When it comes to raising quail, housing is everything. Coturnix quail may be small, but their needs are specific—and the right enclosure can make all the difference for their health, productivity, and your daily workload. Whether you’re raising quail in a suburban backyard or on a sprawling homestead, let’s break down your options and what we’ve learned from experience.
🏠 Indoor vs. Outdoor Quail Setups
Indoor Enclosures:
Perfect for colder climates or urban spaces like garages, sheds, or greenhouses. They offer more temperature control and protection from predators and the elements.
Pros:
Easier to control temperature and lighting
Protection from weather and predators
Cleaner egg collection
Cons:
Limited ventilation if not properly set up
Smell can build up quickly without daily cleaning
Requires more frequent cleaning and waste management
May require supplemental lighting to maintain healthy egg production, especially in winter months
Outdoor Enclosures:
Great for rural homesteads or moderate climates. Outdoor setups give quail access to fresh air and sometimes natural ground, depending on the style.
Pros:
Natural light and air flow
Less mess/smell indoors
Can reduce feed costs if quail have ground access
Cons:
Exposure to weather, flooding, or predators
Must be predator- and weather-proof
Seasonal concerns (heat, cold, rain)
🧰 Our Experience: Why Flooring & Setup Matters
When we first got quail, we used a setup with ¼” wire mesh on the bottom, thinking it would help poop fall through and keep things cleaner.
Spoiler: It didn’t.
Not only do the droppings not fall through like we expected (they tend to clump), but cleaning became a daily chore just to keep things livable. Even worse, wire floors raise the risk of bumblefoot, a painful condition that can affect quail feet from standing on wire all day.
We prefer enclosures with solid flooring, covered with bedding like sand, pine shavings, or straw. They're easier to clean and safer for the birds.
Ideally, we would use a quail tractor—a mobile ground enclosure—because we have plenty of land that needs mowing and the quail could eat bugs and greens, reducing our feed costs.
Unfortunately, our yard floods every spring, so we had to find a temporary elevated solution this season to avoid drowning risk. Property grading is on our long-term list, but we had to prioritize quail safety first.
🛠️ DIY Quail Cage Options
Looking for budget-friendly ways to build a quail habitat? You have options:
Converted rabbit hutches
Great for small flocks and easy to find secondhand.
Stacked cage systems (indoor use)
Efficient for space, especially in garages or barns.
Quail tractors (mobile ground pens)
Ideal for pasture use, especially in dry climates.
Repurposed materials
Think old shelves, hutches, or cages reinforced with hardware cloth.
🔧 Flooring, Ventilation & Predator Safety
Flooring:
When it comes to flooring, avoid using full wire bottoms unless you opt for PVC-coated hardware cloth, which is gentler on quail feet and helps prevent injuries like bumblefoot. A ¼-inch mesh is too small to allow droppings to fall through effectively, so using ½-inch hardware cloth is a better choice. For comfort and ease of cleaning, consider using trays or bedding materials such as pine shavings, sand, or straw, or even ground-contact enclosures where the quail can scratch naturally. The deep litter method—where bedding is allowed to accumulate and compost over time—can also work well, but it requires proper ventilation and regular turning to avoid moisture buildup and odors.
Ventilation:
Good ventilation is crucial in both indoor and outdoor quail enclosures to maintain healthy air quality and prevent respiratory issues. Quail produce ammonia from their droppings, which can accumulate quickly in poorly ventilated spaces, causing stress or illness. Using breathable materials like hardware cloth on the sides of cages allows fresh air to circulate while keeping predators out. Avoid fully enclosed or sealed containers without airflow, as stagnant air increases humidity and ammonia levels, creating an unhealthy environment for your birds.
Predator Safety:
Predator protection is a must when housing quail. Use hardware cloth rather than chicken wire, as it has smaller openings and is much stronger, preventing predators like raccoons, snakes, or rodents from gaining access. Secure all corners and latches tightly—remember, if a small child could get into your enclosure, so can a raccoon or other clever predator. For added security, consider installing apron fencing—buried wire extending outward from the base of your enclosure—or place concrete blocks around the perimeter to prevent animals from digging underneath.
📐 Vertical vs. Horizontal Space Use
Horizontal setups tend to work best for quail because these birds don’t fly vertically like chickens and prefer to feed and nest close to the ground. They thrive when given space to spread out rather than being stacked on top of each other. However, if you’re limited on space, stacked cage systems with trays can still be effective—just be sure that each level receives adequate ventilation and lighting to keep the birds healthy and comfortable.
✅ Quick Setup Comparison:
| Setup Type | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor cages | Urban/small-scale keepers | Temp control, easy egg collection | Needs ventilation, can smell indoors |
| Outdoor coops | Rural properties with dry ground | Natural air/light, less indoor mess | Predator/flood risk, seasonal issues |
| Quail tractors | Large properties, dry weather | Ground access, reduces feed | Not ideal in flood-prone areas |
| DIY from scraps | Budget builds anywhere | Custom size, low-cost | Needs predator-proofing and upkeep |
🌿 Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to housing quail—but you can find what works for your land, budget, and goals. For us, the dream is a safe, mobile quail tractor once we resolve our drainage issues. Until then, we’re making do with a setup built from scrap wood, feed bags, and hardware cloth from Temu—proof that you don’t need a big budget to raise happy, healthy quail.
Stay tuned for the next post in our quail series—coming soon!