re worth every penny.

If you’d rather build your own, take a look at my detailed guide on designing and building the right Coturnix quail pen for your setup. It breaks down spacing, flooring, and ventilation options for every type of enclosure.

How I Handle Bedding and Cleaning

Pine shavings, shredded paper, or hemp bedding all work well for indoor or sheltered pens.

• Daily: Quick check for moisture and droppings buildup
• Weekly: Replace bedding and wipe down trays
• Monthly: Give everything a full scrub with a mild disinfectant, then rinse it well

The key to keeping quail odor-free is keeping bedding dry. Moisture is what creates smell, not the birds themselves. I sprinkle a thin layer of granulated Sweet PDZ under trays. It keeps smells down better than anything else I’ve tried.

Keeping Smells and Noise in Check

Quail themselves really don’t smell. It’s only when things get damp that you’ll notice it. Keep the trays dry and you won’t smell a thing. As for noise, honestly, my refrigerator hums louder than my quail. They make quiet coos, and even roosters (cocks) are quieter than you might expect. Their call is a short trill (not a crow) and it doesn’t carry much at all.

How to Keep Quail Under the Radar

You don’t need to advertise that you’re raising quail. Keep pens tucked out of sight, surrounded by container plants or privacy screens. I’ve hidden mine behind tall herbs and hanging baskets. It ends up looking more like a garden corner than anything farm-like.

I feed and clean during the day and toss droppings in the compost. Nobody’s ever noticed. Quail manure makes excellent fertilizer and breaks down quickly, especially when mixed into garden compost. Compost it for at least 2 weeks before applying directly to plants. If you want to see how I use it, check out my post on putting quail manure to work in your garden beds.

Common City Quail Problems (and How to Fix Them)

Living in town doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for predators or weather problems.

• Predators: City or not, you’ll still get the usual suspects: cats, raccoons, even hawks. Always use ½-inch hardware cloth and secure all corners. Avoid chicken wire… it’s too weak.
• Temperature Swings: Garages and balconies can overheat in summer. Use fans or freeze water bottles to cool the air. In winter, insulation helps more than heat lamps. Quail handle cold well as long as they’re out of drafts. If you’re in a northern climate like Maine, you’ll find my guide to keeping quail productive and comfortable through harsh winters especially helpful. I go over what works best for light, bedding, and shelter once the temperatures start to dip.
• Legal Rules: In many cities, quail aren’t classified as poultry. They’re considered “game birds.” That usually means you can keep quail even in places that don’t allow chickens. Still, check your local ordinances first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? These are the ones I get most often from people setting up their first city covey.

You don’t need wide-open spaces to raise your own food. Quail are proof that self-sufficiency can start anywhere (even on a porch or in a garage). When I first started, I didn’t have much more than a few cages and a stubborn idea that I could make it work. Those first eggs felt like a personal victory every morning.

That’s what I love most about keeping quail. They remind you that self-sufficiency isn’t about perfection or acreage. It’s about small wins that add up over time. You’ve got this.