Quail Keepers Unite! Let’s Talk Tiny But Mighty Birds

[BYC Project Manager]

Quail may be small, but they sure pack a punch when it comes to charm, productivity, and personality! From their rapid growth and adorable “peeps” to their gourmet eggs and tasty meat, these little gamebirds have won over many backyard keepers. But raising quail also comes with its own set of quirks and challenges.

Let’s spark a fun conversation! Share your experiences, tips, or even questions about quail:

• Do you raise quail mainly for eggs, meat, pets, or all three?
• Which variety do you keep—Coturnix, Bobwhite, Button, or another type? What do you love about them?
• Quail housing: Do you prefer hutches, aviary-style setups, or colony pens?
• Have you found them easier or harder to raise than chickens?
• What’s your favorite recipe using quail eggs or meat?
• For those who’ve hatched quail, how did your incubation process compare to chickens?

Fun Fact: Quail reach laying age in just 6–8 weeks, which means you don’t have to wait long to start collecting those beautiful little speckled eggs!

Now it’s your turn—let’s hear your quail stories! Pics of your birds are always welcome (because let’s be honest, quail are ridiculously photogenic).

 

[Nabiki]

I keep coturnix quail for eggs and meat. I keep button quail as ornamental pets

I prefer aviary style setting, but for the coturnix, I have low pens that I keep on fallow garden beds that I move a few times a year. It allows the birds unlimited dirt baths, a lot more space than cages, they keep the insect population down, and they fertilize the bed for the next planting.

I have been keeping quail for years, but have only gotten chickens very recently. I don't think quail are hard to keep, but the chickens are easier so far.

My favourite recipes are in a play list that I've created here. The dakgangjeong is the best!

I have hatched many, many quail. I have yet to have a successful hatch with chickens, though I have only tried twice. Since I was trying to get svart honas, they were two very expensive failures.

Day by day candling videos for coturnix quail, and button quail.

 

[GodLovesU]

I keep a bachelor trio of button quail as pets.

 

[gummylick]

I started with quail in February this year as a step into learning to be more self-sufficient. I've hatched 3 times now, my most recent this week - some tuxedos for first time! I've also started a garden (seen in picture) and have a compost tumbler. Quail kicked it all off!

I keep them mostly for eggs and pets - but meat when I have extra roos, etc.

My quail house, "Hotel Quailfornia", has 2 floors and my goal is to have 10ish quail on each level. Right now, I have one floor filled and the tuxedos will go on bottom floor.

I've cooked the quail a few times, but working on how best to prep them!