Coturnix (Japanese) Quail are the fastest-maturing poultry: lay at 6 weeks, butcher at 7-8 weeks, eggs hatch in 17 days. The 'two birds per square foot' option for backyard meat + egg production. Jumbo strain dresses out at 12-14 oz. FastPoultry takes free quote requests for Coturnix Quail (Jumbo) as hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and adult birds and matches each one with NPIP-certified breeders within 1 business day.
| Origin | Japan - domesticated 12th century |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Common |
| Also called | Japanese Quail, Pharaoh Quail, King Coturnix |
| Adult weight | Jumbo adults 10-14 oz |
| Size class | Small game bird |
| Eggs per year | ~250 |
| Egg color | Speckled cream |
| Egg size | Tiny (1/3 chicken egg) |
| Broodiness | Low (largely lost the trait via domestication) |
| Cold hardiness | Fair (indoor preferred) |
| Heat tolerance | Good |
| Noise level | Quiet |
| Flight tendency | Will fly straight up - covered cages required |
| Beginner friendly | Yes |
Domesticated in Japan in the 12th century, primarily as singing cage birds. Selective breeding for egg production began in the 1900s, leading to the modern egg-laying Coturnix. The 'Jumbo' or 'Pharaoh' strain (selected for body size, US 1950s-70s) is 30-50% larger than the original. Now the most-farmed quail species globally - over 1 billion eggs produced per year. Fastest vertebrate from egg to egg (17-day incubation + 6-week pullet).
Best for: eggs, meat, small spaces, apartment-friendly
Hens lay 4-6 eggs/week. Eggs hatch in 17 days.
| Indoor coop space | 1 sq ft per bird |
|---|
Space: Cage-raised on wire bottom or deep litter. 1 sqft per bird minimum. Covered top REQUIRED (vertical flight).
Feeding: Game-bird crumbles 24-28% protein. Higher protein than chickens - layer feed insufficient.
Health: Watch for ulcerative enteritis - keep waterers clean. Watch for cannibalism in overcrowded cages.
Climate: Zones 3-10 with shelter. Tolerate cold to 0F with windbreak; love mild weather.
You can request Coturnix Quail (Jumbo) through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 3 request pages for hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and adult birds, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Coturnix Quail (Jumbo) are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
A Coturnix Quail (Jumbo) hen lays roughly 250 eggs a year, and the eggs are tiny (1/3 chicken egg) and speckled cream. Hens lay 4-6 eggs/week. Eggs hatch in 17 days. Broodiness is rated low (largely lost the trait via domestication). Real production depends on strain, hen age, season, and daylight, so ask breeders about the laying record of their parent stock.
Yes. The Coturnix Quail (Jumbo) is rated beginner friendly. Temperament: calm if cage-raised, flighty if free-range, foraging; cold hardiness: fair (indoor preferred); heat tolerance: good; noise level: quiet. It is best for eggs, meat, small spaces, and apartment-friendly. Check local rules on roosters and flock size before you buy.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
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