Button Quail vs. Coturnix Quail: Which Is Right for You?
One of my favorite parts of owning Bryant's Roost is answering questions from new poultry keepers. I receive emails almost every day from people trying to decide whether they should raise button quail or Coturnix quail. They look similar in pictures, but that's where the similarities end.
Recently, Ava sent me a list of great questions comparing the two species. Instead of replying privately, I decided to turn those questions into a blog because I know many other people are wondering the exact same thing.
I've raised both species for years, and while I enjoy them equally, I raise them for completely different reasons. If you're trying to decide which quail belongs in your backyard or barn, here's what I've learned.
Quick Look
Button quail and Coturnix quail are two completely different species with very different personalities and purposes. Coturnix quail are excellent for eggs, meat, and beginners because they mature quickly and are naturally curious. Button quail are ornamental birds that require a little more attention as chicks but reward you with beautiful colors, entertaining personalities, and fascinating behaviors. Having raised both for years, I've found that neither is "better"—they simply fit different goals.
Everything You Need to Get Your First Button Quail Off to a Great Start
Quick Look
Perfect for first-time button quail owners
Equipment sized specifically for tiny button quail chicks
Includes starter feed, feeder, waterer, and brooder plate
Comes with 12 button quail hatching eggs
Designed using the same products I use at Bryant's Roost
Packaged in EggFoam® to help protect your hatching eggs during shipping.
Getting Started Doesn't Have to Be Overwhelming
Free Shipping
If you've decided to hatch button quail, you've probably already discovered that finding the right equipment isn't always easy. Most poultry supplies are designed for chickens or even Coturnix quail, leaving new button quail owners wondering what will actually work for birds this tiny.
I put this starter kit together to eliminate that guesswork.
Instead of spending hours trying to figure out which feeder is small enough, whether your chicks can safely use a waterer, or what feed they should start on, you can begin with equipment that's designed specifically for button quail.
What's Included
Button Quail Feeder
Our button quail feeder is the perfect size for newly hatched chicks and comfortably feeds up to 10 birds. The low-profile design allows tiny chicks to reach their feed easily while helping reduce waste.
Button Quail Waterer
Button quail chicks are incredibly small, which means standard poultry waterers can become a safety hazard.
This waterer base is designed with button quail in mind. It helps reduce the risk of drowning while still providing plenty of fresh water as your chicks grow. Simply attach it to any regular-mouth mason jar (jar not included).
Show Pro Button Quail Starter Feed
Button quail have incredibly fast metabolisms, so proper nutrition is critical from day one.
This is the same balanced starter feed I use for my own button quail at Bryant's Roost because I've been consistently pleased with chick growth, health, and overall performance.
Catch Net
Sooner or later, every button quail owner discovers just how fast these little birds can be.
And yes...at some point one will probably escape.
A lightweight catch net makes retrieving loose birds much easier and much less stressful for both you and your quail. Net colors vary and may include purple, blue, yellow, orange, or red.
Button Quail Hatching Eggs
Your kit includes 12 button quail hatching eggs from my breeding program, giving you everything you need to begin your own button quail adventure.
Brooder Plate
A brooder plate provides gentle, consistent warmth for newly hatched chicks and allows them to move in and out of the heat naturally as needed.
Why I Put This Kit Together
One thing I've learned over the years is that button quail aren't simply tiny Coturnix.
They're their own species with their own needs.
When I first started, I found myself modifying equipment that had been designed for larger birds. Eventually, I began using products that worked better for button quail, and that's exactly what you'll find in this starter kit.
My goal isn't just to sell supplies—it's to help you start with equipment that gives your chicks the best opportunity to thrive.
What's Included
✔ 1 Button Quail Feeder
✔ 1 Button Quail Waterer Base (regular-mouth mason jar not included)
✔ 1 Catch Net (random color)
✔ 1 Pound Show Pro Button Quail Starter Feed
✔ 12 Button Quail Hatching Eggs
✔ 1 Brooder Plate
PLUS FREE Shipping
Perfect For
First-time button quail owners
Families hatching button quail at home
Classroom incubation projects
Anyone who wants one convenient package instead of shopping for individual supplies
From Bryant's Roost
Every product in this kit has earned its place here by being useful on my own farm. These aren't random items bundled together—they're the same tools and feed I rely on when raising button quail. My hope is that they help make your first hatch a successful one and give you the confidence to enjoy these incredible little birds from day one.
