Quail

Quail here means the coturnix quail kept on farms and in backyards for eggs and meat. Most of this stock is the domestic Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), the small, fast-maturing bird behind jumbo meat lines and color varieties such as pharaoh, English white, and tuxedo. Some birds sold as coturnix are the common or European quail (Coturnix coturnix), a close wild relative, and the two are often confused in sales listings. Bobwhite, button (king) quail, and the North American game quail are different birds with their own species pages.

Kept quail need management more like ground birds than cage songbirds: low-stress housing, secure sides and tops, dry litter, places to hide, and protection from rodents and predators. Laying and grow-out birds are typically fed gamebird or turkey-style rations with higher protein than chicken layer feed, plus clean water in shallow or spill-resistant drinkers. They mature quickly and can be productive, but crowding leads to feather picking and injuries. Anyone buying eggs or breeding stock should confirm the species and local rules, especially where release of nonnative or captive gamebirds is regulated.