Quail are amazing little birds that grow very quickly. By 2 to 3 weeks old they have all their body feathers, and at times some of their head feathers. It’s at this stage that they can be moved outside.

If it's below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it's best to leave them inside until about 4 weeks. This is when they finish developing their head feathers. During the extra time indoors, there’s no need for them to be kept under a heat lamp.

When the time comes, moving them from the brooder to their outside coop is an easy process. Keep reading to learn more.

What Age Do Quail No Longer Need Heat?

Quail have enough feathers to be weaned off the heat lamp as soon as 10 days old. Provided they are inside with a temperature of around 70 degrees.

I raise my quail in my basement which stays at about 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. On day 10, I turn off the heat lamp and check on them throughout the day to make sure they aren’t too cold.

Because I live in a warmer state, I move them outside at 2 weeks. Wait until 4 weeks if it gets below 40 degrees at night.

What’s the Best Way to Transport Quail

Once it’s time to move the quail outside, you’ll want to make sure you have a good way to transport them. Quail love to fly and jump around, so a container with a lid is necessary.

A tote with a wire top is a great way to move the juvenile quail outside. If you only have a few birds, a box would be fine as well.

Whichever container you choose to move your quail outside, I recommend lining the bottom with a thin layer of pine shavings or shop towels (affiliate link).

One time, I put them right into the tote, and as a reward, they splashed poop in my face when I went to grab them and put them in their outside enclosure. (Yes, they do poop that fast.)

Once you're at their coop, or other enclosure, you'll want to put them in one at a time.

I placed the tote on the opposite side of me as the door. That way I can hold the door open with my back while I put them in, keeping a full view of the opening as much as possible.

Quail are fast little buggers and will attempt to escape several times. (Unless you use sand which they often immediately dive into and start bathing themselves.)

Can Baby Quail Go in With Adults?

If you're trying to move the juveniles in with adult quail, it's best to take the current residences out of their enclosure. This will disorient them and cause them to be less territorial.

However, I wouldn't recommend putting juveniles in with adults until at least 5 weeks. The males mounting the hens is a little too aggressive for 2-week-old quail.

In the advent that you have nowhere else to put them, you can put in a divider. I used two thin pieces of wood and stapled a strip of hardware cloth to them. It took a bit of maneuvering, but I was able to wedge it in and it was quite sturdy.

This was a great way to not only separate them but allowed them to get used to each other without any fighting.

How Do You House Quail Outside

Make sure your quail always have access to water and food. It's also best to keep them in a shaded area or have them in a coop with a solid roof.

My quail coops are made with a small nesting box and a wire-lined run. To protect the young quail from the elements, I covered three of the four sides with a tarp. At night, I pulled the tarp down to cover a majority of the fourth side to keep the heat in. I left about 6 inches open to allow air flow.

At this age it's recommended to have 1 to 3 quail per square foot. I opt for 3 to ensure that they have enough shared body heat to stay warm and comfortable in the colder night temperatures.

I like to bring the number down to 1 quail per square foot once they reach 5 weeks of age.

Temperatures Quail Are Able to Tolerate

Once they're full-grown, quail can tolerate temperatures down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure they have at least three sides covered, and somewhere to fully get out of the elements.

I wrap three sides of my quail aviary with greenhouse plastic in the winter, and the fourth side is nestled up close to the back of my house. The top is covered partially with metal roofing, and partially with clear roofing to let in the sun.

Inside the aviary, I have buckets and planting pots to further allow them to get out of the cold and snuggle up. For the breading pens I keep inside the aviary, they are provided with nesting boxes made of plywood.

While quail do better in cold weather, they have been known to tolerate high temperatures as well.

I live in Virginia where the temperatures often get over 100 degrees, up to about 110 with humidity. I keep them in the shade, where it’s anywhere from 5 to 10 degrees cooler.

To help them stay cool, I make sure their water is never warm. I add ice to their water anytime it starts to heat up and put in electrolytes a couple times a week.

If you live in areas of extreme heat, you will probably have to go to extra measures to keep your quail cool. This may include providing them with cool air, or adding frozen water bottles to their pens.

What Do Quail Like in Their Coop

Quail don't require anything other than food and water in their coops. Quail are kept in many different types of enclosures: metal, stackable cages; rabbit hutches; fish tanks; dog kennels or runs; quail tractors; and many other inventive homes.

However, quail do love a good sand, dust, or dirt bath. This helps to maintain their feathers and makes them less desirable to lice and other parasites. 

Quail don't need roosting bars or nesting boxes. But, if you give hens a nice area to lay their eggs, they are more likely to lay there than in random areas. This also helps keep eggs clean when raising quail on the ground.

If you want more ideas on how to set up a natural environment for your quail read more here.

Final Thoughts

Moving your quail outside for the first time can feel intimidating, but once you understand their needs for warmth, space, and safety, it’s actually one of the easiest transitions you’ll make. These little birds are hardy and adaptable — and with the right setup, you’ll have a thriving flock in no time.

Want to skip the guesswork and avoid the mistakes that cost me time, money, and a few too many birds? Grab my What I Wish I Knew Before Getting Quail  guide. It’s a straight-to-the-point PDF packed with tips that’ll help you set up your quail the right way from day one.