qual:quail

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qual:quail [2026/03/16 21:01] – [Further resources] Simon Grantqual:quail [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Quail+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Quail ======
  
  
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-## What are quail?+===== What are quail? =====
  
 Quail is a collective name for several species of birds with similar appearance and behaviours. Quail are generally medium-sized (though tiny from the poultry-keeper's perspective) birds that are shy and ground dwelling. They eat a variety of insects, seeds and other plants. Their social habits are variable, with most species living in pairs, small family groups or larger groups depending on season and circumstances. Quail is a collective name for several species of birds with similar appearance and behaviours. Quail are generally medium-sized (though tiny from the poultry-keeper's perspective) birds that are shy and ground dwelling. They eat a variety of insects, seeds and other plants. Their social habits are variable, with most species living in pairs, small family groups or larger groups depending on season and circumstances.
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-## What are the benefits of keeping quail?+===== What are the benefits of keeping quail? =====
  
 If you don’t quite have the space for chickens but you want super-low-food-miles meat and eggs straight from your back garden, quail might be the poultry for you. _Coturnix_ quail are generally easy to manage and they require less space than other poultry. They are fast-growing, becoming sexually mature at around 8 weeks, and can produce up to 300 eggs per year, or 5 eggs every 4 days. They also have an excellent feed-to-egg conversion ratio. If you don’t quite have the space for chickens but you want super-low-food-miles meat and eggs straight from your back garden, quail might be the poultry for you. _Coturnix_ quail are generally easy to manage and they require less space than other poultry. They are fast-growing, becoming sexually mature at around 8 weeks, and can produce up to 300 eggs per year, or 5 eggs every 4 days. They also have an excellent feed-to-egg conversion ratio.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Getting your quail+==== Getting your quail ====
  
 The easiest quail to start with is the _Coturnix_ quail. They are not only the most productive but also the least flighty and hardiest of the quail species. You may want to choose one of the ‘Jumbo’ breeds if you are keen to produce meat. Otherwise, pick a colour that you like, or get a mixture for variety. You can easily hatch out your own birds with an incubator, a heat lamp and an indoor space to raise the chicks. If you want tame quail, the surest way to achieve that is to hatch your own. If this is not for you, then if you buy 8-week-old quail they will be fully mature and ready to live in their adult enclosure. The easiest quail to start with is the _Coturnix_ quail. They are not only the most productive but also the least flighty and hardiest of the quail species. You may want to choose one of the ‘Jumbo’ breeds if you are keen to produce meat. Otherwise, pick a colour that you like, or get a mixture for variety. You can easily hatch out your own birds with an incubator, a heat lamp and an indoor space to raise the chicks. If you want tame quail, the surest way to achieve that is to hatch your own. If this is not for you, then if you buy 8-week-old quail they will be fully mature and ready to live in their adult enclosure.
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-### Housing+==== Housing ====
  
 Quail are susceptible to attack from cats and rats as well as foxes. They can also fly away if startled and will not return. Therefore, their daytime accommodation needs to be cat-proof and covered, and night-time accommodation needs to be rat-proof. This could mean a mesh base on their run or being shut up in a house at night. Quail are susceptible to attack from cats and rats as well as foxes. They can also fly away if startled and will not return. Therefore, their daytime accommodation needs to be cat-proof and covered, and night-time accommodation needs to be rat-proof. This could mean a mesh base on their run or being shut up in a house at night.
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-### Feeding+==== Feeding ====
  
 Specialist feeds are available for adult breeding or laying quail (they require 18-20% protein). These should be introduced gradually from 8 weeks of age. If specialist chick crumbs (up to 5 weeks) or grower pellets (5-10 weeks or until slaughter for meat birds) are not available, then unmedicated turkey feeds provide the correct amount of protein. Quail also need to be provided with some greens; they like lettuce particularly but this could also be grass or leafy vegetables. Ideally quail would have enough space to forage and supplement their diet with insects, seeds and plants, but providing them with the space to do this must be balanced with the need to prevent them flying away and to protect them from predators. Specialist feeds are available for adult breeding or laying quail (they require 18-20% protein). These should be introduced gradually from 8 weeks of age. If specialist chick crumbs (up to 5 weeks) or grower pellets (5-10 weeks or until slaughter for meat birds) are not available, then unmedicated turkey feeds provide the correct amount of protein. Quail also need to be provided with some greens; they like lettuce particularly but this could also be grass or leafy vegetables. Ideally quail would have enough space to forage and supplement their diet with insects, seeds and plants, but providing them with the space to do this must be balanced with the need to prevent them flying away and to protect them from predators.
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-### Breeding+==== Breeding ====
  
