Why is my quail losing feathers in late summer?
My coturnix hens have started dropping feathers around their neck and back over the last couple weeks. No blood, and I don’t see any cage mates picking at them. Is this just the start of a molt, or should I be looking for something else? (Not a vet — just a fellow keeper trying to figure this out from my own birds.)
Hi Ron! Late summer feather loss around the neck and back, with no blood or picking involved, is very often just a molt kicking in — day length shortening a bit as summer winds down is a classic trigger for Coturnix. It usually starts around the head/neck and back and can look alarming even though it’s totally normal.
A few things that support “just molting”: feathers coming out in a general thinning pattern rather than raw or bloody skin, hens still eating/acting normal otherwise, and no aggressive pecking from cage mates. During molt, bumping their protein up a bit (aim for the higher end of that 24-30% range) helps them regrow feathers faster and keeps egg laying from stalling out too hard.
Worth ruling out mites while you’re at it, since they can cause similar feather loss — check the base of feathers and skin (especially around the vent) for tiny moving specks or scaly patches, particularly on legs. If skin looks red, scabby, or birds seem itchy/uncomfortable, that points away from simple molt and toward mites or another skin issue worth a vet look. But going by what you’ve described, this sounds like normal molt to me.
A note from one keeper to another: this answer shares what experienced keepers do, but it isn't veterinary advice. If a bird is sick, injured, or declining fast, contact an avian or poultry veterinarian right away — quail hide illness until it's serious.
Get answers like this for your covey
Quail Keeper Max keeps the full history of your flock — feed, eggs, health, hatches, and losses — in one place. Track it free, and on the Max plan you can ask Captain Coturnix, your covey advisor, questions about your own birds and get answers tailored to your records — not generic internet advice.
Start tracking free →Free plan for life · No credit card required · One account also joins the community
Got a quail question of your own?
The Quail Keeper Community is our forum for Coturnix keepers — ask anything, show off your flock, and get answers from people who raise quail every day. Anyone can browse free.
Join the community and automatically receive free access to Quail Keeper Max — one free account unlocks both.
See the full discussion →