Feed is the single biggest lever you have over egg production and flock health — and it’s where new keepers most often go wrong. Coturnix quail need far more protein than chickens, and what you feed changes as they grow. Here’s exactly what to feed at every stage, plus the calcium, water, and grit details that keep your birds laying. (New here? Start with our complete Coturnix quail care guide.)
Quail Need More Protein Than Chickens
The most common feeding mistake is reaching for the chicken feed at the farm store. Standard chicken layer feed runs about 16% protein — far too low for quail, and its high calcium is actually harmful to chicks and males. Instead, feed a game bird feed, formulated for the higher protein quail need. Choose a crumble or mash rather than large pellets, which are too big for their small beaks.
What to Feed by Age
Match the feed to the bird’s life stage:
- Chicks (0–6 weeks): A game bird starter with 28–30% protein, served free-choice. Grind it fine for the first week so tiny chicks can eat it easily.
- Layers & adults (6+ weeks): Switch to a game bird layer or maintenance feed around 18–20% protein, with added calcium for laying hens. Some keepers hold breeders a little higher (20–24%) for fertility and output.
Keep feed available at all times — quail have fast metabolisms and self-regulate, so there’s no need to ration.
Calcium for Strong Shells
Laying hens need roughly 2.5–3.5% calcium — far more than growing birds (around 1%). The simplest approach is to feed a game bird layer ration and offer crushed oyster shell free-choice in a separate dish. Hens take exactly what they need, which prevents soft-shelled and shell-less eggs. Offering calcium on the side gives you far better control than chicken layer feed — without overloading chicks or males that don’t need it.
Water, Grit & Treats
- Water: Fresh, clean water at all times — production drops within hours if it runs dry. Cup- or nipple-style water systems stay cleaner than open founts.
- Grit: Birds on commercial crumble don’t strictly need it, but if you offer any whole grains, greens, or treats, provide fine grit so they can digest.
- Treats: Mealworms, greens, and seeds are fine in moderation — keep them under about 10% of the diet so you don’t dilute the protein your layers depend on.
Stop Throwing Money on the Floor
Quail are messy eaters — they bill feed out of open dishes, and it piles up wasted in the bedding. Over a season, that waste adds up fast. No-waste feeder systems with feed-saver ports keep feed in the trough and out of the litter, and they typically pay for themselves in saved feed.
Know Your Real Feed Cost
How much does each dozen eggs actually cost you to produce? Quail Keeper Max tracks your feed purchases alongside egg production, so you can see your true cost per egg, spot when a feed change helps or hurts, and ask Captain Coturnix for advice based on your real numbers. There’s a free 14-day trial. Start tracking your flock →
Keep Learning
Dialing in feed is half the battle. Make sure the rest of your setup matches — see our complete care guide, and when you’re ready to grow your flock, our step-by-step guide to incubating Coturnix quail eggs. Stock up on feeders and waterers built to keep quail fed and watered with less mess.