Top Tips for Urban Quail Care Tips
- Eric Wyatt
- Feb 21
- 5 min read
Raising quail in the city can be a rewarding and surprisingly simple way to enjoy fresh eggs and even meat right from your backyard or balcony. I’ve found that with just a little know-how and the right setup, urban quail keeping is accessible to almost anyone, no matter how limited your space might be. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your quail-raising skills, I’m excited to share some of my best tips to help you succeed.
Creating the Perfect Home for Your Quail
One of the first things I learned is that quail need a safe, comfortable space that mimics their natural environment as much as possible. Since urban spaces are often tight, you want to make the most of every inch.
Choose the right cage or hutch: It should be well-ventilated but secure from predators like neighborhood cats or raccoons. A hardware cloth floor with a separate sandbath area works well to keep the quail clean and dry.
Provide enough space: We raise birds at approximately 1 to 1.5 square feet per bird, depending on your goals. Crowding can lead to stress and health problems.
Add hiding spots: Quail love to feel safe, so include small shelters or plants inside the enclosure. In all our hutches, we have an enclosed area where our quail can feel safe and secure.
Keep it clean: Using hardware cloth with a 1/2-inch by 1/2-inch spacing allows dropping to fall through the floor to the ground below, keeping the floor of the hutch clean. Replacing the sand in the sandbox and regularly spraying out the hutch will help prevent disease.
By focusing on these basics, you create a happy home that encourages your quail to thrive.
Essential Urban Quail Care Tips for Beginners
Taking care of quail in an urban setting has its unique challenges, but it’s also very manageable with the right approach. Here are some essential care tips I always follow:
Feed a balanced diet: Quail need a high-protein feed, usually around 24-30% protein, especially during the first 6 weeks of their growing phase. Then, once they are adults (6+ weeks old), you want to switch to a 20-24% protein feed. You can supplement with fresh greens and occasional treats, such as mealworms or BSFL (Black Soldier Fly Larvae).
Fresh water daily: Always provide clean, fresh water. I use a gravity feed watering system with horizontal water nipples.
Temperature control: Quail are hardy but prefer temperatures between 50 and 80°F.
During the winter months, consider blocking harsh winds, reducing drafts, adding straw to their sandbath area, adding a heated waterer, and, if needed, adding insulation.
During the summer months, consider increasing airflow, providing plenty of shade, and ensuring they have constant access to clean water.
Regular health checks: Watch for signs of illness, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, or unusual droppings. Early detection is key.
Egg collection: Collect eggs daily to keep them clean and encourage more laying.
These urban quail care tips help keep your birds healthy and productive, even in a small city space.
Feeding and Nutrition: What Your Quail Really Need
Feeding quail properly is one of the most important parts of successful quail keeping. I’ve learned that their diet directly affects their health, egg production, and overall happiness.
Commercial game bird feed: This is usually the easiest and most balanced option. Look for feeds labeled for quail or game birds. A good all-flock feed that is also good for quail is a great option.
Protein is key: Quail need more protein than chickens, especially when they are young (hatched-6 weeks) or when they are about to start laying eggs (6+weeks old). Aim for 24-30% protein in their feed from just hatched to 6 weeks. Then aim for 20-24% protein in their feed for adults (6+ weeks old).
Fresh greens and treats: Adding chopped kale, spinach, or dandelion greens can provide vitamins and variety. As well as watermelon, and cucumber that also add water on hot summer days. Treats like mealworms or BSFL are great protein boosters. Remember, these are snacks, not the main course.
Grit and calcium: Provide grit or sand to help digestion and crushed oyster shells or crushed egg shells for calcium, which supports strong eggshells.
By paying attention to their diet, you’ll see healthier birds and better egg production.
How to Manage Space and Noise in Urban Settings
One concern many people have about raising quail in the city is space and noise. I’ve found that quail are actually quite quiet compared to chickens, making them ideal for urban environments.
Space-saving cages or hutches: Vertical or stackable as well as horizontal models can help you raise more birds in less space.
Noise control: Quail make soft calls, but they are not loud. If noise is a concern, consider keeping fewer males, as they are the noisiest with their "crow" call.
Location matters: Place cages or hutches away from busy streets or neighbors’ windows to minimize disturbance.
Regular cleaning: Keeping the area clean reduces odors and keeps your neighbors happy.
Use natural barriers: Plants or lattice screens can help muffle sound and provide privacy.
With these tips, you can enjoy your quail without worrying about noise complaints or space issues.
Breeding and Raising Baby Quail Successfully
If you want to take your quail keeping to the next level, breeding your own birds can be very rewarding. Here’s what I’ve learned about raising healthy chicks in an urban setting:
Incubation: Use a reliable incubator to hatch eggs. Maintain steady temperature and humidity for best results.
Brooder setup: Baby quail need warmth, so a brooder with a heat plate or lamp and clean bedding is essential.
Feed starter feed: Chicks require a higher-protein feed (around 28%) to grow strong.
Keep them safe: Protect chicks from drafts, predators, and overcrowding.
Gradual introduction: When chicks are old enough (5+ weeks), slowly introduce them to adult birds to avoid bullying.
Breeding quail can be a fun way to expand your flock and increase your self-sufficiency.
Where to Find More Help and Supplies
If you’re serious about raising Coturnix Quail the right way, your first investment shouldn’t be birds — it should be structure. At Made New Farmstead, we believe success starts with a system that works in a real backyard, on a real neighborhood lot. That’s why we’ve put everything we personally use — from our purpose-built hutch plans to practical, straightforward education — in one place at Made New Quail Farm.
We’ve also organized many of the feeders, water systems, incubators, and everyday tools we use on our farmstead inside our curated Amazon Storefront, so you don’t have to guess what works. This isn’t about collecting animals or chasing a trend. It’s about building a repeatable system that produces clean eggs, healthy birds, and steady progress toward self-sufficiency.
The truth is, you don’t need five acres, a barn, or the “perfect someday” scenario to begin. You can start right where you are. With the right setup and a clear plan, raising Coturnix quail in the city is practical, efficient, and deeply rewarding. Small space, intentional structure, real food — that’s how we approach it, and it’s exactly what we teach inside Made New Farmstead.
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