How to Raise Coturnix Quail for Eggs: A Beginner-Friendly Guide
When I first started raising Coturnix quail, I was mostly after their eggs—and they didn’t disappoint. These compact birds are little egg-laying machines, and with the right setup, they can provide a consistent source of protein for your kitchen or your customers. Over the years, I’ve figured out what it takes to keep them healthy and productive without a lot of fuss.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about raising Coturnix quail for eggs. Whether you’re a backyard beginner or looking to scale up a small quail operation, these tips are practical, field-tested, and rooted in real-life experience.
Why Raise Coturnix Quail for Eggs?
Coturnix quail are incredibly efficient layers, producing up to 300 eggs per year per hen. Their eggs may be small, but they’re dense in nutrients and have a rich, slightly gamey flavor that makes them a hit for pickling, gourmet recipes, and specialty markets.
They also fit beautifully into small spaces. Unlike chickens, quail thrive in pens and cages, which makes them perfect for urban homesteads, backyards, or even indoor setups. Their quiet nature and rapid maturity make them ideal for anyone just getting started with poultry.
If you’re curious about when to expect eggs and how consistent your layers should be, this guide breaks it down clearly.
Setting Up Your Quail Housing
Before you bring home your first covey, it’s important to have the right setup in place. A well-designed pen not only keeps your quail safe and healthy but also plays a big role in their overall productivity.
Pen Size and Requirements
Each quail should have at least one square foot of space, but 2–3 birds per square foot works well in pen setups where birds are raised on wire floors and cleanliness is easier to maintain. Just be careful not to give them too much space—yes, really. In a pen that’s too large, quail can become territorial, leading to fighting and stress that hurts egg production.
Make sure your setup is predator-proof, well-ventilated, and either under 12 inches high or over 6 feet tall to prevent injury from flushing (those vertical panic jumps they’re known for).
If you’re not sure where to place your pen for best results, this post offers practical advice for choosing a safe, sheltered, and efficient location.
Hiding Boxes and Comfort
While Coturnix quail don’t need nesting boxes, they do like to feel secure. Provide overturned containers, small boxes, or natural materials like clumps of dried grass so they have hiding spots to retreat to. This reduces stress and supports steady laying.
If you’re wondering how seasonal light changes play into laying behavior, especially as days shorten, you’ll want to read this too.
Nutrition for Egg-Laying Quail
A healthy diet is one of the most important factors in keeping your quail laying consistently. Coturnix quail have specific nutritional needs, and if those aren’t met, you’ll see a noticeable dip in egg production. Feeding them properly—and ensuring they have clean water at all times—sets the foundation for strong shells and high output.
Feeding for Optimal Egg Production
A high-protein feed is essential. Look for game bird feed with 20–24% protein to support their energy and egg-laying needs. I also offer crushed oyster shells or recycled eggshells in a separate dish so they can get extra calcium as needed. This helps prevent soft-shelled or shell-less eggs.
Want more help with feeding? My quail feeding guide breaks it all down by age group and production stage.
Watering Needs
Clean, fresh water is a must. I use nipple-style waterers to prevent spills and contamination, and I check them twice a day. Hydration is critical for laying hens, especially in hot weather or if you’re using supplemental lighting.
Managing Light for Egg Production
Coturnix quail need 14–16 hours of light per day to lay consistently. During fall and winter, I use energy-efficient LED rope lights on timers to keep their internal clocks steady. Sudden changes in light exposure can lead to a drop in egg production, so consistency matters.
If you want to dive deeper into how light impacts laying, this post has everything you need to set up your lighting right. You can also get into the specifics of seasonal shifts and timing here.
Collecting and Storing Quail Eggs
I collect eggs twice a day to prevent cracking, encourage cleanliness, and reduce the risk of egg-eating. Store them pointed-end down in a cool space (ideally 50–55°F). Quail eggs can stay fresh for up to 6 weeks if stored properly—though they rarely last that long around here!
