What Do Quail Eat? Complete Feeding Guide by Age

Getting quail nutrition right from day one is one of the most important things you can do as a quail keeper. Whether you are raising them for eggs, meat, or the pure joy of it, the wrong feed at the wrong life stage can slow growth, reduce egg production, and create health problems that are difficult to reverse. 

This complete guide covers exactly what quail eat at every age, the best feed for quail available, safe treats, foods to avoid, and the feeding mistakes most beginners make that are easy to fix.

What Do Quail Eat in the Wild?

Wild quail are opportunistic foragers. Their natural diet shifts with the seasons and whatever is available in their environment, but it consistently includes a broad mix of plant and animal-based foods.

• Seeds from grasses and wildflowers

• Berries and small fruits

• Leafy plant matter and sprouts

• Insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and ants

• Worms, small spiders, and other invertebrates

•  Grit and small stones (help the gizzard grind harder food)

Understanding the wild diet helps explain why a single-ingredient diet in captivity always falls short. A high-quality commercial gamebird feed replicates the nutritional balance of that variety in a convenient and consistent form, which is why it should always form the base of a captive quail's diet.

Understanding Quail Nutritional Needs

Quail have a higher protein requirement than chickens at almost every life stage. This is because they grow extremely fast, have a higher metabolic rate, and laying hens produce eggs at a rate close to one per day. Getting protein percentages right is the foundation of a good quail feeding program.

Quail Feeding Chart by Age

One of the most common reasons quail underperform is that their owner did not adjust the feed as the birds aged. Use this quail feeding chart as your at-a-glance reference for every stage of life.

Sources: gamebird nutrition guidelines from university extension poultry science programs and commercial gamebird feed manufacturer specifications.

How Much Do Quail Eat Per Day?

Quail are small birds, but they eat more relative to their body weight than most people expect. Knowing daily consumption helps you plan feed purchases, reduce waste, and spot health issues early. A quail that suddenly eats much less than usual is often the first sign that something is off.

Consumption figures are averages for Coturnix quail. Bobwhite and other species may vary slightly. Cold weather increases intake by 10-15%.

What Do Baby Quail Eat? (Days 1-14)

The first two weeks of a quail chick's life are the most critical from a nutrition standpoint. Chicks that just hatched are tiny, fragile, and need feed that is easy to find, easy to eat, and packed with protein and amino acids required for rapid feather growth.

The best feed for quail chicks at this stage is a gamebird starter crumble with at least 26 to 30 percent protein. Standard chicken starter often provides only 18 to 20 percent protein and is inadequate for quail chicks. If gamebird starter is unavailable, a high-protein turkey starter (24-28%) can work as a short-term substitute.

Key things to know when feeding quail chicks in the first two weeks:

• Keep feed in a fine crumble form — chicks cannot handle pellets or whole grains at this age

• Make feed available at all times — baby quail have no fat reserves and will decline quickly without constant access

• Avoid medicated starter feed — amprolium is dosed for chickens and can harm quail

Scatter a small amount of feed on paper towels or a flat lid for the first two to three days. This helps chicks find and peck at food more easily than a tall feeder allows.

For a complete walkthrough of brooding temperatures, humidity, and the full first-week care routine, the guide to brooding baby quail chicks covers everything you need from hatch to week two.

Feeding Juvenile Quail (Weeks 3-6)

Between weeks three and six, quail go through a rapid growth phase. They are feathering out, becoming more active, and their digestive systems are maturing. Feed needs to support that growth without the excessive protein levels needed in the chick phase.

At this stage,e you can begin transitioning from a 2 percent protein chick starter to a grower feed in the 20 to 24 percent protein range. Many keepers use a quality gamebird developer, or grower crumbl,e throughout this phase. Pellets can be introduced toward the end of week four if the birds are large enough to handle them comfortably.

Juveniles can also start receiving small amounts of finely chopped greens such as kale, spinach, or romaine lettuce. Keep treats to no more than 10 percent of their daily intake so the primary nutrition comes from their balanced ration.

