17 Free DIY Quail Coop Ideas and Plans for the Backyard [+ Building Tips] (2024)

Are you raising quail? It’s the new hot ticket for enterprising homesteaders – for super-nutritious eggs and meat in the kitchen and farmer’s market, to sell as livestock, and because they’re cute as kittens!

Quail arealso vulnerableto predators and the elements, so naturally, reliable andsturdy quail coop ideasare essential.

Luckily – you can build theperfect backyard quail coopusing your DIY skills and a clever quail coopDIYplanoridea!

We’ve compiled a set ofFREEDIY quail coop ideas and plans brimming withbuilding tips and insightsto help you create auser-friendlycoop, cage, aviary, or tractor tonurtureandprotectyour quail.

Are you ready for some fun?

Then let us begin!

17 Free Quail Coop Ideas and Plans – Building Tips

The best free quail house plans and ideas share coop proportions to provide optimal ergonomics while promoting quail well-being. For both indoors and outdoors! Considerations include ample floor space, security from predators, insulation, ventilation, light, feed, and water, a sand bath, and efficient waste removal.

We looked for free quail coop ideas and plans that respect the health and well-being of the little game birds while also consideringyour well-being, notably your back and your budget!

Here are thevitaldesign considerationsfor arobust, efficient, healthyDIY quail coop.

Space

• Quail coops should ideally allowone square foot of floorspacefor each quail (overcrowding caged quail leads to quail fighting and ill health).
• The ceiling height of quail coops should beeither lower than 18” or higher than 6’to prevent startled quail from taking flight and potentially injuring or breaking their necks on a low ceiling.
• Feeder troughsin the quail coop should provide ± ½-inch access space per quail.
• Quailwaterersshould have ± ¼-inch access space per quail.

Protection

• Quail arepreyfor various predators, including rodents, raccoons, dogs and cats, snakes, and predatory birds.
• Outdoorquail coops should ideally get made using ¼” galvanized steel mesh (hardware cloth) for the walls and, if necessary, chicken wire for the floor of outdoor quail coops that rest on the ground.
• Outdoor quail coops should get made with a mesh apron – protectivemesh sunk into the groundto prevent critters from burrowing into the quail coop.
• Indoorquail cages and quail coops can use ¼” hardware cloth (preferably PVC-coated) for thefloors.
• Quail coopceilingslower than one foot should get made of loosely fitted ¼” hardware cloth.
• Solid roofing should not rest directly on the hardware cloth ceiling.

Hygiene

• Adust bathis essential in a quail coop to prevent parasite infestation, maintain optimum oil levels on the feathers, and remove dead skin.
• Quail droppings from elevated coops should either fall from the coop cage floor to the ground. Or be trapped inquail litter(dirt, wood shavings, sawdust, sand, or wood ash) in acatch traybeneath the coop cage.

Ventilation and Insulation

• Quail coops should allowfresh airto pass through the cage.
• Outdoor quail coops should getshadedfrom direct overhead sunlight in warm regions.
• Quail coops should have an insultednesting boxto protect against cold wind and air.
• Electriclight bulbscan get used toheatquail coops in cold weather.

Light

• Quails need between 14 to 16 hours of light daily. Sunlight helps them to lay eggs optimally.
• Fitting electric light bulbs to the coop to provide light after sunset can augment direct sunlight.
• Indoor quail coops may need electric light for up to 16 hours daily.

Ergonomics

• The best quail coop designs allow the quail keeper (aka a quail tender)easy accessto the cage interior to gather eggs, fill the feed and water troughs, and clean the coop.

The Best Free Quail Coop Ideas and Plans – Our Official List

We searched tirelessly to find the best free quail coop ideas. We think the following can match any homestead – whether you have a massive budget or something much thriftier.

1. Elevated Backyard Quail Hutch with Enclosed Dust Bath DIY Idea

Why not kick off your quail adventure with this easy-to-DIY quail hutch idea fromSlightly Redneckedthat observes all the primary criteria for quail health and quail-keeper happiness?

The quail hutch makes an ideal backyard quail hutch project. Usingstandard lumberfrom your hardware store:

• Screw a post-and-bearer elevated frame using 2” x 4” and 1” x 4” boards.
• Staple¼-inch hardware clothto the timber frame to create a floor, walls, and ceiling.
• Fit rafters to the upright posts and installcorrugated roofing.
• Use plywood boards to build anen-suitedust bathhouse.

