The Quail Molting Process: What to Expect & How to Help
If your Coturnix quail suddenly start dropping feathers, stop laying eggs, and look a little scruffy, don’t panic—they’re likely going through a molt. Molting is a natural process where quail shed their old feathers and grow new ones. It can look alarming the first time you see it, but it’s an essential part of their life cycle.
Understanding when quail molt, how long it lasts, and how to support them through it will help you keep your covey healthy and productive in the long run. Let’s walk through what to expect during molt and how to make it easier on your birds.
What is Molting?
Molting is the natural process where quail shed old, worn-out feathers and replace them with fresh ones. This not only keeps their feathers in top condition but also gives their bodies a break from laying. Coturnix quail typically go through one big molt each year, usually in late summer or early fall as the daylight starts to decrease. These seasonal molts are often accompanied by a noticeable drop—or complete stop—in egg production.
Mini-molts can also happen, often triggered by stress, poor nutrition, or environmental changes. These tend to be shorter and less intense than the full annual molt but still take a toll on your birds’ energy and appearance.
How Long Do Coturnix Quail Molt?
A full molt in Coturnix quail generally lasts between 4 and 6 weeks. That timeline can shift depending on the bird’s age, diet, stress levels, and overall health. Some birds bounce back quicker, while others may take a bit longer to get through it.
Stages of Molting
Molting doesn’t happen all at once—it moves through a few distinct stages that each serve a specific purpose. Knowing what to look for at each phase will help you respond with the right care and support.
Feather Loss
Molting usually kicks off with a sudden feather drop. You’ll likely notice feathers scattered around the pen and your quail looking patchy or thin. This stage typically lasts 1 to 2 weeks.
Rest and Regrowth
After losing their feathers, quail enter a rest period while new feathers begin to develop. Their energy is focused on feather regrowth, and egg production slows or stops completely. You may also notice they’re less active than usual. This stage generally lasts another 1 to 2 weeks.
Pin Feathers and Full Recovery
Next comes feather regrowth. Pin feathers (those tiny shafts that look like porcupine quills) start emerging and slowly unfurl into fully formed feathers. This can take an additional 2 to 3 weeks, and while pin feathers can be uncomfortable for your quail, once they’re fully in, your birds will be back to looking sleek and healthy.
When and Why Mini-Molts Happen
Besides the annual molt, quail can go through shorter molts triggered by specific events:
- A sudden temperature shift
- Moving to a new pen or rearranging their space
- Illness or injury
- Poor nutrition, especially low protein
- Hormonal shifts during breeding season
These molts might not cause as many dropped feathers but can still lead to patchy spots or a pause in egg laying.
How to Help Quail Through a Molt
Molting is energy-intensive, and a little support goes a long way. Here’s how to help your quail recover smoothly:
1. Boost Protein Intake
Feathers are made of keratin—a protein—so it makes sense that a high-protein diet supports faster, healthier feather regrowth. During molt, I switch to a 24% protein feed and add treats like mealworms or boiled eggs. You can even mix in a little fish meal or sunflower seeds in moderation.
2. Keep Things Calm
Stress delays feather regrowth and can make the molt drag on. Avoid moving your quail, introducing new birds, or making big changes to their pen setup. A quiet, secure environment is key.
3. Provide Clean Water
Hydration supports feather regrowth and helps your birds recover faster. Make sure their waterers are clean and topped off daily, especially in warm or dry conditions.
4. Ease Off the Lights
Molting is a natural pause from laying, so don’t push them to keep producing. If you use supplemental lighting, consider dialing it back to match the natural daylight hours. This gives their bodies a well-deserved rest.
5. Don’t Overdo the Calcium
Since your quail won’t be laying much (if at all) during molt, they don’t need as much calcium. Keep a modest supply of crushed oyster shell or eggshell available, but don’t go overboard. Too much calcium without laying can lead to other health issues.
Do Quail Stop Laying Eggs During Molt?
Yes, and it’s completely normal. Egg production takes a lot of energy, and during molt, their bodies prioritize growing new feathers instead. Most quail stop laying entirely or drop down to just a few eggs here and there.
Typically, egg laying picks back up within 1–2 weeks after the molt finishes. As long as your birds are healthy and getting the nutrition they need, they’ll return to normal production soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Molting usually lasts 4–6 weeks but can vary based on diet, age, and stress levels.
They typically molt in late summer to early fall, triggered by decreasing daylight.
It’s best to avoid handling quail during molt unless absolutely necessary. Their new pin feathers are sensitive, and too much handling can cause discomfort or even damage the developing feathers.
You can’t rush it, but you can support your quail with protein-rich feed, low-stress housing, and clean water to help them recover efficiently.
Molting is a normal and important part of your Coturnix quail’s life cycle. It may look a little rough—and lead to a short break in egg production—but it’s not a cause for concern. Give your birds a protein boost, reduce stress, and let them rest. In a few weeks, they’ll be back to full strength, freshly feathered and ready to lay again.
Raising quail means learning to work with their rhythms, and molt is just one part of the cycle. With the right care, your birds will come through it just fine.
My quail molted in early spring not fall or summer is that normal every I have read says fall and summer?
That depends a bit on how old your quail are. If they’re still in their first year, it’s totally normal to see a few “mini molts” as they grow into their adult feathers. I call them the awkward teen stage—sometimes you’ll find feathers everywhere, but the birds don’t show bald patches like they do during a full molt.
Another thing to keep in mind: if you’re seeing feather loss on the back of the hens’ necks, that’s usually from breeding. Roosters tend to be a little overzealous, and that wear pattern is pretty common in active breeding coveys.