California Quail Care & Incubation Guide

California quail eggs hatch in 22 to 23 days at 99.5°F in a forced-air incubator, and raising California quail (also called valley quail) comes down to four things: a planted, predator-proof aviary, a gamebird-based diet, seasonal breeding and precise incubation. This guide covers all of it, from what California quail eat and whether you can keep them as pets to incubating eggs and raising chicks.

Last updated October 23, 2026. This is general husbandry advice, not veterinary or legal advice. If a bird is sick, contact an avian vet, and check local wildlife rules before keeping or breeding California quail.

California quail quick facts

What are California quail?

The California quail (Callipepla californica), also known as the valley quail, is the state bird of California and one of North America's most recognizable quail. Both sexes carry a forward-curving topknot, and they live in social groups called coveys. Unlike Coturnix quail, which are raised mainly for eggs and meat, California quail are kept for their looks, gentle nature and natural behavior in aviaries.

• Social: they do best in small coveys, not isolated pairs.
• Seasonal breeders: they follow a natural spring to summer calendar.
• Slower to hatch: eggs take 22 to 23 days, compared to 17 to 18 days for Coturnix.
• Flighty: when startled, they burst into short, fast flight, so aviaries need safe cover.

New to quail in general? Our complete guide to raising quail covers the basics, and the Coturnix vs bobwhite vs button quail comparison shows how the other species differ. If you are choosing between species, read how to decide which bird species to hatch.

California quail vs Coturnix quail: which is right for you?

For steady eggs or a fast production cycle, Coturnix is the practical choice (see our Coturnix quail guide). For a striking flock that behaves naturally in a planted aviary, California quail are the better fit. Many keepers raise both in separate enclosures.

Can you keep California quail as pets?

In many places you can keep captive-bred California quail in a secure aviary, but they are not cuddly pets. They are shy, social and prefer to watch you rather than be handled. They are happiest in a planted enclosure with others of their own kind, and males call loudly in the breeding season.

Check the law first. California quail are a protected native game bird in the US, and rules on keeping, breeding, selling and releasing them vary by state, province and country. Contact your state or local wildlife agency before you buy birds or eggs, and only buy from reputable gamebird breeders.

If you are comparing options, button quail are a much smaller, more apartment-friendly alternative.

California quail habitat: setting up the right environment

In the wild, California quail live in brushy hillsides, open woodlands and scrubby grasslands across western North America. In captivity, copy those conditions as closely as you can.

• Space: bigger is always better. Aim for at least 10 square feet of floor space per pair, and a large aviary of 50 to 60 square feet or more for a covey of 8 to 10 birds.
• Cover: add shrubs, brush piles and low hiding boxes. California quail feel stressed in open, exposed pens.
• Perches: low perches at about 12 to 18 inches encourage natural roosting.
• Roof: because they flush upward when startled, use a roof of soft netting so they do not hurt their heads.
• Flooring: natural soil or sand allows dust bathing, which is essential for feather care and parasite control. Cover any wire floor with a deep layer of sand or straw.
• Weather: they are reasonably hardy in mild climates, but need windbreaks, dry shelter and a draft-free roosting area in winter.
• Predator-proofing: use fine mesh and buried or skirted edges against rodents, snakes, raccoons and cats.

Keeping mixed birds in one aviary? Read " Can I keep birds of different species together? first.

What do California quail eat?

California quail eat mostly seeds and leaves in the wild, with berries and some insects. In captivity, give them a gamebird feed as the staple, with scattered seeds, chopped greens and occasional treats.

What to feed adult California quail

• Gamebird feed: a quality gamebird grower or maintenance feed as the daily staple. Increase protein slightly in the breeding season to support egg production.
• Seeds: scatter millet, safflower and a little cracked corn to encourage natural foraging.
• Fresh greens: chopped kale, spinach, clover and dandelion greens.
• Berries and insects: a few berries and small mealworms as treats.
• Grit and calcium: offer insoluble grit at all times and crushed oyster shell to laying hens.
• Water: clean water at all times. Change drinkers daily and sanitize them weekly.

What do California quail chicks eat?

Chicks need a fine-crumble gamebird starter with about 28% protein, a shallow dish or jar lid for the first few days, and very shallow water. Small chopped insects make a good supplement. Feed starter for the first six weeks. Adult feed is too coarse and too low in protein.

Foods to avoid

• Avocado, chocolate, onion and garlic
• Salty, sugary or heavily processed human food
• Anything moldy or spoiled

Tip: scatter part of each feeding across the floor. It keeps confined birds busy, reduces stress and stops dominant birds guarding the dish.