We appreciate thesimplicityof this DIY build and the fact that it gives the quail a safe and natural home off the ground at anergonomicheight for the quail-keeper.

The key benefits of this backyard quail hutch are:

1. Lots of naturallight.
2. Easy toclean.
3. Protectionfrom foulweatherand predatory critters.
4. Inexpensiveand easy to build.

HANDY TIP:Predrill all the screw holes to prevent the timber from splitting when the screws get inserted.

Get the ideaHEREFREE!

2. Multi-Layered Indoor Quail Cage Idea with Egg Rollout Tray

If you have a few square feet of cozy and safe barn space to spare, a multi-layered quail cage withintegrated egg rollout trayswill get your quail egg business off to a great start, asDexter’s Worlddemonstrates in this DIY quail cage walkthrough.

The design is a simple 2” x 4” timber frame with sloped plywoodpoop barriersthat serve as roofs for each cage tier.

Dexter usesplastic hexagonal chicken wire mesh, which is safe for elevated indoor quail coops and marginally easier on the feet of the quail than steel mesh.

• NOTE! Plastic mesh isnot100% predator-proof.

The plastic hardware cloth floors of the cages are sloped ever so slightly to allow the quaileggs to roll from the quail cagethrough the gap Dexter has at the base of one wall of each quail cage.

While using this design outdoors runs a significant risk of your quail becoming fast food for predators, the idea is nifty for predator-free indoor quail egg production because of the following.

1. The sloped floors make egg gatheringlow-mess and ergonomic.
2. The sloped plywood poop trays areeasy to clean.
3. Low costof materials.
4. SimpleDIY construction.

Get the ideaHEREFREE!

3. Elevated Outdoor Quail Hutch Plans with Feeder

Borrowing the idea from Slightly Rednecked, our #1 quail coop project,Emergency Prep Guy, adds a wooden hopper feeder to his outdoor quail hutch. And hedetailshow he executed the build.

Theplanson his website include the following.

• A detailed materials andtools list.
• Lumber sizes andcut lengths.
• How tosafely assemblethe frame and quail cage hutch divisions.
• How to build and install the DIY wooden quailfeeder.

The plans include severaltipsto ensure an efficient build and optimal use of building materials. Nice!

Get the FREE quail hutch plansHERE(videos included).

4. Indoor Stacked Quail Cage Plans with Materials & Cut List

Getting your quail coop plans from a true quail enthusiast is a great way to get your quail-raising adventure off to a wholesome start. Check out these plans (and video) fromCoturnix Cornerto get a good idea of how to DIY an indoor 3-tier quail cage.

Simplebut appealing, this DIY quail cage build uses standard 2” x 2” lumber, plywood, hardware cloth, hinges, automotive drip trays, barrel bolts, staples, and PVC piping for a watering system.

• The floors of the three stacked cages get made usingPVC-coated ½”-inch hardware clothfor happy quail feet!
• Threeautomotive drip traysget used as poop collection trays. And they make for easy cleaning.
• Plywood gets used to create asolid backingfor the three-tier coop, adding extra rigidity and preventing quail poop from dirtying the garage wall.

A solid DIY set-up for indoor quail that respects the comfort requirements of these fantastic little game birds!

Get the FREE planshere.|Get the videohere.

5. Eye-Level Outdoor Quail Coop Plans with Wide Roof

If bending down to pick up quail eggs isn’t your idea of happy homesteading, an outdoor eye-level quail coop may be your solution, as detailed in this easy DIY project frominstructibles.com.

The plans include materials and cut lists for standard lumber sizes, including 2” x 4”, 1” x 4”, and 2” x 8”-inch lengths.

• A sloped polycarbonate roof andbarn door hingesgive this tall outdoor quail coop a classicchunky-and-funkylook!
• Concrete piersform the base for six long but sturdy legs.
• You’ll needwire cuttersfor the ½” and ¼” hardware cloth.
• The 2” x 8” rafters provide ample space to mountdecorative plant hooks.

Bonus: Outdoor quail coops don’t need a poop tray! The droppings fall through the hardware cloth onto the ground below and can get effortlessly scooped up forcomposting.

An outdoor quail coop that stands on legs three feet above the ground will help prevent your quail from becomingdinner for predators.And it’ll save your back muscles from spasms!

Get the FREE planshere.

