Raising quail can be an enjoyable and rewarding hobby, but like any animal husbandry, there are costs involved. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the expenses of getting started with and maintaining a backyard quail flock to help you determine if it fits your budget.
Upfront costs of raising quail
When first venturing into quail keeping, you’ll need to make some initial investments to prepare proper housing and acquire your starter flock. Here are some of the main upfront costs to factor in:
Quail housing
One of the primary expenses of raising quail is setting up proper housing for your birds. Quail are small, so they don’t require as much space as chickens, but they still need a secure shelter. You have a few options:
- Purchasing a ready-made quail coop or hutch, which can range from $100 for a basic wooden hutch up to $500 or more for a large, fully outfitted coop.
- Building your own coop using plans and materials from a hardware store or lumber yard. A basic DIY quail coop for a small flock can be built for $50-$150, depending on materials.
- Converting an existing small shed or other outbuilding into a quail coop, which may have little to no added cost if you already have a suitable structure.
In addition to the coop structure itself, you may need to buy supplies like feeders, waterers, perches, and nesting boxes. So factor in another $50-$100 for quail coop accessories.
Buying starter quail
Once you have the housing ready, it’s time to purchase your first quail. You have two main options:
- Day-old quail chicks – Buying chicks from a hatchery and raising them up allows you to control the genetic stock. Quail chicks cost $1-$5 each depending on the species. For a starter flock, plan on buying 25-50 chicks ($25-$250).
- Adult quail – Buying grown quail saves you the step of brooding chicks and gets you laying eggs sooner. However, source birds are harder to find. Adult quail range from $5-$20 each based on age and species. Plan on 10-20 starter adults ($50-$400).
To ensure a productive flock, it’s best to purchase your starter quail from a reputable hatchery or breeder.
Brooder supplies
If you opt for day-old chicks, you’ll need special equipment to house and care for them during the brooder phase until they’re feathered out. At a minimum, you’ll need:
- A brooder box with heat lamp or brooder plate
- Chick feeders and waterers
- Chick starter feed
- Bedding material
You can often find brooder kits that include all of these essentials. Plan on spending $50-$100 to get set up for brooding.
Permits and regulations
Before getting quail, check your local ordinances to see if any permits or licenses are required for keeping poultry in your area. These fees are typically minimal ($25 or less) but are still a cost to factor in.
Ongoing costs of quail keeping
Once your quail flock is established, you’ll have regular expenses to keep your birds healthy and productive.
Feed
Feed is one of the largest recurring costs of raising quail. High-quality quail feed costs $15-$30 for a 25 lb. bag. A flock of 25-50 birds may go through a bag every 2-3 weeks.
So for a starter flock size, estimate $15-$60 per month on feed costs. You can cut down on feed costs by supplementing with fresh greens, sprouts, garden waste, and insects, but commercial feed should still make up the bulk of their diet.
Bedding and litter
Quail coops need regular replacement of soiled bedding to keep the habitat clean. Pine shavings and clay litter materials are affordable options, usually $5-$10 for a large bale. With frequent litter changes, expect to spend $10-$30 per month on bedding.
Egg incubation supplies
If you want to hatch eggs and expand your flock, you’ll need an incubator plus hatching supplies. A small incubator for quail eggs runs $50-$200 depending on the capacity. Hatching trays, egg turners, and other supplies will be another $20-$50.
For just a few hatches per year, plan on $100-$300 in total incubation costs annually.
Health care and medications
While quail are generally hardy, health issues can crop up requiring veterinary care, dewormers, or medications. Have about $50-$100 set aside annually for potential vet bills and medicine.
Miscellaneous supplies
Other small recurring costs like cleaning products, quail care accessories, repairs, utilities for the coop, etc. can add up to $50-$100 per year.
Potential sources of profit
While quail need an initial investment and have ongoing costs, many owners are able to offset some of their expenses through small-scale sales:
- Selling eggs – Quail lay small eggs, but many specialty customers enjoy their unique speckled appearance. Selling at farmers markets or to local restaurants can generate $2-$4 per dozen.
- Selling live quail – As you hatch new quail, you can sell off extras as starter birds for $5-10 each.
- Selling dressed quail – Quail have mild, lean meat. Selling dressed whole quail to restaurants, at markets, or directly to customers can bring $4-$8 per bird.
For a well-run homestead-scale operation, it’s realistic to expect $100-$300 per month in supplemental income from quail products after getting established.
Conclusion
When all costs are considered, plan on a starter budget of $500-$1,000 to get housing, equipment, and birds in place when embarking on quail keeping. Ongoing monthly expenses for a small flock run approximately $200-$300 including feed, bedding, and incidentals.
With some effort marketing eggs and birds, you may be able to offset 25-50% of your monthly costs. But overall, quail should still be considered as livestock that require an investment to properly care for and won’t completely pay for themselves.
While not free, many find the satisfaction of raising their own quail flock to be rewarding and worth the required investment. With reasonable expectations of expenses going in, you can decide if the overall experience of keeping quail will fit your budget and lifestyle.