Q&A for How to Feed Quail

Every morning should be sufficient for your quail, but if you find that they eat the feed too fast, you should provide more feed for them or feed them twice a day. Quails do not overeat like fish, so keeping their food bowl filled up is fine.

Feed your quails just like you normally would with a high-protein feed. Now that your quails are laying eggs you can supplement them with calcium through egg or oyster shells. Break the shells down first and add it to their feed.

Quails are foraging birds that live in shrub/bush lands in the wild. Their diet consists of insects, grains, seeds and sometimes berries. Your quail should be kept on a game-bird feed. If your quail refuses to eat the pellets try finding a smaller mix or crushing down the pellets - they might find it too big and therefore difficult to eat. Mealworms should be fed in small amounts and only as treats as they have a high fat content. Greens and vegetables are great treats for quail. Look closely, your quail is probably nibbling on the food but they might be too scared to eat in front of you (meaning they see you as a threat). If your quail is still refusing to eat take it to your local vet.

Romaine lettuce can be given, but avoid iceberg as it has too little nutrient content and too high a water content to benefit your quail. Tangerines should be avoided too, as they're citrus.

Yes, it's a safe leafy green to feed them. However, they might not eat mint.

Yes, but the eggs won't be fertile. Most birds will lay infertile eggs without a male present.

No. Quails' broodiness has been bred out of them so if your quail does manage to go broody, it's a rare occurrence. However, button quail become broody more often than Japanese/Coturnix quail.

Since quail are smaller, you can try bordering the food off from the pigeons and doves. Or you can put a cage around the food.

The only thing you can do with the powder is to re-add it to the feed. The chicks do actually eat the powder whilst eating the crumbles, so keep on re-adding the powder into the feed bag. Another option is to mix powder with treats/scraps such as beans, rice, pasta, etc.

It's difficult to narrow down the specific seeds depending on the area. Quail typically eat any seed that is native to where they live. They don't only eat seeds, but will eat vegetation and insects, too. Even nuts have been a part of their diet.

Keep your quail in their own housing system if they are pets. If they're wild birds, it's close to impossible to keep other birds away. Put some feed under a bush or in the shrubs, since that is where quail like to dwell.

They need constant access to game bird feed.

A buried pallet would be an excellent idea, since quail like to hide to stay safe. Invest in planting shrubs and bushes around your home, which quail also love. Provide food, water and an overall natural landscape with plenty of hiding spots.

Quail can lay on eggs, but it's very rare due to the fact that their broody instincts have been bred out of them.

Grit should be cooked for easy digestion.

Eliminate whatever is giving your quail anxiety and reduce the stress. Make sure your quail has somewhere to hide in a situation of conflict/fear and that the cage is secure and safe.

At least 6 weeks old.

Yes, they can, but not as a complete diet.

Baby quail will eat on their own; just make sure their feeder always has food in it. You might need to grind up their starter food a little.

Avoid mashed feed, if you can. If you must use mashed feed, make sure that it is not too powdery. The powder can easily get in between the quail's toes and cause infections (from Method 1 Section 2 above).

Quails can eat watermelon, but the shell is too hard for their beaks. It also has a lot of acid in it, which is bad for the quail.

Provide your quail with a high-protein chick feed with small, fine granules. The hen or rooster will encourage their chicks to eat by mimicking to them and using vocal cues.

Fill a shallow dish with soft sand or dry soil/dirt. You can use the soil from your garden or purchase chinchilla sand from a pet-store. Keep in mind that natural earth is good for your quail, because the dirt is unfiltered and contains small insects, grit, and other nutrients that your quail can peck at.

If you are using a hutch with a separated indoor and outdoor area, then yes. Be aware that dirt is not very absorbent, so your quail hutch will have to be moved around the yard frequently. Provide absorbent, dry, and warm bedding in the indoor area of the hutch.

You cannot force your quail to sit on their eggs; however, you can encourage their broody instinct by building nesting boxes and providing them with nesting materials such as hay, straw, grass, feathers, etc. The more safe and calm your quails' environment is, the more likely they are to decide to have chicks.

7 - 10 days at normal room temperature or 30 - 45 days refrigerated. To tell if an egg is bad for consumption, drop it in a glass of water. It should sink. If it floats to the middle, it's old; if it floats to the top, it's off.

Adolescent quail can be fed a chick crumble (chicken or turkey chick mixture) or a game-bird feed formulated for young chicks. A high-protein diet is best; if you choose the right crumble/mash, they should get most of their nutrients from this. The young chicks will pick up the instinct to peck at their food; however, if they abstain from eating, pour some feed on the ground and tap it with your fingernail to get your quail's attention.

Yes, larger breeds of quails will enjoy small portions of table scraps, including fresh produce such as spinach, grated carrot, broccoli, and cucumber. However, avoid dangerous vegetables such as avocado, raw potato, and iceberg lettuce.

Prolonged exposure to extreme cold weather can cause frostbite. When the weather gets colder, it's important to coop your birds up until it gets warmer for their own safety and comfort. Even signs of frost can be harsh on your quail's tiny toes.

One square foot per bird. They need room to run.