Quail rearing — from chicks to laying and processing
Quail grow exceptionally fast: from a tiny, very fragile chick to the start of laying takes only about 6 weeks, and meat lines go to processing at ~6–7 weeks. The chicks are so small that they chill easily and can drown in a deep drinker. We walk you through the whole rearing period stage by stage: a high start temperature, shallow drinkers, fine feed, lowering the temperature and the move into laying or preparation for processing.
verifiedFrom the team that has organised work on poultry farms for years.
The quail is the smallest poultry species reared here, and its rearing follows its own rules — different from a hen or a broiler. A quail chick weighs only a few grams, is very sensitive to cold and needs a higher start temperature than a chicken chick. At the same time it develops in a flash and matures very early. This guide brings the whole rearing period into one place. The broader picture is in the hub on quail farming, and individual topics are developed in separate guides we link to along the way.
How does quail rearing differ from chicken rearing?
Three things set quail rearing apart: pace, small size and flightiness. Pace — quail grow and mature much faster than hens; laying starts around the 6th week of life. Small size — the tiny chicks chill easily, so the brooding start (preheating under the chicks) is higher, around ~37°C*, and the drinkers must be shallow, because in a deep one the birds can drown. Flightiness — startled quail jump up sharply, so cages and aviaries are kept low with a soft top, so the birds do not injure themselves on the ceiling.
Where do the numbers in this guide come from?
Temperatures, laying and processing age and other values are given as indicative figures* based on rearing guides and industry materials for Japanese quail (Coturnix). Exact numbers depend on the line (meat or laying), feed, season and equipment. Treat them as a starting point and always check the chick supplier’s recommendations and the birds’ response — it is the birds, not the table, that show whether the microclimate is right.
Quail rearing step by step
- 1
1. Preparing the brooder room and preheating
Before the chicks arrive, the brooder room must be clean, disinfected and warmed up in advance. Tiny quail chicks chill easily, so warmth is the foundation — preheating starts before placement to warm not only the air but also the surface the birds lie on. Hygiene matters especially here, because tiny chicks are very sensitive to infection. We cover bedding management in the guide on litter management in the house.
- 2
2. The first hours — water in shallow drinkers and fine feed
After placement the chicks must find water and feed as fast as possible. Here the quail specifics are key: the drinkers must be shallow, and often additionally secured (pebbles or marbles in the dish), because a tiny chick can drown in an ordinary deep drinker. The feed must be fine — a ground quail starter for such small beaks, not coarse pellets. The temperature under the chicks in the brooding zone is around ~37°C*. Bird behaviour tells you whether it is right: evenly spread = fine; huddled in piles = too cold; scattered to the walls = too warm.
- 3
3. The first week — high temperature and hygiene
The first week is the most sensitive part of quail rearing. You keep a high start temperature (~37°C* under the chicks) and watch hygiene — clean water, clean feed, dry bedding. The chicks are small and delicate, so any microclimate mistake quickly shows in their behaviour and flock uniformity. The microclimate is covered in the guide on temperature and humidity in the house. On feeding at the start — quail feeding.
- 4
4. Lowering the temperature and fast growth
After the first week you lower the temperature gradually — by a few degrees per week, until the birds reach room temperature. Quail grow very fast during this time, so their need for feed and water and for air exchange rises in parallel. You keep the bedding dry and remove moisture. Room requirements are developed in the guide on house requirements for quail, and bird comfort in quail welfare.
- 5
5. Stocking, cages and flightiness
Quail are often kept at high cage stocking, but the density must stay sensible so the flock is healthy and uniform. Cages and aviaries are kept low and with a soft top — startled quail jump up sharply and could injure their heads on a hard ceiling. Calm handling and limiting sudden stimuli (noise, abrupt movements) reduce flightiness. You calculate stocking with quail stocking density, and the legal framework is covered by legal norms for quail keeping.
- 6
6. The move into laying or preparation for processing
Here the paths diverge depending on the line. Laying lines mature very early — laying starts around the 6th week of life*, so at this point you switch to layer feed and set the lighting programme for egg production. Meat lines go to processing at ~6–7 weeks*, once they reach slaughter weight. How an egg is formed and what happens inside a layer is covered in the guide on how an egg is formed. Health prevention is gathered in quail diseases.
Quail rearing parameters — temperature, water and feed, bedding, age
Indicative values* for Japanese quail (Coturnix) — always adjust to the birds’ response and the chick supplier’s recommendations.
