Raising Quail on the Ground: Coops, Pens, and Aviaries Explained
Learn how to raise Coturnix quail outdoors using aviaries, tractors, or ground pens. Get real-world tips on space, safety, and what works best.
When I started raising Jumbo Coturnix quail, I saw wire cages and stacked pens recommended everywhere—and they do have their place. In fact, we still use them in our climate-controlled hatchery where space and cleanliness matter most.
If you’re still on the fence about whether quail are right for your homestead, here’s why I think they’re one of the most underrated birds to raise.
But I also wanted to give some of our coveys something different: the chance to scratch through grass, hunt bugs, and move more naturally on the ground. Free-ranging wasn’t an option due to sky predators and flight risk, but a secure pen with ground access felt like the perfect balance.
In this post, I’ll walk you through what it takes to raise quail in outdoor pens and aviaries, including pros and cons, space tips, predator protection, and which setups work best long-term.
Why Raising Quail on the Ground Is Worth It
Raising Coturnix quail on the ground gives your birds the chance to act like birds. Coturnix quail are especially well-suited to ground setups thanks to their calm temperament and high egg production. Learn more about what makes them ideal. They can scratch, dust bathe, forage, and stretch their legs in a way that just isn’t possible in cages. And that does a lot more than just make you feel good.
- Healthier, Happier Birds: Quail in ground setups get more stimulation and exercise. That keeps them healthier, reduces feather picking, and often leads to better egg production.
- Built-in Clean-Up Crew: Quail droppings don’t pile up in the same way they do in cages. On the ground, they contribute to the soil, especially if you maintain a healthy living groundcover or rotate pens.
- Easier to Feed Naturally: If your pen includes greens, compost piles, or deep litter systems, your quail will supplement their feed with bugs and greens. That means healthier birds and lower feed bills.
- Less Day-to-Day Work: With a well-planned system, you may find outdoor setups need less daily maintenance than cages. Larger spaces mean fewer refills, less cleanup, and less micromanaging.
Best Setups for Ground-Raised Quail
You have a few good options when raising quail on the ground. Here are the three most common systems:
Quail Aviary
A quail aviary is a large, walk-in pen built directly on the ground, often enclosed with hardware cloth and covered on top for full protection. This is the closest you can get to free-ranging while still keeping your quail safe from predators and contained.
Aviaries let quail move naturally, forage for bugs, dust bathe, and explore without restriction. Ours are planted with low, chicken-safe greenery to encourage foraging and provide shade. We rotate these pens seasonally and use them primarily for our male grow-outs—giving them space and enrichment until they’re ready for processing. It’s my favorite way to raise quail when space allows.
Stationary Coop + Run
This setup includes a fixed indoor coop (usually raised off the ground) connected to a secure, enclosed ground-level pen. It’s a great option if you’re already familiar with chicken coops and want to expand into quail without reinventing your entire system.
We use this style for our layer hens. The indoor coop provides shelter, while the attached run gives them room to scratch, peck, and dust bathe. It’s easy to predator-proof and convenient for daily access and egg collection. If you’re keeping a small covey for eggs, this might be your best bet.
Mobile Quail Tractor
A quail tractor is a lightweight, fully enclosed pen that can be moved around the yard. It gives your quail fresh access to new ground regularly, which helps prevent waste buildup and keeps their environment enriched with greens and bugs.
We’re just starting to incorporate tractors into our rotation. They’ve been especially useful for keeping quail on pasture without permanently altering the ground. These are great for small backyards or homesteaders who want to let their quail forage naturally without the commitment of building a full aviary. Just be sure to move them every few days so the ground doesn’t get too bare.
Designing a Safe, Low-Maintenance Outdoor Setup
A well-designed outdoor pen keeps your quail safe and makes your life easier.
Space Requirements
Space requirements for pen setups is 2-3 birds per 1 square foot, but I recommend at least 1 square feet per adult in an outdoor setup. More space means cleaner conditions and less stress.
Predator Protection
Use hardware cloth, not chicken wire. Bury an apron around the perimeter or add a solid floor under the soil layer to keep out diggers. Cover the top securely—hawks, owls, and even neighborhood cats are a real threat.
Shelter & Shade
Include windbreaks, roofed areas, or small shelters where birds can hide or escape bad weather. In aviaries, I like to use plants and low tunnels.
Forage, Dusting & Enrichment
Let them dig, scratch, and snack. Use dry dirt patches or old compost piles for dust baths, toss in weeds or bolted greens, and rotate the pen if possible.
Pros & Cons of Each Setup
Each of the main outdoor housing options—aviaries, stationary coops with runs, and mobile tractors—has unique benefits and trade-offs. Your choice will depend on your goals, space, and how hands-on you want to be day to day.
Aviary
- Pros: Natural behaviors, easy egg collection (if designed well), great for scaling up.
- Cons: More materials to build, harder to predator-proof, can be muddy if not maintained.
Stationary Coop + Run
- Pros: Familiar to chicken keepers, secure, weather protection.
- Cons: Limited space, needs frequent cleaning, egg hunting can be tricky.
Mobile Tractor
- Pros: Forage access, less cleaning, great for small yards.
- Cons: Needs frequent moving, limited space, harder in winter.
Raising Quail on the Ground: Common Questions
Still figuring out if outdoor setups are right for you? Here are answers to a few questions I get all the time.
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Raising quail on the ground takes a little more planning up front, but the benefits add up quickly. Not only are your birds likely to be healthier and more active, but your setup can feel more natural and—once dialed in—might even be easier to maintain than traditional pens. Whether you’re scaling up or just looking to give your coveys a better life, ground-based housing is worth considering as part of your overall quail system.
I cover a lot more about aviaries, tractors, and other quail housing topics over on my sister site, Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm. If you’re just getting started with quail, check out my book 5 Mistakes New Quail Owners Make (And How to Avoid Them)—it’s packed with the kind of real-world advice I wish I’d had on day one.