Why Quail Are the Perfect Addition to Any Homestead

Written By Graham Judd

Good morning, everybody! Whether you're sipping your first cup of coffee or tending to your animals, I hope your day is off to a great start. Today, I want to talk about something near and dear to my heart: quail, and why I believe they are the perfect animal to start your homesteading journey.

We’ve all heard the saying that chickens are the “gateway drug” for homesteaders. You've probably seen the funny memes—“My wife asked for chickens... now we have three goats.” It’s funny because it’s kind of true! But today, I want to make the case for starting with quail instead of chickens. Let me tell you why.

Meet the Quail

The coolest part about quail is they go from adorable little chicks to fully mature in just 8 weeks.. That’s incredibly fast when you compare it to chickens. If you had a brand new chicken chick today, you might not see your first egg for 6 months!

If you're trying to build a self-sufficient lifestyle—growing your own food, raising animals, and feeding your family—quail just make more sense. Don’t get me wrong, I love chickens. I raise them, I eat the eggs, and I enjoy the meat. But for beginners, quail offer a better return on investment.

Why Quail Make Sense

Here are a few reasons why quail are a smart first choice:

1. Fast Maturity

Quail are fully grown and start laying eggs around 6–8 weeks of age. Chickens, on the other hand, take 6–9 months to start producing.

2. Inexpensive to Start

You can often buy quail chicks for just $1–3 each. They're affordable and don’t require as much space or infrastructure to raise.

3. Quick Hatch Times

Quail hatch around day 17, sometimes even earlier. Chickens hatch on day 21 or later. That means you can raise more quail per year simply due to faster turnover.

4. More Efficient Egg Incubation

My incubator fits 36 chicken eggs—but it holds 120 quail eggs! Another one I own fits 90 chicken eggs or 300 quail eggs. That’s a huge difference in production potential.

5. Compact and Productive

You’ll need more quail per meal compared to a chicken, but they’re easy to raise in bulk. If you’re barbecuing—trust me—you’re going to want three or four per adult because they’re delicious!

Cost-Effective Homesteading

Getting into homesteading isn’t cheap. You need tools, fencing, feed, brooders, coops, and more. Quail make it easier. You can start with something as simple as a plastic tote, a heat source, some wood chips, a feeder, and a waterer. That’s it. Super simple and affordable.

Even off-grid homesteaders can raise quail successfully. If you’ve got a broody Silkie hen, she can hatch your quail eggs for you—no incubator needed! Just be sure to bring the chicks inside once they hatch, as the size difference can be dangerous for the little ones.

From Hobby to Full-Time Farming

I wish I had known about quail when I started. My wife and I have been homesteading for over 10 years now. It’s been a slow road—we’ve both worked traditional jobs the whole time. But little by little, we’re moving toward full-time farming. And a huge part of that progress has come from quail.

If you’re thinking about starting your homestead or just want to dip your toes into self-sufficiency, I truly believe quail are the way to go.

Stay Connected

If you’ve got questions about quail, homesteading, or just want to talk about life or the Bible, I’d love to connect with you. Here’s where you can find me:

Thanks for spending some time with me today. Grab another cup of coffee, give your animals some love, and remember: great things start small—just like a quail egg.

God bless you, and we’ll see you next time.

Graham Judd
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Why I Started Raising Quail—and What You Need to Know Before You Do Too