What Do Quail Eat?
Over the years, I’ve raised several flocks of quail for both eggs and meat and have worked with a variety of their breeds. I started the quail journey with Bobwhite quail and later switched my flock to Coturnix quail. Along the way, I noticed that quail diets can vary depending on the breed. You can’t truly know the best food for quail until you’ve personally cared for them over time.
Quails aren’t as hardy as some other birds; they won’t just eat anything you offer. Through that experience, I’ve come to understand what quail need at each stage of life, from chicks to adults, and which foods help them thrive, as well as which ones to avoid.
The Importance of Quail Nutrition
Feeding your quail the right way truly makes a difference. A balanced diet isn’t just about filling their bellies. It’s vital for their growth, immunity, and overall well-being.
Quail nutritional requirements differ based on the breed, the purpose for which you raise them, their age, and whether they are wild or captive. Therefore, it’s essential to provide the right type of feed at the right time for the right breed. These factors make knowledge of quail feeding especially important.
Whether you’re raising quail for eggs, meat, or simply as pets, a proper diet plays an essential role in keeping them healthy and productive.
Without the right nutrition, quail can become weak and fall sick. They can even stop laying eggs or struggle to grow properly. Especially the chicks, who need extra nutrients to build a strong foundation early in life.
How Much Do Quail Eat?
It’s all up to you and your quail to find the amount of feed he eats. On average, adult quail eat about 20–30 grams (0.7–1 oz) of feed per bird per day. Chicks of age below 6 weeks can eat up to 15 grams. Growing quail require a slightly higher amount, up to 24 grams. The laying hens can utilize even higher (30 grams +) due to higher needs. These are not the final figures. You’ll need to adjust the amount based on waste, age, and environmental temperature.
Understanding Quail Diets: Wild vs. Captive
Quail in the wild and quail raised at home have very different eating habits. But there’s a lot we can learn from nature. Wild quail have evolved to find their own food, scratching around for seeds, insects, greens, and whatever they find in their environment. Their diet changes with the seasons, making it highly diverse and instinct-driven.
Now, compare that to captive quail. They rely completely on us to feed them. That means it’s our job to make sure they get all the nutrients they’d usually find in the wild. The right type of feed depends on the purpose for which you raise quail, whether you raise them for eggs, meat, or just as a pet.
Even though their lifestyles are different, wild and captive quail share the same basic nutritional needs. Watching how wild quail forage and eat can improve the way we feed our own birds.
What Wild Quail Eat?
Quail are omnivores, which means they eat both plant and animal-based food, like insects. In the wild, quail eat a variety of items such as seeds and grains, greens and leafy plants, fruits and berries, insects, and invertebrates like worms, ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders.
In the wild, their diet shifts with the seasons. In summer and spring, they eat more insects, which are packed with protein (great for chicks). While in winter and fall, they feed more on seeds and dry plant matter since bugs are harder to find.
- Seeds: Quail love munching on seeds from native grasses, weeds, and even crops. Things like ragweed, sunflower, millet, corn, and wheat are all part of their natural menu.
- Insects & Bugs: Insects are very important, especially for chicks. They eat beetles, grasshoppers, ants, spiders, worms, basically whatever they can catch.
- Greens & Berries: Quail also eat leafy plants, shoots, and berries like clover, dandelion greens, and wild berries when they’re in season.
They also rely on thick cover and good habitat to find food safely while hiding from predators.
If you’re managing land for wild quail, try planting native plants that drop lots of seeds or attract bugs. This helps support their natural foraging and keeps them well-fed year-round.
Feeding Domestic Quail
Feeding domestic quail is not that complicated. After knowing their wild nutritional instincts, you’ll need to ensure the same type of diet in their food with some add-ons. According to World’s Poultry Science Journal, a good mix of protein, carbs, fats, vitamins, minerals, and even grit is essential to keep them healthy.
Quail Diet by Life Stage
Every life stage of quail has different nutritional needs. Good feed companies make special mixes for each stage. While buying feed for your flock, don’t forget to check labels to make sure you’re giving the right one.
Quail Chicks (0–6 weeks)
When quail are just born, they grow very fast. So, they need a lot of protein, around 24–28%. Feed them game bird or turkey starter crumbles, as it’s easy for them to eat. Avoid medicated chick starters unless necessary.
