Coturnix Quail are legally classified as game birds – not poultry – and most Home Owner’s Associations have absolutely zero restrictions when it comes to owning these nearly silent birds. We’ll walk you through what you need to know to begin keeping these easy, productive egg layers completely legally as backyard pets who produce eggs for your family. Believe it or not, quail are allowed by your HOA!
This post contains Amazon affiliate and non-affiliate links to products I like and use.
Backyard Coturnix Quail Are Allowed by Your HOA
Quail really are legal to own in cities and suburbs. Cotrunix (Japanese) Quail are game birds the size of a russet baking potato. They have been domesticated for around a thousand years in Asia and are beloved world-wide for how easy they are to keep. The best part is that the most oppressive HOA’s usually do not have any restrictions on quail or game birds. To do so, they would have to list coturnix quail and game birds as forbidden by name. Most deed restrictions don’t mention quail at all because they are more muted than the local wild bird population and far quieter than parakeets. Check your neighborhood’s deed restrictions – you are likely to find there are no restrictions on keeping quail in your back yard!
Why Are Coturnix Quail Legal?
Coturnix quail are small, with the absolute largest of their species (jumbo quail) measured in ounces because adults rarely weigh a full pound. The hens are stunningly quiet, making tiny chirp noises that sound exactly like a small cricket. The roosers (males) do “crow” but their crow is a bird call that sounds very much like a wild bird vocalization and is similar in volume to a cat’s meow. You do not need to keep a rooster if you want a fully silent pen. The quail hens will lay eggs even if there is no male around to fertilize them.
Small, quiet, easy to keep. That is why Coturnix quail are legal.
What Type of Coop Do They Need?
Quail are ground birds so their pens should be a one-level hutch or aviary of some sort. When startled the quail pop up vertically in alarm, taking flight away from predators. Because of this they must be kept in hutches with a ceiling lower than 30 inches or an aviary higher than 60 inches so they do not break their neck when they strike the ceiling. Avoiding the 30 to 50 inch ceiling height “kill zone” is imperative.
Since quail spend all of their time on the ground, including sleeping on the ground, their pen should have as much floor space as possible. Rabbit hutches with wire bottoms that allow poops to fall through are a popular option, as are 5 foot tall duck-in aviaries that sit below the 6 foot fence line. This article shows our own ground pen and you can find links to various quail coop building plans.
What Do Quail Eat?
Young quail eat Game Bird Starter from Tractor Supply, local feed stores or Amazon for the first 6-8 weeks of their life. Once they begin laying eggs, they can be switched to a 16% Layer Crumble chicken feed from the same suppliers. They can be given clover weeds, which they love, and lettuce, cucumber or zucchini kitchen scraps. One bag of crumbles will feed 10 to 12 quail for a month.
What Do Coturnix Quail Drink?
Quail need water but they are intelligent enough to learn to use small animal waterers. (Afflink) This helps keep the cage incredibly clean and easy for you to maintain. I prefer the two quart size to keep the quail hydrated in hot weather and to allow you a weekend trip away without needing a refill. One two-quart waterer will water 6-9 quail for 2-3 days in fair weather and 2 days in hot weather.
What Else Do Coturnix Quail Need?
Quail do poop and those poops have a small amount of smell to them. Moisture from rain or humidity can magnify the dropping’s scent. I like to use Sweet PDZ Horse Stall Refresher, which I sprinkle over the poops, to instantly absorb all smell. It is made of zeolite, a naturally occurring mineral that is garden safe so the quail poops can still be used as garden compost. One bag of Sweet PDZ will last you several weeks so it is worth the drive to a local feed store to purchase it.
I would also suggest owning a small dog kennel or cat carrier. (Afflinks) You’ll use this to pick up and transport your new quail chicks from the breeder as well as to temporarily separate any quail that is injured. Since you may be adding quail to your covey every spring, a cat carrier is really handy to have!
When Do Quail Begin Laying?
