Quail eggs: laying, numbers and storing
When quail start laying, how many eggs to expect, how they compare to hen eggs, what makes laying stop in winter, and how to collect and store quail eggs.
- First egg
- About 6–8 weeks old
- Per hen
- 250–300 a year at best, often one most days
- Size
- About a quarter to a fifth of a hen's egg
- Best laying
- First year
Light keeps them laying
Quail lay when days are long. Laying slows or stops as days shorten in autumn and winter. Some keepers add a small light on a timer to give around 14 hours of light a day. That's a choice, not a must: a winter rest is natural.
Collecting
Collect every day. Quail don't use nest boxes like hens: eggs turn up anywhere, often in a corner or under cover. Speckled shells blend in with litter, so look carefully.
Storing
Unwashed eggs keep well in a cool place. Wipe off dirt with a dry cloth rather than washing. Use the oldest first. Quail egg boxes keep them from rolling and make them easy to give away.
Shell problems
| Problem | Common cause |
|---|---|
| Thin or soft shells | Not enough calcium: add oyster shell grit |
| Fewer eggs | Short days, moult, stress, wrong feed |
| Pale shells | Often stress or age |
Quick answers
How many quail eggs equal one hen egg?
Why have my quail stopped laying?
Checked November 2026. General information, not veterinary advice.