Breeding Quail

There are various quail species to choose from when selecting a quail breed. Unlike chickens, which can be categorized into various chicken breeds, there is no such thing as quail breeds. Instead, quail can be divided into various genera. Learn the difference between different types of quail, such as the Harlequin Quai, Bobwhite Quail and the Japanese Quail, and choose for yourself what type of quail you want to raise.

  1. Asian Blue Quail (Coturnix chinensis): The Asian Blue Quail is popular among backyard quail raisers where it is usually referred to as the Button Quail. It is the smallest member of the quail species.
  2. Blue Quail (Coturnix adansonii): The Blue Quail is relatively common throughout sub-Sahara Africa.
  3. Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora): Also known as the Swamp Quail, the Brown/Swamp Quail is very common throughout wet areas in Australia.
  4. Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix): The Common Quail is very common in Europe, Asia and Africa. The Common quail is a dual-purpose quail (used for quail eggs and quail meat). It is popularly hunted as a gamebird. The Common Quail eats small insects and grains/plant seeds. It takes approximately 18 days for fertile Common Quail eggs to hatch.
  5. Harlequin Quail (Coturnix delegorguei): The Harlequin Quail, found throughout Central America and the southwest of the United States, is also known as the Montezuma Quail, Mearns’ Quail, and the Fool’s Quail. The Harlequin/Montezuma/Mearns/Fool’s Quail is popular among gamebird hunters, where it can be found in open pastures and fields eating insects (the primary ingredient in its feed).
  6. Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa): The Himalayan Quail is a rare quail genus found only in the Himalayan Mountain regions and is probably extinct.
  7. Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica): The Japanese Quail is originally from Asia, though it is now raised around the world. Adult Japanese Quail measure twenty centimeters long and are very popular for domestic husbandry, used for both eggs and quail meat.
  8. Jungle Bush-quail (Perdicula asiatica): The Jungle Bush-quail is found throughout South Asia and is rarely raised by domestic quail hobbyists.
  9. Manipur Bush-quail (Perdicula manipurensis): The Manipur Bush-quail is an Indian quail species.
  10. New Zealand Quail (Coturnix novaezelandiae): The New Zealand Quail, also known as the koreke quail, was found throughout New Zealand before being hunted to extinction by both humans and animal predators introduced by sailors and settlers to New Zealand.
  11. Painted Bush-quail (Perdicula erythrorhyncha):
  12. Rain Quail (Coturnix coromandelica): This South Asian quail species has very distinctive color patterns on its plumage and is rarely raised by backyard quail hobbyists.
  13. Rock Bush-quail (Perdicula argoondah): The Rock Bush-quail is an Indian quail species that is rarely used for eggs or meat.
  14. Snow Mountain Quail (Anurophasis monorthonyx): The Snow Mountain Quail is a large gamebird found at high altitudes in Alpine climates and grasslands. During breeding season, the Snow Mountain Quail only lays three to four eggs.
  15. Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis): Originally from Australia, the Stubble Quail is a gamebird quail species not commonly raised for domestic purposes.