Quail Farming (Complete Guideline)

Last Updated on June 13, 2023

When it comes to farming, quails are best known for their tender meat and delicious eggs. The manageable size of quails makes them a perfect candidate to be raised. Whether you are a novice to quail farming or a seasoned quail pro, it is a profitable business you can invest in.

The species of quail are spread across the world. Quails belong to the Phasianidae family, just like pheasants and partridges. Commercial quail farming offers you the dual benefits of getting quality meat and eggs at the same time.

Quail are dual-purpose birds just like chickens and raising them doesn’t need hectic management practices. In my opinion, if you’re used to rearing chickens on your farm or backyard, you can easily get the best out of the quail farming business.

According to a survey on quail farming and production, the most recent data was conducted back in 2007. The US farmers set a production record of 40 million quails in 2007, which was twice the record in 2002 according to USDA.

It is always recommended to thoroughly go through the complete know-how about what quail is and how you can rear this bird. Quail farming can be a lucrative and entertaining business if you’re following all the guidelines by quail farming experts.

A Little Briefing on Quail’s Characteristics

In the US, the bobwhite quail is fairly popular and belongs to Eastern North America. These birds can be efficiently farmed and used for eggs and meat purposes. Unlike chickens, quails reach sexual maturity at the age of 6 weeks with an average body weight of 120 to 150 grams.

The reason why the quail farming business is growing is because of the feed conversion ratio of these birds. They are efficient feed converters and give you a lot of profit in the long run. The females are bulkier than males and start egg production at the age of six to seven weeks.

The average weight of a quail’s egg is around 7 to 14 grams. Quail lay eggs throughout the year every day and the recorded per annum egg production is said to be 310 eggs. Peak egg production occurs in the first year of life and gradually decreases in consecutive years.

The multicolor eggs of quail are not only beautiful to look at but are very nutritious for human health. Recent studies on the nutritional profile of quail eggs indicate that the amount of fat in eggs of quail is 2.5% lesser compared to the egg of chickens.

As far as quail’s meat and carcass quality are concerned, you’ll love the tenderness of the meat. As a veterinarian, I can assure you the meat of quail has a far less percentage of fat in comparison to the other birds and animals.

Quail Farming & Profitability

To answer the question of ‘why quail farming is a rewarding activity?’ you must know the managemental benefits. These small size birds are not only easy to keep but also, you’ll save you from costly feasibilities.

Whether you want to raise them at your farm or in the backyard, quails can be easily managed in regard to housing and feeding. One thing you’ll be happy to know is quails are very hardy birds and the disease prevalence in quails is lesser in contrast to chickens and other birds.

You may find other birds in the poultry domain, such as pheasants, chickens, and partridges. The faster growth rate and early sexual maturity character of quails enable them to make their way into our list of profitable poultry businesses you can try.

Quail farming is gaining attention throughout the world because of the eggs and meat quality of these birds. Raising quails in a commercial setup is less risky in terms of better management and disease control.

According to recent research on the feed conversion ratio of quails, there are some satisfactory results. This profitable feed conversion into meat and eggs is made possible by the highly efficient digestive and reproductive tract of the quails.

Quails need much lesser space in comparison to other poultry birds. For instance, the recommended floor space provision per chicken can accommodate 5 to 6 quails. You can create a new source of income for yourself by stepping into this profitable business.

Pre-Requisites of Quail Farming

If you reach this part, it is highly likely that you’re interested in starting your own quail farming setup. To establish a quail farm, the need for housing and feeding management need to be fulfilled to make it work in a profitable way.

Focus on the Right Breed

The first and foremost thing before starting any poultry farming is the choice of breed, depending upon your requirements. You can either select a breed with good egg-laying abilities or excellent meat production.

Talking about quail farming, 18 different quail breeds possess the required efficiency to fulfill your meat and egg farming business. I know it is confusing as many of the breeds are somewhat dual-purpose, but you must be aware of them.

If you want to rear quails for meat purposes and your sole intention is to get the best quality carcass, the Bobwhite and White Breasted are your go-to options. Bobwhite is an American breed and White Breasted is of Indian origin.

On the other hand, Tuxedo, Pharaoh, English White, British Range, & Manchurian Golden are some of the popular layer quail breeds. These breeds have the excellent egg-laying ability and can provide you with a handsome amount of eggs throughout the year.

Don’t Forget the Housing Requirements

Housing management in quail farming is very critical in terms of giving you the expected farming outcomes. A well-ventilated and favorable environment can do wonders for your quail flock. My general recommendation is to provide a cage floor space of 44 birds per square meter.

In quail farming, usually, there are three main housing strategies adopted for housing quails. These are floor pens, wire cages, and colony cages in which floor pens are now the least used way of keeping and farming quails.

Floor pens are a less expensive way of rearing quails, but it comes with their own drawbacks. One of the biggest issues is the intensive management and difficult egg collection. Housing quails on the floor compromise egg quality and leads to poor hatchability.