Temperature
Start under the chicks in the brooding zone (preheating) at around ~37°C*, higher than for a chicken chick, because quail chicks are very small and chill quickly. Then lower gradually by a few degrees per week down to room temperature. The best comfort sensor is bird behaviour, not just the thermometer reading.
Water and feed
Water in shallow, secured drinkers — a tiny chick can drown in a deep one. Fine feed: a ground quail starter at the start, later feed matched to age and purpose (layer or for gain). Constant, easy access to fresh water and feed throughout rearing.
Bedding and hygiene
Dry, clean bedding and high hygiene are the foundation — tiny chicks are very sensitive to infection and moisture. Regularly replace soiled bedding and keep drinkers and feeders clean. Wet, dirty bedding quickly turns into health problems for the whole flock.
Age and maturity
Quail develop very fast: laying lines start laying at around the 6th week of life*, and meat lines reach slaughter weight at ~6–7 weeks*. That is much earlier than hens — the whole rearing is short and intensive, so early mistakes are hard to make up later.
The most common quail rearing mistakes
These mistakes come up repeatedly on quail farms — worth knowing before you place the next flock.
Too low a start temperature
A quail chick is tiny and chills much faster than a chicken chick, so it needs a higher start temperature (around ~37°C*). Placing them into a brooder room that is too cool gives birds huddled in piles, worse drinking and eating, a slower start and higher mortality. Watch the temperature at bird level, not just under the ceiling — see temperature and humidity in the house.
Drinkers too deep — drowning risk
This is a mistake typical exactly of quail: a tiny chick can drown in an ordinary deep drinker. Use shallow drinkers at the start and, if needed, secure the dish with pebbles or marbles so the bird cannot fall into the water. As the birds grow you adjust the drinkers to their size.
Feed too coarse for small beaks
Tiny quail chicks cannot cope with coarse feed or large pellets. At the start a fine, ground quail starter is given. A wrong feed structure means the birds eat less and start worse. Matching feed to age is covered in quail feeding.
A high cage and scaring the flock
Startled quail jump up sharply — in a high cage with a hard ceiling they can injure their heads. Keep cages and aviaries low, ideally with a soft top, and limit sudden stimuli: noise, abrupt movements, unexpected entries. Calm handling and welfare are covered in quail welfare.
Frequently asked questions about quail rearing
What temperature at the start of quail rearing?add
Indicatively* under the chicks in the brooding zone (preheating under the chicks) around ~37°C — higher than for a chicken chick, because quail chicks are very small and chill quickly. Then you lower the temperature gradually by a few degrees per week until the birds reach room temperature. The best sensor is the birds themselves: evenly spread = comfort, huddled in piles = too cold, scattered to the walls = too warm.
When do quail start laying?add
Quail mature exceptionally early — laying lines start laying at around the 6th week of life*, much faster than hens. At this point you switch to layer feed and set the lighting programme for egg production. How an egg is formed is covered in the guide on how an egg is formed.
At what age are meat quail processed?add
Meat lines reach slaughter weight very fast — indicatively at ~6–7 weeks of life*. The whole rearing is therefore short and intensive, and the result depends largely on a good start: a high temperature, clean water in shallow drinkers and fine, good feed.
Why do quail chicks drown so easily in drinkers?add
Because they are tiny. A quail chick weighs only a few grams and can drown in an ordinary deep drinker. That is why shallow drinkers are used at the start, and the dishes are often additionally secured with pebbles or marbles, so the bird has access to water but cannot fall into it. As the birds grow the drinkers are adjusted to their size.
What do you feed quail chicks?add
At the start a fine, ground quail starter feed — large pellets are too coarse for tiny beaks. Later the feed is matched to age and purpose: layer feed for layers or a gain feed for meat lines. Constant, easy access to fresh water and feed is key throughout rearing. More in the guide on quail feeding.
What stocking and cages for quail?add
Quail are often kept at high cage stocking, but the density must stay sensible so the flock is healthy and uniform — you calculate stocking with the guide on quail stocking density. Cages and aviaries are kept low and with a soft top, because startled quail jump up sharply and could injure themselves on a hard ceiling. Room requirements are developed in house requirements for quail.
Run quail rearing in DlaFerm.pl
Want a flock record, results and a digital rearing card in one place? Create a free farm account or write to us.
Phone
+48 796 258 151