Coturnix quail, also known as Japanese quail, are a domesticated species of small game bird. They are primarily kept for meat and eggs, as they are prolific layers, fast to mature, and yield a considerable amount of meat for their size. Quail are considered the easiest livestock due to their simple care needs.
Coturnix quail are typically 6 to 7 inches long. Industry standard is the widely accepted way to keep an animal. For coturnix quail, industry standard is 1 to 3 quail per square foot, a space slightly larger than a shoebox. This allows for cheaper and [more concentrated] production of quail. However, quail require more space than the length of their body to move. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has stated the requirement for humane bird housing: “Any enclosure should provide a large space relative to the size of the bird, to allow for free movement and flight.” While quail do enjoy enclosed spaces, cramming them into the point where they barely have room to walk is not humane.
Some keepers go so far as to claim that providing more space will lead to aggression and territoriality. Responding to a critique I made on their YouTube channel, industry leader Myshire Farms replied, “If you give them more sq ft then they will start becoming territorial.” However, I have been keeping a pair of Coturnix quail hens for 4 months in a 7.5 sq ft enclosure, and I have not had any aggression issues. Furthermore, I have spoken with other quail keepers, such as JL Exotics, who has 7 years of quail keeping experience in large enclosures without problems. Another keeper told me that “there shouldn't be any aggression besides the usual pecking order stuff.” As these testimonies indicate, larger cages do not lead to aggression; rather, aggression in quail is generally due to genetics, botched introductions, or improper sex ratios.
In addition to aggression, lack of space can lead to stress and destructive behaviors like feather plucking. By following the industry standard, quail have no space to move. The conditions also become unsanitary very quickly due to overcrowding, leading to more diseases and infections in the quail. Some can be costly to treat, easily spread, or even fatal.
Compounding this space issue is the industry standard to keep quail on wire or plastic floor grids, which can lead to a condition called bumblefoot. Bumblefoot is an infection in the foot most commonly found in birds, rodents, and rabbits. It is usually either from friction or an infected cut. Bumblefoot is both preventable and treatable, but can become lethal if left untreated.
For humane quail care, space is not the only consideration. Sand baths are an important, but often overlooked, part of quail keeping. Dust bathing helps to get rid of external parasites and dead skin. It is also a natural and stimulating behavior for quail to engage in. To make quail feel safe, provide ground cover for hiding. Rock piles, plants, and branches all make great hiding spots and enrichment opportunities for quail.
Standard industrial quail cage (top). Wire floor, feed trough, egg rollout, and not much space. Hatching time cage (bottom), sized 11x24” per unit, can supposedly hold up to five quail. That is 3.5 quail per square foot, in an empty cage with nothing to do.
My hutch, 30x36”, with 2 hides, a plant, and sand for 2 quail
Coturnix quail are typically 6 to 7 inches long. Industry standard is the widely accepted way to keep an animal. For coturnix quail, industry standard is 1 to 3 quail per square foot, a space slightly larger than a shoebox. This allows for cheaper and [more concentrated] production of quail. However, quail require more space than the length of their body to move. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has stated the requirement for humane bird housing: “Any enclosure should provide a large space relative to the size of the bird, to allow for free movement and flight.” While quail do enjoy enclosed spaces, cramming them into the point where they barely have room to walk is not humane.
Some keepers go so far as to claim that providing more space will lead to aggression and territoriality. Responding to a critique I made on their YouTube channel, industry leader Myshire Farms replied, “If you give them more sq ft then they will start becoming territorial.” However, I have been keeping a pair of Coturnix quail hens for 4 months in a 7.5 sq ft enclosure, and I have not had any aggression issues. Furthermore, I have spoken with other quail keepers, such as JL Exotics, who has 7 years of quail keeping experience in large enclosures without problems. Another keeper told me that “there shouldn't be any aggression besides the usual pecking order stuff.” As these testimonies indicate, larger cages do not lead to aggression; rather, aggression in quail is generally due to genetics, botched introductions, or improper sex ratios.
In addition to aggression, lack of space can lead to stress and destructive behaviors like feather plucking. By following the industry standard, quail have no space to move. The conditions also become unsanitary very quickly due to overcrowding, leading to more diseases and infections in the quail. Some can be costly to treat, easily spread, or even fatal.
Compounding this space issue is the industry standard to keep quail on wire or plastic floor grids, which can lead to a condition called bumblefoot. Bumblefoot is an infection in the foot most commonly found in birds, rodents, and rabbits. It is usually either from friction or an infected cut. Bumblefoot is both preventable and treatable, but can become lethal if left untreated.
For humane quail care, space is not the only consideration. Sand baths are an important, but often overlooked, part of quail keeping. Dust bathing helps to get rid of external parasites and dead skin. It is also a natural and stimulating behavior for quail to engage in. To make quail feel safe, provide ground cover for hiding. Rock piles, plants, and branches all make great hiding spots and enrichment opportunities for quail.
My hutch, 30x36”, with 2 hides, a plant, and sand for 2 quail