Quail are a miracle of nature, beginning to lay around 8-10 weeks old. Some hens can start laying as early as 6 weeks old. Most breeders will sell quail chicks at 3 weeks old, when they are feathered out and ready to go into an outdoor hutch or aviary. At 3-4 weeks of age, feather sexable colors of quail will make telling the spotted-chest hens from the solid-colored chest males easier.
Buyer Beware
It is wisest to buy young quail that are not yet laying so you can ensure they are indeed young, fresh layers. If you purchase hens that are already laying you run the risk of getting an older girl already nearing the end of her productive egg laying days and perhaps nearing the end of her life. Young hens will usually have clean, fresh looking feet and nails, vibrant feathers, and a pointed beak that is not chipped. The breeder will know her hatch date because it will have occurred only 3-6 weeks prior.
Where Do I Put The Pen?
Quail need to be exposed to 12 to 16 hours of sunlight or artificial light in order to lay eggs. When more than twelve hours of light enters the female quail’s eye, it activates her pituitary gland and signals for ovulation. Ideally your pen will have hardware cloth (wire) sides that face east and west to allow the maximum amount of light to enter their living space. If you need to keep quail near a covered back patio – which really is a fantastic spot for them – consider using a small garden solar light to ensure the hens are exposed to enough light to promote good laying.
Where Do I Buy Coturnix Quail?
Pet stores don’t carry quail so you’ll need to find a local breeder using Facebook groups, Craig’s List or MeWe. “Local” may involve an hour drive one way but it is worth it to get good, healthy young quail to start with. If you purchase only hens, you’ll need to plan on buying more chicks from this breeder every year as quail hens only live for an average of 18 months. If you get a rooster with your hens, you can breed your own quail using an incubator. (Afflink) This may seem inconvenient now but as people identify the increasing reasons for backyard food production, quail breeders will not be able to keep up with demand. Setting yourself up to be able to hatch your own quail might be a wise investment if it interests you.
What Type of Coturnix Quail Do I Choose?
Coturnix quail come in standard and jumbo size, as well as celadon, which is a standard size quail that lays a blue egg. Jumbo celadon also exist but they are rare. There are a number of different feather colors, some being quite unique. The choice is up to you. If eggs are your primary desire, I would suggest keeping jumbo quail which lay an egg so large, you may only need 2 of them to equal one chicken egg. Jumbo quail hens hardly eat more food than standard quail hens but you need fewer of them to lay the equivalent of one dozen chicken eggs.
I Want Quail! What Do I Do Next?
First, check your neighborhood deed restrictions to verify that quail are allowed by your HOA (or at the very least are not mentioned as being restricted). The next step is to purchase or build a pen for your future quail covey. Use ¼ inch hardware cloth on the sides to protect your birds from raccoons, opossums, rats and snakes. Opt for exterior grade gate hardware and hinges that will last in outdoor weather. (You can view our quail coop building plans here.)
When your hutch, pen or aviary is ready, find a local breeder. Expect to pay a minimum of $5 per standard hen, $7-$8 per Jumbo hen and $8-$12 each for blue-laying celadon hens as of this writing in 2022.
2023 Update: Prices have risen to around $5-$8 per quail chick and $10+ for hens.
2024 Update: $6 for just-hatched and week-old quail chicks still needing brooder care is the minimum I’m seeing in my area.
Unforeseen Events Can Quickly Impact Demand for Coturnix Quails
If upsetting events that empty grocery stores occur, like what happened during COVID-19 lockdowns, a buying rush may ensue, driving up the price per quail hen. Hardware cloth shortages also occurred during 2020 so there is wisdom in considering quail now, before the pressure treated lumber, hardware cloth and exterior hinges and latch hardware needed to build their pens experiences any more price increases.
Share Your Knowledge!
Let your neighbors know that quail are allowed by your HOA and send them helpful links to get started. Children are typically delighted with the prospect of adding quail and gathering eggs so it is a worthwhile family activity that you are sharing with others. Happy quail keeping!
Leave a Reply