6. Winterized Solar-Lit Two-Tier Quail Hutch Idea

Can quail survive a harsh winter outdoors? They certainly can. For sure! It helps if you build them a well-protected, walled shelter in a rabbit hutch style! Here’s an excellentDIY quail hutch idea for snowy climes, a quail condo frommainesconfettiquailfarm.com.

Get standard 2” x 4” timber for the frame, plywood for the walls, ceilings, and floors, hardware cloth for the windows (ventilation, dividers, and a view), pool liner (for the quail coop floors and roof), and hinges to construct a two-tiered hutch capable of housing 16 quail.

• Mount the stacked hutches on short, stout gum poles on concrete pavers.
• Cover the floors and roof with apond liner.
• Finish the completed quail coop hutch with enamel paint.
• Install asolar lighting kit with a timer(for light and heat).
• Establish a small garden on the roof (plants and herbs!).

The idea is relatively simple to make. But it does require regular interior cleaning due to the solid floor. The builder uses sand and alfalfa as litter in the quail coop hutches. Which, once removed, makes perfect compost for the garden!

Get the ideahere.

7. Easy DIY Small Outdoor Quail Coop Idea

Looking to DIY a small backyard quail coop that’scheap to build and lightenough to be moved by two people? Here’s a nifty quail cage idea from4 Kids and a Farmthat includes an egg-rolling floor!

This quail coop idea can house up to 16 quail bothoutdoors in warm weather and indoors in winter. The design uses standard 2” x 4”, 1” x 2”, 2” x 2”, and 2” x 3” timber lengths, plus hardware cloth and plywood boarding.

• The coop is elevated two feet off the ground. (Easy for kids to learn quail tending.) And it incorporates a hinged door with a barrel bolt latch.
• A zinc roof rounds off asturdy, roomy, and easily portablequail coop for all seasons!

Theegg rollout floorcan get fitted withfoam insulation tapeto prevent the eggs from cracking as they hit the lip of the egg rolling tray.

Get the ideahere.

8. Predator-Proof Outdoor Quail Run Step-by-Step Plans

Your quail will agree – the more space they have to move about with theirfeet in the earthandheadroom to flywhile within a safely-fenced run, the happier they’ll be. We couldn’t agree more, andselfsufficientme.comshows you how to build your quail idyll, step-by-step!

The plans describe the process of building a simple post, cross-brace, and hardware cloth run, with wiggle room for your custom requirements:

• Select a flat and elevated patch of ground as the site.
• Level the site and measure for holes to sink and concrete in several tall posts.
• Dig a trench to insert protective anti-burrow steel mesh.
• Fit cross-bracing to the roof area.
• Attach hardware cloth.
• Make a door with timber and hinges.
• Addnatural elementsto the quail run.

With oodles of interior space, the quail run can getequipped with a cozy hutchfor warmth in chilly weather!

You canwatch the videohereor,

Get the planshere.

9. DIY Backyard Quail Aviary Idea on a Repurposed Concrete Slab

Do you have an old shed with a concrete floor? Has the shed seen better days? Keep the concrete floor and build a beautiful quail aviary on top of it. A quail aviary will give your little game birds anatural, safe, and spacioushome so they canfly!Coturnix Cornershows how to get it done.

A concrete floor is ideal for an outdoor quail coop, keeping predators at bay with no problem. This quail aviary idea uses standard lumber sizes – 2” x 4” and 2” x 2” boards to construct a simple framework for hardware cloth walls and atarp roof.

• Extraprotection, shade, and aesthetic appealget added using a wooden latticegarden trellisat the base of the aviary.

Bed the aviary with a sand-dirt mix and decorate the interior with all things natural that make quail feel right at home, including branches, grasses, roosting boxes, etc.

The cool part of this quail aviary idea is –you can sit in itand get acquainted with your quail flock!

Get the ideahere.

Read More!

• 5 Best Quail Incubators to Hatch Eggs at Home!
• Homesteader’s Guide to Quail Farming – Eggs, Raising, and More!
• 8 Most Profitable Farming Animals | 2023 USA Smart Farmer’s Guide!
• Complete Guide to the Best Animals for Small Farms and Homesteads!
• 8 Black and White Duck Breeds! Farm Ducks, Wood Ducks, and Sea Ducks!

10. DIY Outdoor Hoop House Quail Run Idea

With room to stretch their wings without danger, your quail will be much healthier and happier than battery quail. A quail run providesa lofty length of protected spacein your yard for your quail to forage and fly, just like they do in the wild!

