How Many Quail to Start With? Find the Right Number for You

Wondering how many quail to start with? This guide helps you choose the right number based on your goals—eggs, meat, or breeding.

If you’re thinking about raising Coturnix quail, one of the first questions you’ll ask is: how many should I start with? And the truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on your goals, your setup, and how much time you want to invest.

I’ve worked with new keepers who just wanted a few adorable birds to watch and collect the occasional egg, and I’ve helped others build systems to produce hundreds of eggs and dozens of meat birds a month. No matter which camp you’re in—or if you’re somewhere in between—here’s how I recommend thinking it through.

Start With Your Goals, Not a Number

Before you settle on how many birds, figure out what you want from your quail. Are you mostly interested in a small, low-maintenance covey for fresh eggs? Are you hoping to raise enough meat to feed your family? Or are you planning to hatch and grow your covey into a sustainable, self-reliant setup?

Still deciding if Coturnix quail are the right fit for your goals? Here’s why I recommend them over other types of quail.

Let’s break it down by common homesteading goals:

For Fresh Eggs

If you’re raising quail just for eggs, a group of 3 to 5 hens per person in your household is a great place to start. Coturnix hens typically lay 5–6 eggs a week, so even a small covey can keep you well stocked.

If eggs are your main goal, check out my beginner guide to raising Coturnix quail for eggs over on Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm.

Tip: You don’t need any males for egg production unless you want fertile eggs for hatching.

For Meat Production

If you want to produce your own meat, you’ll need a larger group and a plan for staggered hatches. Start with 15–20 birds so you can get a feel for their growth rates, feed needs, and housing. This is usually enough to test out your setup and decide how often you want to harvest.

Many people raise males only for meat, hatching in batches and keeping just enough hens and roosters to maintain their breeding lines.

For Breeding and Sustainability

Interested in hatching your own eggs? You’ll need a balanced breeder group—1 cock to every 4–5 hens is ideal. Start with 20–30 birds total if you’re building a sustainable rotation. That gives you room to select your best birds and cull for temperament, productivity, or size.

You can always scale up from there as you gain experience and refine your systems.

Curious about raising quail for meat? I walk through housing, processing age, and batch scheduling in this full guide.

How Space Affects Your Starting Flock Size

One of the biggest factors in how many quail you should start with is how much space you actually have. Even the most ambitious plans need to fit within your setup.

Minimum Space Per Bird

Quail don’t need as much room as chickens, but they still need enough space to move freely, stay clean, and avoid aggression. These are general space guidelines:

• Production-style cages or stackers: 2–3 birds per square foot
• Colony setups or walk-in pens: 1–1.5 square feet per bird
• Tractors or pasture pens: 0.75–1 square foot per bird

If you’re not sure how many birds your setup can handle, reverse the math. Measure your available square footage and divide by the space each bird needs.

Example: If your walk-in pen is 25 square feet, it can comfortably house about 20–25 birds at 1–1.25 square feet per bird.

Want help designing your setup? I cover beginner-friendly pen options—like tractors, coops, and aviaries—over on Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm. I break down the pros and cons of each option in this guide to raising quail on the ground in coops, pens, and aviaries.

Consider Workflow and Access

You’ll also want to make sure there’s room for feeders, waterers, dusting pans, and YOU. Being able to easily access your birds for daily care makes a big difference—especially when you’re just starting out.

Not sure how much feed your covey will need? I break down daily feed amounts and cost-saving tips in my complete feeding guide.

If your space is tight, start with fewer birds and expand once you’ve dialed in your routine.

Frequently Asked Questions About Quail Numbers

Still figuring out the math? Here are a few more questions I hear from new keepers:

Thinking about adding quail? Pin this post so you can come back when it’s time to plan your setup!

Whether you’re raising quail for eggs, meat, or hatching, the best number to start with is one you can manage well. Give yourself room to learn without being overwhelmed—and trust me, your covey will grow faster than you think.

Raising quail isn’t just fun—it can play a real role in your self-sufficiency goals. Here’s how quail farming fits into a modern homestead. Want help choosing your first setup? I cover a lot of beginner-friendly housing options over on my sister site, Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm.

And if you’re still unsure where to begin, my book 5 Mistakes New Quail Owners Make (And How to Avoid Them) is full of practical, real-life advice to help you get started with confidence.