Need tips on how to handle and store eggs safely for home use or sale? Check out this post. If you’re planning to sell your extra eggs, I’ve shared several creative and practical options here.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Raising Coturnix quail comes with a learning curve, and even experienced keepers occasionally run into issues. The good news? Most challenges have straightforward solutions once you understand what’s going on.
Decreased Egg Production
Egg production can slow down due to stress, diet issues, or lack of light. Make sure your birds have adequate space, consistent light, and a high-protein, calcium-rich diet. Also check for stressors like predator noise or pen overcrowding.
If your quail suddenly stop laying, this guide covers the top reasons and fixes.
Egg Eating
Egg eating usually stems from a calcium deficiency or environmental boredom. Quail lacking in calcium may try to make up for it by breaking and consuming their own eggs. Offer free-choice calcium at all times—crushed oyster shells or recycled eggshells both work well. Boredom is another common trigger, especially in overcrowded pens. Adding enrichment like hiding spots, piles of straw or dried grass, or scattered foraging materials can help redirect their energy and reduce destructive behavior.
Broodiness
Coturnix quail almost never go broody, which means they won’t reliably sit on and hatch their own eggs. If you’re planning to raise chicks, you’ll need to use an incubator. I use the Hatching Time cabinet incubator and have found it reliable, consistent, and easy to manage for large or small batches. The temperature and humidity controls are precise, and the hatch rate is excellent when eggs are properly handled and fertile.
Soft-Shelled Eggs
Soft-shelled or shell-less eggs are almost always caused by a lack of calcium, especially in actively laying hens. Young hens just starting their laying cycle might also produce these as their bodies adjust. Make sure you’re offering a calcium supplement separately from their regular feed so they can self-regulate their intake. Monitor any birds producing soft eggs regularly to ensure the issue doesn’t persist—this can be a sign of nutritional imbalance.
Poor Egg Quality
Eggs with irregular shapes, rough shells, or weak spots usually point to inconsistent nutrition or elevated stress levels. A high-protein diet with adequate calcium, vitamin D, and trace minerals is critical. Also evaluate the quail’s environment for signs of overcrowding, predator stress, or poor ventilation. These small factors can add up and take a toll on egg quality.
Aggression and Pecking
Aggression is often caused by too many males or overcrowding in the pen. A good starting point is one male for every four to five hens. If you’re seeing feather picking or bloody birds, it’s time to adjust the male-to-female ratio or give your birds more space. Visual barriers, such as hanging panels or strategically placed boxes, can offer escape routes for bullied quail and reduce tension within the covey.
Temperature Extremes
Extreme weather—especially in open-air setups—can mess with your quail’s laying rhythm. In hot weather, heat stress can cause panting, lethargy, and a sharp drop in egg production. Keep pens shaded, well-ventilated, and stocked with cool water. I like to add frozen water bottles or ceramic tiles for birds to sit near on really hot days.
In winter, cold slows metabolism and reduces laying. Skip the heat lamps—they’re a fire risk—and use insulation and windbreaks instead to keep the pens comfortable and draft-free. If you’re raising quail in a cold climate, I have a full post on how I manage my birds through Maine winters.
Frequently Asked Questions
On average, a healthy Coturnix quail can lay approximately 300 eggs per year. Egg production may slow during winter, molting, or times of stress.
Nope! They prefer to lay eggs wherever they feel safe. A few hiding spots using overturned pots, grass piles, or small boxes will do the trick.
Yes—as long as the space is well-ventilated, predator-proof (even rodents and housepets can be dangerous to them), and offers 14–16 hours of light daily, indoor quail setups can work great.
Store unwashed eggs in a cool, dry place with the pointed end down. When kept at 50–55°F, they can stay fresh for up to 6 weeks. For full storage tips, check out this guide.
Raising Coturnix quail for eggs has been one of the most rewarding parts of my homesteading life. They’re small, productive, and surprisingly low maintenance. Whether you’re in a suburban backyard or running a full homestead, these birds offer an excellent return for the space and time you invest.
If you’re located in Maine and thinking about starting your own covey, I offer live quail and hatching eggs seasonally—just reach out through the website to check availability or reserve your birds.
