Quail Egg Production Calculator
Estimate annual egg production and grocery-equivalent value for your quail flock. Coturnix quail outlay most chicken breeds by eggs per dollar of feed.
Your flock
Results update as you type.
Female quail only — separate from males.
Quail eggs sell for $3–8 per dozen at US farmers markets. Enter your local price or what you'd pay for them.
Use the Quail Feed Calculator if unsure. Calculate this →
Cage, feeders, waterers, and birds. Typical quail setups run $200–400 — far less than chickens. Used for the break-even estimate.
Your egg-conomics
Egg production
- Annual eggs (flock)
- 2,800
- Annual dozens
- 233
- Eggs per hen / year
- 280
- Monthly average
- 233
Egg value
- Annual grocery value
- $933.33
- Monthly value
- $77.78
Break-even analysis
- Annual feed cost
- $72.00
- Annual net savings
- $861.33
- Setup pays back in
- 3 months
At these inputs the flock does not break even on eggs alone — treat quail keeping as a low-cost hobby with side benefits rather than a money-maker here.
Your flock of 10 first-year Coturnix hens should produce around 2,800 eggs (233 dozen) per year — worth about $933.33 at typical quail-egg prices. After feed costs of $72.00 annually, you net $861.33 in savings. At that rate, a $250.00 setup pays for itself in roughly 3 months. Quail break even far faster than chickens.
How many eggs do quail lay?
Coturnix quail lay up to 280 to 300 eggs per year, which outpaces most chicken breeds on a per-bird basis. They start laying at just 7 weeks, where chickens take 18 to 22 weeks to reach point of lay. That early start changes the entire economic picture.
Production decline in the second year is gentler than chickens: roughly 85 percent of year one, compared to about 75 percent for hens. Quail eggs are smaller, about one-fifth the size of a chicken egg, but the birds lay so frequently that the eggs-per-bird count more than makes up for the size difference.
A note on who built this. I am a software developer, not a market gardener selling eggs at a stall. I built this calculator because backyard quail economics are poorly documented online and usually borrowed from chicken numbers that do not transfer. The production figures here are calibrated against gamebird laying data. If your flock performs differently, the contact page is at the top of the site.
The quail egg market advantage
Quail eggs sell for $3 to $8 per dozen at farmers markets, against $4 to $6 for chicken eggs. Specialty grocery stores, Asian markets, and sushi restaurants actively seek them out, so demand is steadier than it is for backyard chicken eggs.
The per-unit premium more than compensates for the smaller size. A flock of 20 Coturnix can generate meaningful side income in a way that 20 chickens in a city cannot, partly because zoning rules almost always allow more quail than chickens, and partly because the buyers are different. Quail eggs are a specialty product, not a commodity.
Quail vs chicken egg economics
Run the numbers on a 10-bird Coturnix flock and the contrast with chickens is stark:
- 10 Coturnix hens produce roughly 2,800 eggs per year, or 233 dozen.
- Feed cost lands around $60 to $72 per year for 10 birds.
- At $4 per dozen, the annual egg value is roughly $930.
- Net savings come out near $860 after feed.
For comparison, 10 chickens produce about 2,400 eggs but cost roughly $250 per year in feed. The quail flock produces more eggs for a fraction of the feed bill, and on a much smaller footprint.
Common mistakes
- Keeping too many males. Males do not lay, so a male-heavy flock drags down overall egg production.
- Not separating eggs daily. Quail will quickly eat cracked or dirty eggs left in the cage.
- Assuming quail eggs taste the same as chicken. They are richer and distinctly flavored, which is a selling point rather than a drawback.
Where to go next
Egg yield connects to the other two quail decisions:
- The Quail Feed Cost Calculator gives you the monthly feed figure this calculator needs as an input.
- The Quail Cage Size Calculator tells you how many hens your space can support.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
How many eggs do Coturnix quail lay per year?
About 280 per hen in their first year, starting at just 7 weeks old. They outproduce most chicken breeds on a per-bird basis.
Are quail eggs worth more than chicken eggs?
Yes, significantly. Quail eggs sell for $3-8 per dozen at US farmers markets and specialty stores, compared to $4-6 for chicken eggs. The premium market is strong.
How long do quail lay eggs?
Coturnix quail lay actively for 2 to 3 years. Production decline in year 2 is gentler than chickens (about 85% of year 1 vs 75% for chickens). By year 3, production drops substantially.
Do quail lay eggs every day?
Very close. A high-production Coturnix hen at peak season lays 6 to 7 eggs per week — almost daily.
Can I make money selling quail eggs?
Yes, more easily than chicken eggs. The specialty market is less saturated, the price premium is real, and quail require far less space than chickens, making urban production viable.