How to Breed Quails

Quail are members of the pheasant family and are small, plump birds that are found in large numbers and tend to nest on the ground. They are usually seed eaters although they will also eat insects and some small prey. Quail are often raised as pets as well as for meat and for their eggs. Breeding quail is fairly easy as long as you have an incubator to hatch the eggs, as it is rare for females to raise babies in captivity.

Things You'll Need

  • Quail coop
  • Quail food
  • Incubator
  • Brooding box
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a small coop for your birds that is of adequate size, allowing approximately 5 inches per each adult bird. Coops can be found at pet stores as well as farming supply stores. You should also provide a fenced yard where the quail can enjoy fresh air and exercise as well as feed on grass and insects. The fence should also have a mesh wire or chicken wire over the top so the quail can't fly away.

    • 2

      Select your flock from a pet store or from a farm supply store. Choose birds that are of the same size and at least a month old to ensure they are growing properly and they are healthy. Start with 15 to 20 birds to ensure you have a good ratio of male and female quails.

    • 3

      Purchase high-quality feed for your quail with a protein content of 28 percent or higher. The high protein will help ensure a healthy breeding flock. A quail's diet consists mainly of seeds such as legumes, barley, clover and lupine. Quails like to eat by scratching and pecking on the ground, so it is a good idea to spread food around the floor of their coop or pen instead of placing it in dishes. During mating season, the males will often eat less food than usual as they are more focused on attracting females.

    • 4

      Gather all eggs that are laid and place them in an incubator, as female quails are not good natural mothers and it is rare for quail to hatch babies in captivity. Quails are ground nesters and will lay eggs under shrubs, near logs or in shallow depressions in the ground. You can place small logs or piles of brush in your pen for the females to use. They will usually lay eggs in clutches of approximately 10 to 15 eggs.

      Set the temperature in your incubator at 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit and be sure to turn the eggs four to five times a day. It takes quail eggs approximately 24 days to hatch. Refrain from turning the eggs the last few days to allow them to settle. Also decrease the temperature by 1 degree the last few days.

    • 5

      Move the baby quail to a brooder box once they have hatched, being sure to keep them warm and clean. Baby quail can walk about and feed themselves almost immediately after they hatch, so you should provide fresh water and food immediately. Commercially mixed feed specifically for baby quail is formulated to provide your quail with the right mix of nutrients and vitamins to help them grow and stay healthy, and can be purchased at your local farm supply store.

      Once the babies are 2 weeks old, transfer them into your quail coop.