Free Quail Coop Building Plans

Backyard quail keeping is on the rise and the need for free quail coop plans is exploding. Whether you are wanting a coop, rabbit hutch, ground pen or walk-in aviary, we’ve got all the bases covered with an abundance of links to free design plans. There is also an Under $40 section where you can view gorgeous plans for sale on Etsy that include detailed instructions and cut lists to build various enclosures that would add to your property value.

None of these plans, website or Etsy links are affiliate links. Any Amazon affiliate links to the tools or hardware we used on our pens will be labeled.

Free Quail Coop Plans for Building:

Tip: Quail do not understand how to use ramps to go “upstairs” at night. Instead, they will stay on the lowest level, generally not using any upstairs portion of a coop you build. If you want to build a two-story design, make each story its own separate pen and keep two coveys!

Quail do not understand how to use ramps to go upstairs at night. They dwell and sleep on the ground so opt for single story hutches and ground pens with plenty of floor space!

NEW! Build plans for this farmhousey cottage-style quail coop are now in our shop!

The East and West-facing side walls should be made of 1/4 inch hardware cloth that allows light to enter from the sunrise and sunset. Quail hens need exposure to 14 hours of light to lay. If your quail need more daylight, consider using clear polycarbonate roofing on your quail pen (sold on the metal roofing sheet aisle at home improvement stores). Remember to seal any gaps to keep snakes out.

Raccoons can open ALL simple locks unless they are secured with carabiners. Opt for exterior grade gate hardware that allows you to add a carabiner or padlock. We use this one.

Click on the image of each coop or pen to go directly to the plans

We do not own these plans. Each image links directly to the website where you can find them for free!

Rabbit Hutch Style Quail Pens

Yes, quail can be kept in single-story rabbit hutches!

This 4×2 foot hutch can house a male and up to 6 hens with him or 7-8 female quail. We suggest using 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the bottom to allow droppings to fall through and 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the front, sides or any ventilation areas.

This divided section rabbit hutch will let you breed different colors of quail. Each section can house a male and 3-4 females. We suggest using 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the bottom to allow droppings to fall through and 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the front, sides or any ventilation areas.

This 3×4 foot hutch can house a male and up to 6 hens with him or 7-8 female quail. We suggest using 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the bottom to allow droppings to fall through and 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the front, sides or any ventilation areas.

This 45×21 inch (roughly 3.75 x 2 feet) little hutch can comfortably house a male and five hens or up to 6 female quail. We suggest using 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the bottom to allow droppings to fall through and 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the front, sides or any ventilation areas.

These 3.5 foot high by roughly 4 foot wide building plans can be altered to add a 1/2 inch hardware cloth bottom to let poops fall through. The house portion can have a solid floor so the quail can sleep safely without raccoons trying to bite their toes. This will house 7-8 female quail or a roo and 6 females with him.

If you’re only looking to keep 4 coturnix hens and want a cute hutch for your patio, consider this darling build from Ana-White.com. We suggest using 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the bottom to allow droppings to fall through and 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the front or any ventilation areas.

Cold Frame Style Quail Pens

Quail aren’t picky. You can alter cold frame plans to make a quail ground pen. Simply use 1/4 inch hardware cloth instead of plastic sheeting or glass on the sides and sturdy roofing.

The quail will overheat inside the cold frame unless you use 1/4 inch hardware cloth in place of the clear plastic sheeting.

Covered Garden Bed Style Quail Pens

Coturnix (Japanese) quail can be housed in covered garden beds, allowing you to grow herbs and lettuce greens for them to eat at the same time! Use 1/4 inch hardware cloth **only** and cover the roof with it as well. Ceiling should ideally be 5 feet high to prevent quail from startling upwards and breaking their neck on impact.

Grow veggies along the outside edge and keep 3-5 quail securely in the walkway middle portion. (The quail will move out of your way when you enter.) Use 1/2 inch hardware cloth on all sides and the top, which must be covered to keep raccoons out. Visit Ana-White.com to see images of completed garden enclosures like this.

Aviary & Open-Air Style Quail Pens

We recommend using 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch hardware cloth on this walk-in aviary pen if it is to house quail. The quail will also need a small, 3-sided rain-proof shelter inside of this pen to run under when it rains.

This 10×8 foot aviary features a roof and shows proper use of 1/4 to 1/2 inch hardware cloth.