Create a hoop house design usinghorse panels, standard lumber, and wire meshfor an easy DIY quail run project, a laCabin on the Hill Homestead.

• Build arectangular wooden baseframeon which to mounthooped horse panels.

You’ll need the following

• 3 x 16’ x 5’ horse panels for the hoop.
• 4” x 4” timber boards for thebaseframework andcentersupport posts.
• 2” x 4” timber boards for the basecross bracingand adoor.
• Chicken wire. Or better yet, ¼” hardware cloth to cover the hooped horse panels.
• Heavy-dutycable tiesconnect the horse panels and secure the wire mesh to the hoop superstructure.
• Atarpto draw over a section of the hoop house to create shade and protection from the elements.

Key design considerations include:

• Sinking the wire meshbelow ground levelto help prevent predators from burrowing into the quail run.
• Erect the quail run in awell-shaded area.
• Cover most of the quail run withgreenhouse plasticduring winter. Greenhouse plastic protects the quail from wind and snow. While still allowing sunlight to stream into the quail run.

This DIY quail run idea is not a cheap exercise, but it’s a relatively simple task requiring only two sets of hands! And you’ll have the happiest quail in the county!

Get the ideahere.

11. Cheap DIY Indoor Stackable Quail Cage Idea with PVC Pipe Frame

Is the skyrocketing price of timber preventing your DIY ideas from happening? Here’s a wood-free quail cage idea that’s low-cost and easy to build – if you’re handy at bending wire.

Slightly Rednecked(Chrisis his name) demonstrates how toeffortlessly and cheaplysuspend two handmade all-wire quail cages and two quail droppings trays inside a PVC pipe frame!

Materials you will need to construct the cages include:

• ¼” Hardware cloth.
• Heavy-gauge fencing mesh. You’ll only need two short lengths. So offcuts will do fine.
• J-clips.

To fabricate the quail cages, use a 1” x 4” board length as a straightedge. Against which 90-degree edges can get hammered into the hardware cloth.

Wearleather work glovesto prevent the cut wire mesh from cutting your hands.

To create the framework, purchase the following.

• ¾” PVC pipe.
• PVC pipe couplings (Tee-joinsand3-way elbows).

Once you’ve cut the PVC pipe to the required set of lengths for the framework, attach the elbow fittings to the cut lengths of pipe (Chris chooses not to use glue, but you can if you desire).

Drill holes in the PVC uprights to attach wire suspenders for the cages (standard fencing wire is perfect).

Slide in two automotiveoil drip pansbelow each cage to catch the poop.

We like this idea because it’s alow-cost, modular, and portablesolution for indoor quail housing!

Get the ideahere.

12. Low-Cost DIY Pallet Wood Quail Coop Idea with Egg Rollout Floor

Can you use pallet wood to build a quail coop? Yes, you can – ifnon-chemically treated.Video Epposhows us a savvy way of repurposing pallet wood boards to make a neat quail coop. And it includes an egg rollout floor!

The trick with this design is ripping pallet boards lengthwise with atable sawto create ¾” x ¾” runners that will form the framework of the quail cage.

• The wood runners get nailed together using anail gun.
• Hardware cloth getsstapledto the interior of the framework.
• Three doorson the cage make for easy access to the interior of the coop
• Sheet metalis cut and bent to create a poop tray.

Withfreepallets, a table saw, and a nail gun (which also serves as a stapler), you’ll save big on materials costs!

Get the ideahere.

13. Small Predator-Proof DIY Quail Tractor Idea

A quail tractor is the best way to spare you from cleaning poop trays! A quail tractor is an outdoor movable coop thatfertilizes the earthwhile nourishing your quail with natural elements. This small quail tractor design idea fromAllpronounsis predator-proof and super-functional!

• A set of photographs gives you the idea for a16’ x 2’ 1.5’ timber-framed boxclad with boards and hardware cloth to create a quail tractor body.
• Long handles and twobarrow wheelsare attached to the box for easy lifting and moving.
• The floor of the quail tractor gets made using¼” hardware clothto stop predators from burrowing into the tractor.
• A large, encloseddust bathsection integral to the quail run section provides ample room for16 quail.
• Ahinged roofwith polycarbonate panels allows easy access to the quail, eggs, and feeder.

A borderline-genius DIY PVCfeed hopperandnipple watering systemcome in the idea. Neat!

Get the quail coop design ideahere.