The First Two Weeks
This is probably where the differences are most obvious.
Coturnix hatch ready to conquer the world.
Within minutes they're running around the brooder looking for food, water, shiny objects, and trouble. They'll investigate everything, climb on each other, splash in the water if you let them, and somehow always manage to entertain themselves. I joke that they act like little minions because they're constantly moving.
Button quail are almost the opposite.
Their first few days remind me much more of turkey poults. They like their brooder warmer and drier, and they don't naturally explore the way Coturnix do. Instead, they often need encouragement to get up and eat or drink.
When I brood button quail, I almost always place either an older button chick or a couple of Coturnix chicks with them. Those older, active birds teach the buttons where the food and water are and encourage them to move around.
If you don't have older chicks available, simply check on them often during those first few days. Gently waking them, encouraging them to move, and keeping both food and warm water close to the heat source makes a noticeable difference.
Breeding Ratios
The breeding setup is another major difference.
Coturnix quail generally perform best with one male for every four or five females. They typically don't do well as permanent pairs.
Button quail are different because they are largely monogamous.
Most of my button pairs are housed one male to one female, although I do have one successful trio and one larger colony. Every group develops its own personality, so observation is much more important than following a strict formula.
If you keep multiple males together, pay attention to feather wear, chasing, and aggression. They'll usually tell you when adjustments need to be made.
The Biggest Difference Between Raising Them
People often ask me which species I enjoy more.
Honestly, that's like asking whether I prefer dogs or cats.
They're simply different.
I raise Coturnix because they're incredibly productive. They provide eggs, meat, and hatch quickly. They're practical livestock.
Button quail fill a completely different role.
I love their tiny size, beautiful colors, and cheerful little crow that echoes through the barn. They aren't nearly as productive, and they certainly require more space per bird than most people expect, but I genuinely enjoy having them around.
The customers who buy each species are usually looking for completely different things, too.
Quick Look
• Includes 36 mixed Coturnix quail hatching eggs
• Hatching and brooding supplies in one convenient box
• Includes a 12-inch brooder heat plate
• Thermometer and grip liner help you prepare for incubation and hatch day
• Egg scissors and cartons are included for your future homegrown eggs
• Free incubation and brooding ebooks
• FREE shipping
Start Hatching Coturnix Quail with Confidence
The Coturnix Quail Starter Box brings together hatching eggs and essential supplies for your first hatch. Instead of searching for each item separately, you’ll receive 36 mixed Coturnix quail hatching eggs, helpful incubation tools, a brooder heat plate and supplies you can continue using after your quail begin laying.
This box is an excellent starting point for first-time Coturnix quail keepers, families, homesteaders and educational hatching projects.
What’s Included
36 Jenn’s Choice Coturnix Quail Hatching Eggs
Your box includes 36 fertile Coturnix quail hatching eggs from Bryant’s Roost breeding birds. Egg colors and varieties may differ throughout the assortment.
Thermometer
Use the included thermometer to independently monitor the temperature inside your incubator. Accurate temperature monitoring is one of the most important parts of a successful hatch.
Grip Liner
The included grip liner creates a stable hatching surface and helps newly hatched chicks find their footing.
12-Inch Brooder Heat Plate
After hatch day, chicks need a safe source of warmth. The included 12-inch brooder plate provides a warm resting area for your new Coturnix quail chicks.
Quail Egg Scissors
Quail egg scissors make it easier to open the small eggs your hens may produce when they mature.
Feeder and Waterer Set
Five Quail Egg Cartons
Store, organize or share your future homegrown quail eggs in the five included egg cartons.
Free Educational Guides
You’ll also receive access to Bryant’s Roost guides about incubating and brooding Coturnix quail.
Starter Box Includes
✔ 36 mixed Coturnix quail hatching eggs
✔ 1 thermometer
✔ 1 piece of grip liner
✔ 1 twelve-inch brooder heat plate
✔ 1 feeder
✔ 1 waterer
✔ 1 pair of quail egg scissors
✔ 5 quail egg cartons
✔ Free incubation and brooding ebooks
✔ FREE shipping
What You Will Still Need
An incubator is not included. You will also need Coturnix quail starter feed and a secure brooder enclosure before your eggs hatch.