This 8′ long, 4’3″ deep and 5’7″ tall aviary is a perfect walk-in size. We suggest using clear greenhouse plastic roofing to protect the quail from rain and adding chicken wire on the bottom so rats and raccoons cannot tunnel into the aviary. Sides should be 1/4 or 1/2 inch hardware cloth. (You will need to measure the areas you intend to cover with hardware cloth to determine if 4 foot wide roll lengths is enough or if you will need to add additional studs so you can attach the wire securely.)

Chicken run plans that are taller than 50 inches can be built as a stand-alone quail pen. Simply add a small, 3-sided shelter inside for the quail to run under when it rains! Visit Ana-White.com to see images of completed runs. We suggest using buried wire or pavers around the bottom edges to stop predators from digging in.

Other Quail Pen Ideas

This rectangular pen would be excellent for quail. Use 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the sides and chicken wire for the floor to keep rats and raccoons from tunneling in. It can be moved weekly to a fresh patch of grass by two adults. Click the image and **scroll down to “Rabbit Tractor”** to view the directions.

Use 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the sides and 1/2 inch hardware cloth for the floor. Poops will fall through and compost right under the hutch. Raccoons can open all latches unless they are secured with a carabiner.

Click the image to see our DIY scrap wood quail coop ideas!

Under $40 Building Plans for Quail Coops, Pens, Hutches and Aviaries

Hint: Add plans you like to your cart in Etsy and leave them there for 24 hours. You may receive an email with a discount code for one or more of the plans the next day, which is a service Etsy offers in the hopes you complete your purchase. We have quail coop building plans in our website shop for less than the same plans in our Etsy Shop.

Keep up to 12 Coturnix quail in our Cottage Quail Coop that sits below residential fence lines. It looks adorable and is easy to clean, meaning it will always appear attractive and well kept!

A trio of building plans for various quail keeping structures are available from Etsy Seller TheGardenCoop • Plans available for purchase on Etsy.com

Keep quail and grow the lettuce greens they love to eat! Pen designed by Etsy Seller TheGardenCoop • Plans available for purchase on Etsy.com (We suggest having a chicken wire floor at ground level to stop predators from tunneling in. Grass will grow up through the chicken wire for the quail to eat.)

Quail can be kept in a covered raised garden bed so long as 1/4 inch hardware cloth is used. Buy these building plans for $4.99 from hydrangeatreehouse.com

Chicken run plans that are taller than 50 inches can be built as a stand-alone quail pen so long as they are not open-top. Simply add a small, 3-sided shelter inside for the quail to run under when it rains. Plans available from Etsy Seller CoopExpert on Etsy.com (We suggest having a chicken wire floor securely attached to the bottom wood frame to stop predators from tunneling in.)

How about a green house and quail coop in one? Simply cover any high ventilation windows with 1/2 inch hardware cloth and opt for a natural mulch floor. Quail won’t jump up and ruin growing plants. Plans from Etsy seller TheHillsideMarket on Etsy.com

Suggested Tools:

The Kreg brand pocket hole jig system is necessary to complete some of the building plans listed here. It will get a lot of use when it comes time to make the doors and runs! (Afflink)

quail egg carton stamp, quail stamp, quail nest egg carton, custom quail carton, stamp quail eggs, coturnix stamp, egg carton stamp, japanese quail eggs stamp, mini egg stamp, speckled egg stamp — If backyard quail are in your future, I would love to design your quail egg carton stamp! Click the image to go directly to my Etsy shop.

You might also enjoy reading:

Easy Backyard Coturnix Quail Keeping

Quail Ground Pen Ideas

Natural Quail Keeping (20 images & ideas!)

Scrap Wood Quail Hides – Kid Friendly Build Project!

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Coturnix quail coop building plans backyard hutch aviary pen HOA PDF plan build DIY yourself

Comments

ms lj says

January 7, 2022 at 12:49 pm

Hello, please be aware that, while cedar has always been something to avoid with quail, fir and pine are now suspect too, due to their oils, which give off that pleasant smell. Rabbits are dying of liver disease, and it is believed the wood used for the hutches and bedding are to blame.

- Tay Silver says
  
  January 7, 2022 at 1:53 pm
  
  This is great advice for new keepers!
  
  We haven’t had an issue using painted cedar wood boards on the side of one of our hutches (probably because they are painted) but I’ve found using pressure treated wood that is then painted with non toxic exterior latex paint lasts the longest! Unpainted hutches seem to quickly rot and deteriorate and the bird’s exposure to the oils is yet another good reason to paint the hutch. Cedar shaving bedding should be avoided with all birds. Play sand, straw and hay have been great bedding options for our coturnix quails. They really do LOVE burrowing through hay and straw!
  
Jonathan says

September 15, 2022 at 8:14 pm

Very useful page.