Growing Quail (6–18 weeks)
At this stage, quail enter adulthood, and some may begin laying. So, you need to switch them from chick starter to grower feed slowly. You’ll not have to stop providing protein at once. They still need a good amount of protein to keep growing strong. Gradually mix starter feed with adult or all-flock feed to adjust protein and fat levels.
Laying Hens (18+ weeks)
When female quail reach around 18 weeks, they are at the peak of laying. So, it’s time to offer them layer feed. Laying quail need adequate amounts of protein and calcium. At this stage, they need the same feed as adults, but with added calcium to support strong eggshells. To help quail start laying eggs, provide them with a layer feed, such as crushed oyster shells or ground eggshells. If you have a mixed-gender flock, provide all-flock feed with separate calcium. This is what I ensure for my own flock that I have kept for raising eggs.
With all these, treats are where I like to spoil them a little. Every few days, I’ll toss them some dried or live mealworms, crickets, or even a mashed boiled egg (shell included). Once in a while, I give a small pinch of ground cat food, but only once a week, as too much isn’t healthy.
| Life Stage | Protein | Fat | Fiber | Calcium |
| Chicks (0–6 weeks) | 24–28% | 2–5% | <5% | – |
| Growers (6–18 weeks) | 20–22% | 2–5% | <6% | – |
| Layers (18+ weeks) | 16–18% | 2–5% | <7% | 2.5–3.5% |
If you’re breeding quail, keep your pairs healthy and at a good weight. A little extra protein and a balanced mix of vitamins and minerals can help improve fertility and chick health.
Fruits and Vegetables Recommended for Quail
As mentioned earlier, quail are omnivores. So, they will like to eat plant-based foods as well. However, provide these only as occasional treats, usually 1-2 times a week, in small amounts. Throw out the seeds in these fruits and vegetables before offering them to your quail. Chop small enough for easy eating. Always wash them thoroughly to remove pesticides. I personally ensure all these things for my own quail. In this way, my quail has never troubled after eating these fruits.
Fruits
- Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
- Banana
- Apple
- Grapes
- Melon
- Plum
- Peer
Vegetables
Vegetables are very healthy and should be a regular part of their diet.
- Kale, spinach, and other leafy greens. Remember, darker ones are better.
- Carrots (grated or chopped)
- Broccoli
- Peas
- Corn
- Pumpkin
- Squash
- Beetroot
- Cucumber
- Sweet potato
- Bell peppers
Grains & Seeds
Quail forage for grains and seeds in the wild. Offer your quail these items in a light amount, as too much can be fattening.
Below is the list of grains, quail can eat in moderation.
- Millet (white, red, or golden)
- Oats (rolled, whole, or groats)
- Cracked corn
- Wheat (whole or cracked)
- Barley
- Sorghum (milo)
- Rice (cooked, brown or white, unsalted)
- Buckwheat
Seeds that quail like to eat are:
- Sunflower seeds (hulled and striped. Feed in small amounts due to high fat.)
- Flax seeds
- Chia seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Poppy seeds (very small quantities)
- Pumpkin seeds (unsalted, shelled or chopped)
You don’t need to provide all of these at once. Instead, offer the ones that are readily available and your quail prefer. My quail love to eat millet, wheat and cracked corn. The female ones prefer barely and rice over the others. Among seeds, they love sunflower seeds too much. I always provide grains and seeds as supplements to a balanced commercial quail feed, not the main diet.
Insects, Quail Favorite
Offering insects to your quail can encourage their natural foraging behavior. Insects are rich in proteins, which boost egg production, improve muscle development, and promote feather growth. They contain vitamins (B-complex, A, D) and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, zinc) essential for bone health, immunity, and overall vitality.
I personally feed my quail mealworms, crickets, and soldier fly larvae, and I can see how much they love them. I enjoy watching them hunt live insects on my farm. If you can’t find the live insects, frozen ones that are found online are good enough.
- Mealworms (live or dried)
- Superworms (in moderation as they contain high fat)
- Crickets
- Grasshoppers
- Waxworms (as occasional treats — very high in fat)
- Soldier fly larvae (black soldier fly grubs)
- Ant eggs
- Termites (pesticide-free only)
- Small beetles
- Earthworms
Other Yummy and Safe Additions
- Cooked eggs (plain, no salt)
- Small pieces of plain cooked meat
- Unsalted popcorn (plain only
Grit
Quail don’t have teeth, so they need grit (tiny stones) to help them grind up food in their gizzards. It’s a must-have if your birds don’t get to forage outside.