California quail breeding: when do they lay eggs?

California quail follow the seasons more strictly than other domesticated quail. Laying usually starts in spring, around March or April, and winds down by late summer, triggered by longer days and warmer weather.

• Pairing: keep one male with one to three females. In a large aviary, a small covey with one male to two or three females also works.
• Nesting: they nest on the ground. Provide shallow depressions lined with dry grass or straw in a sheltered corner, or a low, open-fronted nest box on the floor.
• Eggs: A hen usually lays 12 to 16 eggs per clutch (up to about 20). Eggs are small, cream to olive with brown spots, and weigh roughly 10 to 13 grams. Hens may lay more than one clutch a season, especially if the first is collected.
• Natural vs artificial incubation: hens can incubate well, but collecting eggs for an incubator lets you hatch multiple clutches and takes pressure off the hen.

Incubating California quail eggs: step-by-step guide

Artificial incubation gives you full control over hatching conditions. Stable temperature and humidity are the two biggest factors in hatchability. New to hatching? Start with our beginner's guide to incubating quail eggs.

Incubation settings and how long California quail eggs take to hatch

Eggs hatch in 22 to 23 days. Use our quail egg incubation temperature chart as your reference.

California quail incubation timeline

Recommended California quail incubation setup

The easiest way to start is an all-in-one combo kit, then add quail-specific extras. Note what each kit already includes, so you do not buy duplicates.

Choosing a quail egg incubator

California quail eggs are smaller than chicken eggs, so you need an incubator and turner designed for small eggs. A standard chicken tray lets them roll and shift. For model comparisons, read our best quail egg incubator guide or browse the quail egg incubator collection.

The HovaBator 2370 Ultimate Combo Kit combines a circulated-air incubator with an automatic turner, candler and brooding gear in one system. The IncuView 3 Pro Combo Kit has a 360-degree clear lid, so you can watch development without opening the unit and keep the internal environment stable.

Egg turners for quail eggs

Use a turner with quail racks. An automatic turner keeps eggs turning on schedule without handling them. Remember to remove the turner or stop turning at lockdown on day 21, because chicks can get caught between the racks. Learn more in what egg turning is and why it matters.

Humidity management

Inconsistent humidity can lead to early embryo loss, and low humidity at lockdown can cause chicks to stick to the shell membrane. The HumidiKit adds humidity automatically up to your target, so you do not have to guess at water-channel evaporation. Note that it humidifies but does not dehumidify, so if humidity runs high, see how to lower humidity in an incubator, and our guide to maintaining incubator humidity.

Candling your eggs

Candling lets you spot fertile, developing embryos and remove clear or stopped eggs. A cool LED candler such as the Incu-Bright gives a clear view of speckled quail eggs without adding heat. Follow our day-by-day candling guide.

Lockdown and hatch

On day 21, stop turning, raise humidity to 65 to 70% and keep the incubator closed until hatching finishes. California quail chicks are precocial, so they hatch alert and mobile. Once dry and fluffy, move them to a pre-warmed brooder. Prepare for emergencies with our guide to an egg incubator power outage, and if hatches disappoint, read why hatch rates drop.

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Raising California quail chicks

California quail chicks are tiny and fast-moving from day one. Set the brooder at 95 to 100°F for the first week, then lower it about 5°F each week until the chicks are fully feathered at about 5 to 6 weeks.

• Feed fine-crumble gamebird starter with about 28% protein.
• Use shallow dishes or jar lids for feed, and extremely shallow water (add clean marbles) so chicks cannot drown.
• Keep the brooder draft-free and away from direct sun and vents.
• Do not leave chicks in the incubator more than a few hours after they are dry and mobile.

For full brooder setup, see our guides to caring for newly hatched chicks and brooder basics, plus the complete guide to raising quail.

Common California quail mistakes to avoid

• Overcrowding: California quail are sensitive to stress. Overcrowding triggers feather pecking and egg abandonment, so give them space and visual barriers.
• Wrong incubator temperature: a sustained rise of a few degrees above 99.5°F can kill developing embryos. Use a calibrated thermometer and a unit with tight control, and let it stabilize before setting eggs (see rookie incubator setup mistakes).
• Skipping egg turning: eggs that are not turned consistently in the first two weeks can stick to the shell membrane. Use an automatic turner with quail racks.
• Low humidity at lockdown: a top cause of stuck chicks. Raise humidity on day 21 and keep the incubator closed.
• Feeding adult feed to chicks: it is too coarse and too low in protein. Use fine starter for the first six weeks.
• Ignoring local rules: check wildlife regulations before buying or breeding.