14. Two-tier DIY Quail Hutch on Wheels Plans

Does a sturdy indoor/outdoormobile homefor your quail sound good? Here’s a set of free DIY plans fromTealstonehomestead.comfor a traditional two-tier quail hutch equipped withcastor wheels, giving your birds the enjoyment of outdoor life when the weather is dry and warm, and the security of indoor living when rain and winter set in!

• The free plans include amaterials list, tool list, anddimension diagramswith cut lengths.

The plans provide detailed step-by-step instructions with anaccompanying video!

The result is a timber-frame, elevated, double-story quail coop oncaster wheelsequipped withPVC-coated hardware cloth floorsand removable poop trays.

Simple and elegant!

Get the planshere.

15. Three-Tier Indoor Quail Coop DIY Plans

We’ve included this set of free plans because it provides excellent step-by-step instructions to DIY a proven three-tier indoor quail coop.Simplymadehomestead.comgoes the extra mile and adds a video to the build master class!

You will need basic woodworking skills and tools to cut and join2” x 2” lumberand not much else! Ok – wire cutters, hardware cloth, and a stapler too!

It’s alow-cost, effective, and aesthetically pleasingindoor quail hutch design. With poop trays!

Get the planshere. |Watchthevideo.

16. Urban Backyard Quail Hutch and Run Idea

You may live in the city with a small garden patch, but that shouldn’t stop you from raising quail! Here’s a beautiful video fromHer 86m2of anurban quailhutch and quail run that clearly shows how easy it is to reap the rewards of quail bird husbandry.

The quail hutch is not a DIY project – it’s factory-produced buteasy to replicate.

• For dimensions of a similar product, see thiscommercial quail hutch.

A quail run for a neat urban garden typically won’t need a wire mesh floor to protect against burrowing predators. It’s atremendous bonusfor the quail – unobstructed access to green earth!

• Interestingly, the quail hutch in the video has aramp, and the quail use it!
• A sloped roof and easy-to-remove poop trays form part of the design.

Follow the design tips of our previous hutch ideas and scroll through thesepics on Amazonfor the overall dimensions of the quail hutch.

Theadjoining quail runis straightforward to DIY – a square timber frame with hardware cloth walls and ceiling. And a hinged corrugated roof. Easy!

We love thisurban playhouse for quail,and the video quality is superb!

Get the ideahere. |Readtheblog.

17. DIY Large Quail Tractor Idea for Pastured Quail

Raising the plumpest, healthiest quail on the market requires pasturing. Pastured quail outperform battery quail in meat and egg quality. Hands down! If you’re considering marketing your quail products, watch howWild Way Farmpastures quail in 6’-tall quail tractors that give the birds direct contact with the living soil!

The quail tractor design emulates anA-frame chicken coopand includes a nesting box into which the quail get herded for safe transportation come relocation time.

• Two chunkybarrow wheelshandle the off-road ride!

The cool thing about a large quail tractor, apart from the natural habitat it affords the quail, is how user-friendly they are for the quail farmer:

• Feed bill reduction as quail eats bugs from the grass.
• Walk in to gather eggs.
• No cleaning poop trays!
• Quail fertilize the soil directly!

Quail farmingquote of the year: “I’ll never get used to chopping anything’s head off, with scissors!” – Clara Zander: owner/manager, Wild Way Farm.

Get the ideahere.

Bonus – DIY Quail Coop Hacks

• You can use anangle grinderto cut hardware cloth.
• Protect eggs resting in the rollout tray with alidmade from hardware cloth or wood board.
• Usetarp materialto help insulate the coop in winter.
• Lay hay on the mesh floor to help protect the quails’ feet.
• Pineconesmake perfect quail habitat accessories.
• Electric fence wirearound the periphery of an outdoor ground-level quail coop or quail tractor will keep predators at bay.

Conclusion – What’s Your Quail Coop DIY Coup?

We’re sure you’ll agree. Quail coops that house natural elements like branches, dirt, and grass boost quail health. All 17 of these free ideas and plans for DIY quail coops can accommodate natural outdoor features. And a dust bath!

You want happy, healthy quail, and we’re confident this comprehensive set of quail coop ideas will get you fired up for a DIY project that will change your life – a coop for quail, a coup for nature!

Quail Coop Ideas – References, Guides, and Works Cited

• Building a Quail Habitat
• Livestock Producer’s Guide
• Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine – Poultry Diseases
• About the South African Quail Sector – a Way Forward
• Raising Japanese Quail
• Raising Quails – Small Birds With a Big Future