Grit is found both in soluble and insoluble forms. The soluble grit found in oyster shells, limestone, or other calcium-containing materials functions as a source of calcium, which is necessary for egg-laying hens. The insoluble grit, found in crushed granite, gravel, or coarse sand, helps grind up the food.
It’s recommended, and I do it for my own quail to provide grit in a separate dish. You can mix it into their feed; it’s not that bad. You can easily find the quail-specific grit at farm stores.
Watering
Water is just as important as food. Quail require constant access to fresh, clean water to aid digestion, maintain their body temperature, and absorb essential nutrients. Use nipple waterers or bell waterers made for quail to keep the water clean and avoid messes.
Foods You Should Never Feed Your Quail
Some food items can be problematic for your quail. They are not just unhealthy but can be deadly.
Toxic Foods
- Avocado: contains persin, which is toxic
- Chocolate: contains harmful chemicals like theobromine and caffeine
- Alcohol: dangerous for any animal
- Rhubarb leaves: contain oxalic acid, which is poisonous
- Uncooked beans
Foods That Can Cause Digestive Problems
- Raw beans e.g. kidney, lima: contain lectins so must be cooked to be safe.
- Green potatoes or potato sprouts: contain solanine, toxic to birds.
- Apple seeds & stone fruit pits (peach, cherry, plum): contain cyanide compounds.
- Tomato leaves & stems: toxic part of the plant; ripe tomatoes are safe.
- Moldy or spoiled food: can cause deadly fungal infections or poisoning.
Harmful Foods (Not Deadly, But Not Recommended)
- Salty snacks like chips or pretzels
- Candy or sugary foods (including too much fruit)
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Onions, garlic, or chives, can cause anemia
- Fruit pits/seeds like from cherries or peaches, since contain cyanide
Best Practices for How to Feed Quail
While feeding your quail flock, don’t just throw the food items in their pen or coop. In this way, you waste a lot of your quail feed. Use quail-specific feeders that are designed to prevent feed from being kicked out. Clean these feeders every time they get dirty. Dirty feeders can grow bacteria and mold, which can make your quail sick.
Don’t let bugs, moisture, or heat ruin your feed. Always store quail feed in airtight containers that pests can’t get into. Keep them in a cool and dry place to avoid mold and spoilage.
If you are trying out new treats, don’t give them all at once. Mix it with their regular feed at first. Gradually increase the amount over several days. This helps avoid stomach problems and lets you see how they react.
You can feed your quail with either commercial feed or home-grown and foraged food. The latter approach is obviously cost-effective. So, if you’re a quail like the domestic food, no need to opt for the commercial one.
You can grow quail-safe greens like clover, dandelion and chickweed
You can also raise bugs like mealworms or black soldier fly larvae. Or compost your kitchen scraps and use the safe ones as quail treats.
Solving Dietary Issues
Even if you’re doing your best, sometimes things can go wrong with your quail’s diet. Below are some common issues that can quail face while feeding them.
Nutrient Deficiency
If you’re missing the essential nutrients in quail feed, they can show it through their appearance and behavior. To spot it, your quail may have dull or messy feathers, exhibit lethargy, like just sitting around a lot, soft-shelled or no eggs, and wobbly walking.
To fix the situation, double-check your feed. Make sure it’s the right type for their age. Add supplements if needed, like calcium or vitamins, which most quail owners underestimate.
Overfeeding
Your quail might go overfed if you’re free feeding them. Too much feed can cause fewer eggs, trouble with breeding, liver issues and other health problems. You’re likely feeding your quail in a free amount. So, limit the amount of feed and provide it at different intervals.
Stop Eating
You may face a situation where your quail stops eating at all. The possible reasons behind this could be a sudden change in food, illness, stress, or bad-smelling feed. The quail can get Coccidiosis due to dirty feeders or wet bedding. To let the quail start eating, mix new food in slowly over a few days. Make sure the food is fresh and not moldy.
If you’re ever unsure, talk to a poultry vet. He can give great advice on keeping your quail healthy and well-fed.