FAQs (People Also Ask)

Q: How long do California quail eggs take to hatch?

Ans: California quail eggs hatch in 22 to 23 days when incubated at 99.5°F in a forced-air incubator. That is longer than Coturnix quail, which hatch in 17 to 18 days. Stop turning and begin lockdown on day 21, and expect the hatch window to open on day 22. See our quail egg incubation temperature chart for every species.

Q: What temperature and humidity do California quail eggs need?

Ans: Use 99.5°F (37.5°C) in a forced-air incubator, or 101 to 102°F in a still-air model. Keep humidity at 45 to 55% until day 20, then raise it to 65 to 70% at lockdown on day 21 and leave the incubator closed until hatching finishes.

Q: What do California quail eat?

Ans: In the wild, California quail eat mostly seeds and leaves, plus berries and some insects. In captivity, feed a gamebird feed as the staple, with scattered millet and other small seeds, chopped greens, a few berries, mealworms, insoluble grit and, for laying hens, crushed oyster shell. Chicks need a fine gamebird starter with about 28% protein.

Q: What do California quail chicks eat?

Ans: Newly hatched California quail chicks need finely crumbled gamebird starter with about 28% protein, offered in a shallow dish for the first week. Small insects such as finely chopped mealworms make a good supplement. Always provide very shallow water so chicks cannot drown.

Q: Can you keep California quail as pets?

Ans: In many places you can keep captive-bred California quail in a secure aviary, but they are not cuddly pets. They are flighty, social and happiest in a planted enclosure with others of their kind. They are also a protected native game bird in the US, so check your state wildlife agency before you buy or breed any.

Q: Can you raise California quail at home?

Ans: Yes, if local rules allow it. You need a covered, predator-proof aviary with plenty of cover, a gamebird diet, and ideally an incubator and brooder if you plan to hatch eggs. Start with our complete guide to raising quail for brooding basics.

Q: When do California quail lay eggs?

Ans: California quail follow the seasons. Laying usually starts in spring, around March or April, and winds down by late summer as the days shorten. Hens can start sooner under lights, but a natural cycle is easiest on the birds.

Q: How many eggs do California quail lay?

Ans: A hen usually lays a clutch of 12 to 16 eggs, though clutches of up to about 20 are possible. Hens may lay more than one clutch in a season, especially if the first clutch is collected for incubation. Eggs are small, cream to olive with brown spots, and weigh roughly 10 to 13 grams.

Q: Are California quail the same as valley quail?

Ans: Yes. California quail (Callipepla californica) are also called valley quail or Californian quail. They are the state bird of California.

Q: How big do California quail get?

Ans: Adults are roughly 9.4 to 10.6 inches (24 to 27 cm) long and weigh about 140 to 230 grams, much larger than a Coturnix or button quail. See our button quail care guide for the smallest species.

Q: How can you tell male and female California quail apart?

Ans: Males have a bold black face, a white-edged throat, a chestnut belly patch, and a larger topknot. Females are plainer grey-brown with a smaller plume. Chicks are hard to sex until they begin to feather.

Q: Can California quail live with Coturnix quail?

Ans: It is generally not recommended. They differ in size, temperament, social needs and breeding season, and mixed groups can bring stress and disease. Read our guide on keeping birds of different species together, and our Coturnix guide.

Q: Do California quail need heat in winter?

Ans: California quail are reasonably cold-hardy, but they need a dry, draft-free shelter and windbreak in cold weather. Keep bedding dry and water from freezing.

Q: Are California quail good for beginners?

Ans: They are moderately beginner-friendly. They are calmer than many quail species, but they need a larger planted aviary and a seasonal approach to breeding. If you want a faster, easier start, see our guide to deciding which bird species to hatch and our comparison of Coturnix, bobwhite and button quail.

Q: How long do California quail live?

Ans: Many wild birds live only a year or two because of predators and weather. With a secure aviary, good food and low stress, captive birds can live considerably longer.

Q: Where can I buy California quail?

Ans: Look for reputable gamebird breeders and hatcheries, and confirm that selling and owning them is legal where you live. Many keepers instead buy hatching eggs and use an incubator, which you can set up with the quail egg incubator collection.

Start raising California quail with the right equipment

Raising California quail comes down to matching their natural needs at every stage: a planted, covered aviary, a protein-rich diet and carefully controlled incubation. Ready to hatch? Browse the quail egg incubator collection and explore everything at Incubator Warehouse. Have questions about your setup? Our EGGsperts team is here to help before you set your first clutch.

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