How to Care for Quail

Quail are more finicky and more high maintenance than other game birds like pheasants. However, the bobwhite quail has become one of the most popular game birds to breed. With proper care and feeding you can have a successful flock of quail.

Instructions

1. Feed quail quality commercially-produced game bird feed. Bobwhite quail can be picky about the size of their food. The ingredients need to be equally and appropriately sized. These quail avoid pieces too large or too small.

2. Give quail access to food and water at all times. Leave plenty of room at the bird feeder to reduce competition among your flock. It is recommended you clean the waterer with a disinfectant three times a week. Clean the feeder once a week.

3. Allow the quail have plenty of room. Quail peck at each other and it can become a very serious problem. Provide 2 square feet per adult bird. Provide cover in the pen so that birds who are picked on have somewhere to hide.

4. Keep birds of a similar size together. This reduces pecking. This cannibalistic behavior can cause death or leave birds with few feathers, making them more susceptible to disease.

5. Handle quail as little as possible. Handling leads to injury or stress. Stress leads to the birds pecking at one another. If you must handle a quail, pick it up gently with its head between your first two fingers and the rest of your hand wrapped around the body. This keeps the wings from flapping.

6. Quarantine new birds if you are increasing the size of your flock. Leave them elsewhere for at least 3 weeks to make sure they aren't carrying any diseases. Keep the area around the pen clean to prevent the spread of disease.

7. Consult a veterinarian about a disease prevention plan. Options for disease prevention vary depending on whether the quail are to be used for food.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact your state wildlife agency to verify you have the proper permits and licenses to care for game birds on your property.

• Keep pens well drained. Standing water leads to disease.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Read this Article in Spanish