Quail are small ground-dwelling birds in the family Phasianidae (Old World quail) and Odontophoridae (New World quail). The species most commonly farmed for food is the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), which has been domesticated for over a thousand years, originally in East Asia.
Quail meat is lean, fine-textured, and mildly gamey. The birds are small — a whole dressed quail typically weighs around 150–200 grams — so they are often served whole as individual portions. Quail eggs are tiny (about a fifth the size of a chicken egg), with a proportionally larger yolk. They are used in Asian cuisines, as garnishes, in canapés, and as a specialty ingredient.
In Australia, quail farming is a small but established industry. Quail meat and eggs are available in specialty butchers, Asian grocery stores, and some supermarkets. Both the meat and eggs are considered specialty or gourmet products rather than everyday staples.
How it's produced
Commercial quail farming is an intensive operation, broadly similar in structure to chicken farming but on a smaller scale. Japanese quail mature extremely quickly — they begin laying eggs at around six weeks of age and reach slaughter weight in as little as five to seven weeks. This rapid growth cycle makes them efficient to farm.
Quail are typically raised in indoor housing, either in cages or on floor systems. They are fed formulated grain-based diets high in protein. Egg-laying quail can produce 200–300 eggs per year per bird. For meat production, birds are processed at a young age when the meat is most tender. In Australia, quail farms operate under standard poultry welfare regulations. Some small-scale and free-range quail operations exist alongside larger conventional farms.
What it costs the planet (per kilo)
≈ Estimated from its category — typical for poultry, not measured for this item yet. Sources & methods →
Keeping it
In the freezer: about 180 days (from date of purchase).
In the fridge: 1–2 days (from date of purchase).
Advice from Cubud’s own keeping notes — how to keep it, not a measured number.
What comes from this
Your household's take
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