 Generally broodiness has been bred out of quail and they will not sit on their eggs, or even lay their eggs consistently in the same place. You can try to encourage them to go broody by providing plenty of cover and nesting materials in their pen. When quail occasionally do sit on and incubate eggs they often will not look after the chicks once hatched and you'll have to take over. The small size of quail eggs means they can't easily be hatched under a broody hen as can be done with other poultry. Generally broodiness has been bred out of quail and they will not sit on their eggs, or even lay their eggs consistently in the same place. You can try to encourage them to go broody by providing plenty of cover and nesting materials in their pen. When quail occasionally do sit on and incubate eggs they often will not look after the chicks once hatched and you'll have to take over. The small size of quail eggs means they can't easily be hatched under a broody hen as can be done with other poultry.
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-### Health+==== Health ====
  
 Quail need a dust bath to help them control external parasites such as lice and mites. You can either provide a box full of dry soil and sand, or a covered area where they can dig their own dust bath. Adding diatomaceous earth to the dust bath can help protect them from parasites. If your quail do suffer from lice or mites you can add lice powder to their dust bath; this is far more effective and less stressful  than trying to apply it directly yourself. Quail need a dust bath to help them control external parasites such as lice and mites. You can either provide a box full of dry soil and sand, or a covered area where they can dig their own dust bath. Adding diatomaceous earth to the dust bath can help protect them from parasites. If your quail do suffer from lice or mites you can add lice powder to their dust bath; this is far more effective and less stressful  than trying to apply it directly yourself.
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-### Meat production & slaughter+==== Meat production & slaughter ====
  
 Quail are usually slaughtered for meat at around 8 weeks, they will remain tender for longer than this though and can be slaughtered after a season of laying. They can be difficult to pluck due to the thinness of their skin so are often skinned. Many people do prefer them with the skin on, however, and they can be plucked with care and practice. Quail are usually slaughtered for meat at around 8 weeks, they will remain tender for longer than this though and can be slaughtered after a season of laying. They can be difficult to pluck due to the thinness of their skin so are often skinned. Many people do prefer them with the skin on, however, and they can be plucked with care and practice.
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 For the smallholder, supplying small numbers of birds directly to consumers or to local retailers, it's also possible to slaughter and process your birds on farm, although you must register with your local authority. If you plan to produce meat for sale and you slaughter the birds yourself, or send them to a slaughter-house but take on the butchery yourself, you'll need to follow hygiene regulations and have your premises inspected by Environmental Health on a regular basis. Contact the Food Standards Agency for further information. For the smallholder, supplying small numbers of birds directly to consumers or to local retailers, it's also possible to slaughter and process your birds on farm, although you must register with your local authority. If you plan to produce meat for sale and you slaughter the birds yourself, or send them to a slaughter-house but take on the butchery yourself, you'll need to follow hygiene regulations and have your premises inspected by Environmental Health on a regular basis. Contact the Food Standards Agency for further information.
  
-### Paperwork and regulations+==== Paperwork and regulations ====
  
 You have to register with DEFRA and standard regulations apply if you keep more than 50 birds (including other types of poultry). There are no regulations for people keeping fewer than 50 birds other than the general rules and regulations covering animal welfare. You have to register with DEFRA and standard regulations apply if you keep more than 50 birds (including other types of poultry). There are no regulations for people keeping fewer than 50 birds other than the general rules and regulations covering animal welfare.
  
  
-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Beginners guide to keeping quail](https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-quail/beginners-guide-to-keeping-quail/) - [Beginners guide to keeping quail](https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-quail/beginners-guide-to-keeping-quail/)
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [[trky:Turkeys]] - [[trky:Turkeys]]
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 - [[chic:Chickens]] - [[chic:Chickens]]
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • qual/quail.1773694873.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/16 21:01
  • by Simon Grant