If you have a low investment and want to try floor pens, the use of litter is very ideal. Modifying floor pens using litter can eliminate many problems. There are many commercially available slatted floors that are removable and prevent eggs from contamination and breakage on the floor.

Wired cages offer better hygiene and less egg fecal contamination. These cages are designed according to the farming preferences, such as the use of automated egg collection conveyor belts. This eliminates the hustle of frequent egg collection and waste removal.

One of the frequently used and practical systems is the colony cage. Colony cages are more like a modification of wired or plastic cages but offer more attention to detail. Each cage is supplemented with a modern drinker and feeder and can house 30 to 40 quails per cage.

Feeding Management for Quails

The productive performance of quails is highly dependent on what you feed them. Following a proper diet regimen not only improves egg quality but also improves the weight of quails. Therefore, it is always ideal to go for experts’ recommended guidelines regarding feed quality and quantity.

On average, an adult quail has a feeding requirement of 25 to 30 grams of feed per day. Not only the feeding amount is important, but the ingredient and nutritional profile of the feed also play an important role.

One of the major nutrients that should be focused on while choosing the feed is the crude protein level. A 22% to 24% crude protein-formulated feed is an ideal option in the case of adult quails. Likewise, the amount of crude protein in the feed of quail chicks should be strictly maintained at 27%.

What ingredients are commonly available in case of feeding quails is another point you should take notes on. Generally, a well-formulated feed of quails consists of a balanced blend of carbs, protein, and fat in addition to minerals.

Temperature & Lighting

If you start your quail farming by purchasing chicks, there is some additional management you have to do for their survival. The thermoregulatory center of chicks is not developed at the age of 10 to 15 days. This is the time when temperature fluctuations cannot be tolerated in the flock.

On the arrival of quail chicks, it is best to maintain the temperature at 95-degree Fahrenheit. Then the reduction of 5 degrees Fahrenheit should be maintained with each passing week until the maintenance of the final temperature of 70-degree Fahrenheit.

For gaining optimum performance, an average temperature of 65 to 85-degree Fahrenheit is an ideal limit. Although avian species are somewhat heat tolerant, fluctuations in the recommended temperatures can lead to poor performance and decreased fertility ratio among quails.

The dimly lit environment has proven to be effective in the initial development of young chicks. Experts suggest providing 10 to 11 hours of light during the first few weeks of age with a gradual increase in the duration over time.

On average, 17 hours of light per day is the duration for which birds maximize their egg-laying performance. Please note that the maintenance of a 17-hour light duration is crucial and any sort of fluctuations will negatively influence the egg production of adult quails.

Quail Farming & Disease Prevalence

Quails exhibit an excellent immune system with much less disease-catching ability. Improper management can still make them prone to different pathogens. The importance of good rearing practices plays a vital role, as there are no special vaccines developed for quails.

Changes in the temperature, lighting, or humidity levels can put a negative impact on the health of quails. As a veterinarian, I recommend you add commercially available prophylactic supplements and antibiotics to the diet of quails.

One of the most important and economically devastating diseases is coccidiosis in poultry. Coccidiosis is contagious and it compromises the productive and reproductive health of your quails in an instant.

The use of coccidiostats such as Amprolium has proven to be very beneficial in countering the spread of coccidiosis in your flock. You can use the powder formulation mixed with water. Always consult your relevant veterinarian for the proper dosage and use of Amprolium.

Similarly, another disease that affects quail farming is ulcerative enteritis. This disease is known to cause impaired feed intake and weight loss in quails. The use of powder streptomycin in drinking water can keep this condition from developing in your flock.

Final Thoughts

The benefits of farming quails can be achieved not only on a commercial farm level but also on a backyard level. Quails are dual-purpose birds and you can definitely make a handsome amount of profit by selling their meat and eggs.

The feeding, housing, and other managemental practices, when completely met, can increase the profitability of your quail farm. To get a boost in egg production, you must follow the poultry expert’s recommended guidelines I mentioned in this article.

With that being said, your hard work will bring fruit after you efficiently rear your first batch of quails. For a small homesteader, quail farming is a must-try investment, to begin with, because of the less costly and more rewards of these fascinating little birds.

Research References

Priti, Mishra, and Shukla Satish. “Quail farming: an introduction.” International Journal of Life Sciences 2.2 (2014): 190-193.

Mondry, Ricarda. Quail farming in tropical regions. CTA, 2016.

Minvielle, Francis. “The future of Japanese quail for research and production.” World’s Poultry Science Journal 60.4 (2004): 500-507.

Santhi, D., and A. Kalaikannan. “Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) meat: characteristics and value addition.” World’s poultry science journal 73.2 (2017): 337-344.

Redoy, M. R. A., A. A. S. Shuvo, and M. Al-Mamun. “A review on present status, problems and prospects of quail farming in Bangladesh.” Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science 46.2 (2017): 109-120.