When I first started raising quail, I kept seeing numbers online about how many eggs they should lay… but I just wanted to know what actually happens in a real setup.
Right now, I have about 30 quail, and on a normal day I collect around 25 eggs.
Honestly, I didn’t expect it to be that consistent. At one point I had more eggs than I knew what to do with.
🥚 What I Actually See Day to Day
Most days are pretty steady. I go out, grab eggs, check food and water, and that’s about it.
It only takes me maybe 5–15 minutes total.
The only times I notice a drop are when something changes — usually weather or light.
💡 The Biggest Thing That Affects Egg Production
If I had to pick one thing, it’s lighting.
During winter, if I don’t add light, egg production drops pretty fast. The birds just slow down.
When I add light back in, they pick right back up like nothing happened.
That surprised me the first time.
🌬️ Wind and Comfort Matter More Than I Thought
One thing I didn’t expect was how much wind affects them.
I had part of my enclosure too exposed at one point, and production dipped a bit. Once I covered part of it and blocked the wind, things went back to normal.
Now I always make sure they have a protected area.
🍽️ What I Feed Them
I keep this simple:
- 30% protein gamebird feed
- Oyster shell on the side
Nothing fancy, and it works.
I don’t overthink feed too much as long as they’re getting enough protein.
📉 When Egg Production Drops
When I notice fewer eggs, it’s usually one of these:
- Not enough light
- Big temperature change
- Too much stress (like fighting)
It’s almost always something environmental.
🧠 My Honest Take
Quail are probably one of the easiest ways to produce food at home.
They don’t take much space, they don’t take much time, and they just keep producing if you keep things steady.
✅ Final Thoughts
If you keep them comfortable, give them light, and don’t overcomplicate things, they’ll do their job.
I went into this thinking it would take more effort than it does — but honestly, once it’s set up, it kind of runs itself.