Domesticated Game Birds

June 16, 2022

Question: Can I keep and raise quail as domesticated game birds? Can I sell their eggs?

Answer: California is home to three native species of quail: mountain, California and Gambel’s quail. In order to keep these species and others as domesticated game birds, a Domestic Game Breeder’s license is generally required, per Fish and Game Code, section 3200(opens in new tab).

A Domesticated Game Breeder's License is required for any person engaged in raising or importing, or who keeps in captivity, domesticated game birds which normally exist in the wild in this state, if the birds or mammals are kept more than 30 days after you acquire them. Additionally, you would need to obtain birds from another game breeder; you cannot trap wild quail for the purpose of starting your brood. The game breeder’s license requires you to report the live birds in your possession each year. Visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Game Breeder webpage for a link to the application and info on laws, regulations, requirements and a species list.

If you are interested in Coturnix quail, also called Japanese quail, please be aware that this species does not exist in the wild in California. Therefore, CDFW does not manage the species as a game bird and it is not listed under the Domesticated Game Breeder’s License. Additionally, please review local municipal codes and laws, and zoning regulations, regarding keeping and raising any domestic fowl, including quail.

If you want to sell eggs, please review requirements by other agencies such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Food and Agriculture and/or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

i did this as a kid. used to raise quails.

I had the foolish idea that I could raise California quail in my yard and tame them down.
Wrongo.
I bought a couple pairs from a local guy. We approached his backyard aviary  from about 100 yards away and they went ballistic as soon as they saw us, flying up and crashing into the wire.
I successfully kept a couple pairs but they NEVER tamed down. I put a chick under a chicken thinking that might tame them down. No dice. That chicklet was gone like a bullet as soon and as fast as he could go.
I raised chicks to 2nd generation out of an incubator.. and they were still wild as can be.
I switched to Coturnix, for much better results. those birds are positively cuddly.
But I gave up on Valley Quail as they never tamed down a bit for me.

I had the foolish idea that I could raise California quail in my yard and tame them down.
Wrongo.
I bought a couple pairs from a local guy. We approached his backyard aviary  from about 100 yards away and they went ballistic as soon as they saw us, flying up and crashing into the wire.
I successfully kept a couple pairs but they NEVER tamed down. I put a chick under a chicken thinking that might tame them down. No dice. That chicklet was gone like a bullet as soon and as fast as he could go.
I raised chicks to 2nd generation out of an incubator.. and they were still wild as can be.
I switched to Coturnix, for much better results. those birds are positively cuddly.
But I gave up on Valley Quail as they never tamed down a bit for me.

that's very similar to our experiance as well.... We had named one "trouble" after it disassembled the interior of our incubator in its first minutes of life.