25 Best Plants To Grow In A Quail Coop

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Are you looking to create a healthier, more enriching environment for your quail? Adding a variety of plants to their coop can offer essential benefits like shade, shelter, and natural foraging opportunities. This guide shows you the best plants for a quail coop so you can create a natural and balanced habitat for your quail to thrive.

Plants for quail coop.Erik Mooiman / Unsplash

What Types of Plants to Grow in a Quail Coop

When choosing plants for your quail coop, it’s essential to select varieties that provide benefits to your quail while being resilient enough to handle their foraging habits.

Look for plants that offer natural shade, nutritious foraging opportunities, and attract beneficial insects to support a balanced ecosystem within the coop.

Hardy herbs, leafy greens, and fruiting plants are great options, as they are easy to grow and can tolerate quail pecking without being easily damaged.

Additionally, incorporating plants that help with natural pest control or have medicinal properties can further enhance the health and well-being of your quail.

California Quail cock with the characteristic curving crest or plume.YayImages

Best Plants for Quail Coop

Let’s dive right into the plants that are perfect for growing in your quail coop, each offering unique benefits ranging from nutritious snacks to natural shelter and even pest control for your flock:

1. Sage

Russian sage perennial that bloom spring to fallYayImages

Sage is a great plant to include in your quail coop due to its hardiness and pest-repellent properties. The plant’s strong aroma helps to deter insects, providing a natural defense against pests that could harm your quail.

It’s a perennial herb, so once established, it will continue to grow year after year with minimal care. Quail can also forage on its leaves, adding variety to their diet and benefiting from its medicinal qualities.

2. Lavender

French lavender (Lavandula dentata) growing in a garden.YayImages

Lavender not only adds a beautiful touch to your quail coop but also helps create a calming environment for your birds. Its soothing scent can reduce stress in quail, which is crucial for their health and egg production.

Additionally, lavender’s natural pest-repellent properties help keep the coop free from insects. Lavender thrives in dry, sunny conditions and is low-maintenance, making it an excellent choice for your coop’s surroundings.

3. Chard/Kale

Lush green kale leaves in a vegetable garden from above.YayImages

Chard and kale are nutrient-dense leafy greens that provide essential vitamins like A, C, and K, helping support your quail’s immune system. These hardy plants are perfect for cooler seasons, continuing to grow even in early winter, ensuring your birds have access to fresh greens year-round.

They are easy to grow and require minimal care, making them a reliable food source. Additionally, quail enjoy foraging on their tender leaves, adding variety to their diet.

4. Thyme

Woman Cutting Thyme from Bed in Greenhouse.YayImages

Thyme is a versatile herb with antibacterial properties that can promote respiratory health in quail, especially during colder months. This low-growing plant works well as ground cover, and its small fragrant leaves are a delightful snack for quail to forage on.

Thyme thrives in sunny conditions with minimal watering, making it an ideal low-maintenance option. Incorporating thyme in and around the coop also adds a layer of natural pest control.

5. Rosemary

Macro shot of a rosemary plant, highlighting the detailed textures of its aromatic leaves.YayImages

Rosemary is another aromatic herb that benefits quail by repelling pests such as mites and lice, which can otherwise harm their feathers and health. Its medicinal properties also promote respiratory health, essential in enclosed coop environments.

This hardy herb thrives in dry, sunny areas and requires little care, making it perfect for warmer climates. The quail can peck at its leaves, while enjoying the added benefit of insect deterrence.

6. Oregano

Fresh oregano in a home garden.YayImages

Oregano is known for its potent antibacterial and antiviral properties, making it a valuable plant for boosting your quail’s immune system. Research shows that oregano can help reduce the need for antibiotics in poultry, keeping your quail naturally healthy.

It grows well in sunny, well-drained areas and is easy to maintain throughout the growing season. Quail will enjoy nibbling on its aromatic leaves, benefiting from both its flavor and health-boosting properties.

7. Mint

Close up fresh green mint leaves growing on herb garden bed in open ground.YayImages

Mint is a fast-growing plant that offers quail both a cooling effect and digestive benefits, particularly useful during warmer months. Its strong scent helps repel insects, contributing to a more comfortable and pest-free environment for your birds.

However, mint is highly invasive, so it’s best to plant it in containers or specific areas to keep it under control. Quail will enjoy pecking at its leaves while also benefiting from its soothing properties.

8. Dandelions

Cluster of vibrant yellow dandelions blooming amongst lush green grass.YayImages

Often considered weeds, Dandelions are actually a highly nutritious plant that quail love to forage on. Both the leaves and flowers are rich in vitamins and minerals, providing a health boost for your birds.

Dandelions are incredibly hardy and can thrive in almost any soil, spreading quickly and requiring minimal attention. Their fast growth and ease of cultivation make them an excellent, low-maintenance addition to any quail coop.

9. Clover

Green natural grass clover with rain drops.YayImages

Clover is a fantastic plant for ground cover in a quail coop, providing protection for the soil and a nutritious snack for your birds. It’s rich in protein, which is essential for feather growth and overall health.

As a nitrogen-fixing plant, clover improves soil quality, enhancing the environment both for the plants and the quail. This plant thrives in a variety of conditions and grows well in both cool and warm seasons, providing a reliable food source year-round.

10. Sunflowers

Image of sunflower plants that have been grown from seeds in a gardenYayImages

Sunflowers add beauty and height to your quail coop while serving multiple practical purposes. Their tall stalks provide shade, helping keep the coop cool, and their seeds are a nutritious, high-protein snack for quail.