Perfect For
• First-time Coturnix quail owners
• Families hatching quail at home
• Homesteaders starting a backyard quail flock
• Homeschool and classroom incubation projects
• Anyone who wants hatching eggs and essential supplies in one shipment
From Bryant’s Roost
Bryant’s Roost combines hands-on quail-raising experience with practical supplies selected for real-world use. This Starter Box is designed to remove the guesswork from preparing for your first Coturnix quail hatch and help you begin with greater confidence.
Because shipping and incubation conditions are outside our control, hatch results can vary.
Do Button Quail Need Ground Feed?
One of the biggest differences I've found over the years is nutrition. Coturnix quail will generally do well on a quality game bird or quail feed, but button quail have much smaller beaks and faster metabolisms, so they benefit from a finer feed. I used to grind my own feed to get the particle size just right, but after working with Show Pro, we developed a custom Bryant's Roost Button Quail Starter Feed specifically for button quail chicks. It has the fine texture they need without the extra work of grinding feed yourself, and it's what I feed my own birds from hatch.
Do They Need Toys or Enrichment?
Button quail don't really need entertainment.
They're naturally nervous little birds and stay plenty busy keeping an eye on everything around them.
Coturnix don't need much help entertaining themselves either. They'll investigate absolutely everything.
Personally, I avoid placing stuffed animals, hanging strings, or other objects inside brooders. Those items can collect bacteria or become safety hazards if chicks become tangled or try to eat them.
Both species are ground-dwelling birds, so neither requires roosts.
Since I brood under heat plates, the chicks naturally use them as shelter and spend plenty of time running underneath and jumping back out.
Dust Baths
This is one area where my two species behave very differently.
Each of my button quail has access to a coffee can with a doorway cut into the side, along with a shallow container filled with peat moss.
They absolutely love it.
The peat moss becomes their playground, while the coffee can usually turns into the nesting area.
Coturnix, however, seem determined to prove me wrong every time.
Whenever I've offered peat moss or shavings inside their laying cages, they immediately begin laying eggs in it instead of the roll-out tray. Before long, they're stepping on eggs and breaking them.
Because I collect eggs daily for hatching, my breeding Coturnix don't receive dust baths inside their production cages. The button quail, however, get to enjoy theirs every day.
Which Quail Should You Choose?
If your goal is producing eggs, meat, or raising birds that are easy for beginners, I recommend Coturnix quail every time.
If you're looking for beautiful little birds with entertaining personalities, wonderful colors, and fascinating behaviors, button quail are hard to beat.
I keep both species because they each bring something different to my farm.
One fills the egg basket.
The other fills the barn with personality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are button quail easier to raise than Coturnix quail?
Not usually. Button quail generally require more attention during their first week of life, while Coturnix chicks are more independent.
Can button quail and Coturnix quail live together?
I don't recommend housing adult birds together. They have different temperaments, breeding behaviors, and space requirements.
Which quail are better for beginners?
Coturnix quail are generally the better choice for first-time owners because they mature quickly and are easier to manage.
Do button quail need special feed?
Not permanently. During the first few days, I lightly pulse chick starter to create smaller crumbles, then transition them to regular crumbles.
Which quail lay more eggs?
Coturnix quail are extremely productive layers. Button quail lay far fewer eggs and are typically kept as ornamental birds.
Can you eat button quail eggs?
Yes, although they're much smaller than Coturnix eggs and aren't commonly raised for food production.
Are button quail good pets?
Absolutely. Many people keep them simply because they're colorful, entertaining, and enjoyable to watch.
Do button quail need dust baths?
They certainly enjoy them. Mine spend hours playing in peat moss and often use a small nesting box for laying.
About Jennifer Bryant
I'm Jennifer Bryant, owner of Bryant's Roost, co-host of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, and creator of Beyond the Egg. I raise quail, chickens, and other poultry every day while researching incubation, genetics, nutrition, and flock management. My goal is simple: test ideas on my own farm first, study the research behind them, and then share practical information that helps other poultry keepers raise healthier, more productive flocks.
Ready to get started?
Whether you're interested in productive Coturnix quail or colorful button quail, Bryant's Roost offers hatching eggs, chicks, specialized supplies, and years of practical experience to help you succeed.