Keeping Quail: Housing and Care

Quail pack a lot of return into a tiny footprint, which is what makes them ideal for a small New Zealand section or even a courtyard. They are kept differently from chickens, low to the ground and usually contained, and once set up they are very low effort.

Housing

Quail are ground birds that do not perch and are kept in a secure hutch or aviary rather than free-ranging, since they are small enough for almost anything to take and will bolt if they escape. Allow plenty of floor space per bird, keep the housing dry and well ventilated, and give a low roof or soft top because startled quail fly straight up and can hurt their heads. A dust bath, cover to hide under and a quiet spot all keep them settled.

• A dry, secure hutch or aviary at ground level, with generous floor space per bird
• A low or soft roof, since startled quail rocket upward
• Hiding spots, a dust bath and a calm location away from disturbance
• Protection from dogs, cats, stoats, ferrets, rats and hawks

Care and company

Quail are social and best kept in a small covey, but keep the sex ratio right, since too many males will fight and harass the hens, so a group of hens with one male, or hens alone, works well. They eat a high-protein game bird or quail feed rather than chicken layer, which they need for their fast metabolism and laying. Provide clean water in a shallow dish or nipple drinker, as they can drown in deep open water.

The New Zealand setting

Quail handle cool conditions reasonably but dislike damp and draughts, so a dry, sheltered hutch matters through a wet winter. Rats and mustelids are a real threat to such small birds, so the housing has to be genuinely secure, not just chicken-proof. Get the setup right and a covey of quail is the quietest, most compact poultry you can keep.