What to Feed Adult Quail (6 Weeks and Beyond)

By six weeks, most quail breeds, including the popular Coturnix, are fully mature. Adult birds thrive on a diet built around a quality gamebird maintenance or layer feed in the 18 to 20 percent protein range.

Adult quail food options that work well include dedicated gamebird pellets or crumbles, high-quality laying mash formulated for small birds, and a blend of gamebird feed with a small portion of whole or cracked grains such as millet, milo, and wheat. Whole grains should make up no more than 2 percent of the diet to avoid diluting the protein content below the recommended level.

You can read more about building the right adult environment and management routine in this complete guide to raising quail.

Feeding Laying Quail for Better Egg Production

A laying quail hen can produce an egg nearly every single day, which places a significant demand on her calcium reserves and overall energy levels. Nutrition for layers has to account for both the protein needed to maintain body condition and the calcium required to build strong eggshells.

The best feed for quail that are actively laying should provide 18 to 20 percent protein and 2.5 to 3.5 percent calcium. Some gamebird layer feeds already include adequate calcium, but many keepers supplement with crushed oyster shell offered free-choice in a separate dish.

 Lighting is equally important alongside feed. Laying hens need 14 to 16 hours of light per day to maintain peak production, especially in winter months. Feed quality supports the biology, but the right environment completes the picture

Can Quail Eat Chicken Feed?

This is one of the most searched questions about quail nutrition, and the answer is: it depends on the stage, but generally,y no, not as a primary feed.

Chick starter formulated for chickens typically contains 18 to 20 percent protein. Quail chicks need 26 to 30 percent. Using chicken starter feed for baby quail will result in slower feathering, slower growth, and higher mortality rates during the first two weeks. This is a significant gap that you cannot close with treats or supplements alone.

For adult layers, standard chicken layer feed offers around 16 percent protein, which is below the 18 to 20 percent minimum recommended for quail. Birds fed exclusively on chicken layer feed may still lay for a time. Still, production rates, feather condition, and overall vitality will decline compared to birds on a proper gamebird layer ration.

Types of Quail Food: Pellets, Crumbles, and Gamebird Feed

Crumbles are the most versatile format and work across all ages when sized correctly. They tend to produce a little more waste if feeders are not managed well, but most birds eat them readily.

Pellets are compressed and produce less dust and waste than crumble. They are best suited to adult birds. Look for small-diameter pellets specifically sized for gamebirds rather than the larger pellets made for chickens.

Mash is finely ground loose feed. It is highly digestible, works well for very young chicks or birds with beak issues, but can clump badly in humid environments and create more mess than other formats.

Gamebird-specific feeds are formulated for species like quail, pheasant, and turkeys. The amino acid profile in gamebird feeds is better matched to quail than generic poultry feed, which is why choosing a gamebird product is always preferable when available.

Can Quail Eat Fruits and Vegetables?

Yes, quail can eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables, and offering them is a great way to add enrichment, variety, and supplemental vitamins to the diet. The key is to keep portions modest and prioritize their primary gamebird feed.

Safe Vegetables

• Leafy greens: kale, Swiss chard, spinach, romaine lettuce

• Grated zucchini or cucumber

• Finely chopped broccoli

• Cooked sweet potato

• Small pieces of carrot

Safe Fruits

• Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries

• Small pieces of apple or pear with seeds removed

Fruits are high in sugar, so treat them as an occasional supplement rather than a daily offering. Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons should be avoided as the acidity can disrupt digestion.

Always chop fruits and vegetables into small, manageable pieces appropriate for the size of your birds. What is bite-sized for a human is still too large for a quail to swallow comfortably.

Safe Treats and Supplements for Quail

Treats should never exceed 10 percent of daily feed intake, but when used correctly,y they improve flock health and make your birds more alert and active.

• Mealworms - excellent high-protein enrichment food that also makes birds easy to hand-tame

• Dried black soldier fly larvae - another high-protein option

• Small amounts of hard-boiled or scrambled egg - extra protein boost

• Sprouts from seeds such as sunflower or mung bean

• Insoluble granite grit - supports gizzard function when birds eat anything other than processed feed.

• Oyster shell for laying hens only - offered in a dedicated, separate dish.

Homemade Quail Feed: Is It Worth It?

It is possible to formulate a homemade quail ration, but it requires more precision than most beginners expect. A basic homemade gamebird starter mix for chicks needs to hit 26 to 30 percent protein, typically achieved by combining high-protein ingredients such as roasted soybean meal, fishmeal, or dried insects with grains. Getting the essential amino acid balance right, specifically methionine and lysine, without a commercial premix is difficult without laboratory testing.

For most small-scale keepers, homemade feed is a supplement strategy rather than a complete replacement. You might raise your own mealworms, grow sprouted seeds, or ferment grains to improve digestibility, but use these alongside a commercial gamebird base feed rather than instead of one.

Foods Quail Should Never Eat

High-sodium foods deserve special mention because quail are small and reach toxic sodium thresholds much faster than larger birds. Table scraps that seem harmless can accumulate sodium quickly across a flock. Stick to fresh whole foods when offering anything outside of their formulated feed ration.

Fresh Water: The Feed Nobody Talks About

Water is technically not a food, but it is the most important dietary input for quail. A quail that is even mildly dehydrated will eat less, lay fewer eggs, and become far more vulnerable to heat stress. Laying hens need water to produce eggs since egg white is largely composed of water.

Change water at least once per day and more often in warm weather. Quail are messy drinkers and can contaminate water quickly with bedding and droppings. Raised or nipple waterers reduce contamination. For very young chicks, place small stones or marbles in the waterer base during the first week to prevent drowning, since newly hatched quail are small enough to fall into standard waterers.

Setting Up the Right Feeding Environment

Even the best feed will not help if the physical setup makes it hard for your quail to access food efficiently. A few practical adjustments make a significant difference.

• Use feeders with the right opening size for your birds' age

• Long trough-style feeders work well for groups — multiple birds can eat at once without competition

• Hanging feeders reduces the amount of feed scratched onto the floor

• Position feeders at back height for adult birds so they neither strain upward nor crouch uncomfortably

Recommended Quail Incubation Equipment

If you are starting your flock from hatched eggs, getting the incubation stage right directly affects chick quality and, therefore, feeding outcomes. Weak hatch results in weak chicks that struggle to eat and thrive.

For a full walkthrough of the hatching process from setting eggs to first hatch, the complete beginner's guide to incubating quail eggs covers everything, including when and how to introduce feed in the first 24 hours after hatch.

Common Feeding Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Using chicken layer feed as the primary adult ration: Chicken layer feed typically falls short on protein for quail. Switching to a dedicated gamebird layer feed usually shows improvement in feathering and egg production within a few weeks.

Offering treats before birds are eating their base feed consistently: Chicks and newly introduced adults sometimes prefer treats over their balanced ration. Establish the main feeding routine first, and introduce treats only once the birds are eating their ration well.

Overcrowding feeders: Subordinate birds get pushed out of tight feeder spaces and eat less as a result. Provide at least one inch of feeder space per bird as a minimum, with more space being better in competitive flocks.

Not transitioning feed gradually: Sudden feed changes cause digestive upset, reduced appetite, and weight loss. Always blend old and new feed over five to seven days.

Letting feed go stale or damp: Quail are sensitive to mould. In warm weather, damp feed can grow mould within 24 hours. Only put out what your birds consume in one day, and store bulk feed in a sealed container away from moisture and heat.

Quail Feeding Success Starts with the Basics

Feeding quail well does not need to be complicated. Still, it does require attention to a few non-negotiable basics: the right protein percentage at the right age, clean water available constantly, appropriately sized feeders, and a stable brooder environment for chicks. When you get the nutrition right, quail reward you with consistent egg production, healthy growth, strong feathering, and the alert, active behavior that shows a thriving flock.

Use the quail feeding chart and daily consumption table in this guide as your reference at each life stage. Start with a quality gamebird starter, transition thoughtfully through grower and adult rations, and support your laying hens with the calcium they need. If you are starting from eggs, the complete beginner's guide to incubating quail eggs and the guide to brooding baby quail chicks connect directly to the nutrition advice in this guide.

Source: incubatorwarehouse.com/blogs/poultry-pals