These flowers thrive in full sun and are easy to grow, requiring minimal maintenance once established. After blooming, you can harvest the sunflower heads and toss them into the coop for your quail to enjoy.

11. Squash/Pumpkins

autumn harvest of various squash from the Cucurbitaceae family.YayImages

Squash and pumpkins are robust, easy-to-grow plants that provide both shade and nutritious food for your quail. The large leaves create natural shade in the coop, helping keep your quail cool during hot weather.

The fruits are packed with vitamins A and C, and quail enjoy eating both the flesh and the seeds. These plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them ideal for a sunny coop environment.

12. Blackberries/Raspberries

Close-up of ripe and unripe blackberries on a bush with green leaves in the background.YayImages

Blackberries and raspberries are excellent for creating natural barriers and shaded areas within your quail coop. The dense, thorny bushes offer protection from predators, while the berries provide a nutritious, antioxidant-rich snack.

These plants thrive in sunny, well-drained areas and are relatively low-maintenance once established. Quail will enjoy foraging on the fallen berries while benefiting from the shelter provided by the bushes.

13. Currants

Black currant bush.YayImages

Currants are small, tart berries that are packed with vitamins and minerals, providing a nutritious snack for your quail. These berries are rich in antioxidants, which help support overall health and immune function in your flock.

Currant bushes also offer good cover and shelter, creating a more natural and comfortable environment for your quail to forage in. The bushes are relatively low-maintenance and can thrive in a variety of soil conditions, making them an excellent addition to your quail coop.

14. Mulberry

Close-up view of ripe and unripe mulberries on a tree with an orchard on the blurred background.YayImages

Mulberry is a fantastic long-term addition to a quail coop, providing both shade and delicious, nutrient-rich berries. The fast-growing tree creates a cool, shady environment, which is essential for keeping quail comfortable during hot weather.

The berries are high in vitamins and minerals, making them a healthy and favorite treat for quail. These trees adapt well to various soil conditions and require minimal maintenance once they’re established.

15. Fig Trees

Fig on fig tree between the leaves.YayImages

Fig trees are an excellent option for providing both shade and food in your quail coop. The broad leaves offer plenty of shade, which is crucial for keeping quail cool during hot weather.

Quail love foraging on the fallen figs, which are high in natural sugars and fiber, supporting their digestive health and energy levels. Fig trees are easy to grow and thrive in well-drained soil with full to partial sun, making them a practical and beneficial choice for your coop.

16. Siberian Pea Shrub

Siberian Pea Shrub branch with new leaves - Latin name - Caragana arborescens.YayImages

The Siberian pea shrub is a hardy, drought-resistant plant that can thrive in various climates, making it ideal for a quail coop. This nitrogen-fixing shrub improves soil fertility while producing small, protein-rich seeds that quail love to eat.

In addition to providing food, the dense foliage offers shade and shelter, creating a safe space for quail to hide and forage. The Siberian pea shrub is low-maintenance, requiring little care once established, making it a resilient and productive addition to your coop.

17. Lemongrass

Green lemongrass on the ground in vegetable garden.YayImages

Lemongrass is a tall, fragrant plant that not only offers shade and shelter but also helps repel mosquitoes and other pests. Quail enjoy foraging on the leaves, and its strong scent helps keep the coop a more pleasant and pest-free environment.

Lemongrass thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, requiring very little maintenance once established. Its tall, grassy appearance also adds a decorative element to your quail habitat.

18. Calendula

Floral background with medicinal calendula flowers in the field in the meadow in mountains.YayImages

Calendula is a bright, easy-to-grow flower that provides both visual appeal and health benefits to your quail coop. The petals are packed with antioxidants and vitamins, offering an immune boost for quail when they peck at the flowers.

Calendula also has antifungal properties, helping maintain a cleaner coop environment. It thrives in full sun and a variety of soils, making it a colorful, low-maintenance addition to your garden.

19. Chickweed

Chickweed in the garden.YayImages

Chickweed is a fast-growing plant that quail love to forage on due to its delicate leaves and nutritious content. It’s rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, which supports egg production and overall health.

This plant thrives in cooler seasons, growing quickly and providing a reliable food source for quail year-round. Chickweed is also easy to grow and helps improve soil quality as it spreads.

20. Alfalfa

Background of fragment of a field of the young alfalfa with dew drops at summer morning.YayImages

Alfalfa is a high-protein legume that’s perfect for a quail coop, supporting feather growth and overall health. Quail enjoy foraging on its tender leaves, which are rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly during molting periods.

Alfalfa is also a nitrogen-fixing plant, improving soil quality while growing rapidly in sunny conditions. With its fast growth and nutrient-dense leaves, alfalfa provides a consistent, healthy food source for your quail throughout the growing season.

21. Amaranth

Amaranthus caudatus flowers in a summer garden.YayImages

Amaranth is a tall, hardy plant that produces both edible seeds and leaves, making it a versatile food source for quail. The seeds are rich in protein, supporting strong feather growth and healthy egg production, while the leaves offer a nutritious snack.

Amaranth is easy to grow and tolerates various soil conditions, thriving in full sun and low-water environments. In addition to its nutritional benefits, amaranth’s tall, colorful stalks provide shade and add visual interest to the quail coop.

22. Buckwheat

Buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum, Japanese buckwheat and silverhull buckwheat blooming on the field. Close-up flowers of buckwheat.YayImages

Buckwheat is a fast-growing cover crop that quail love to forage on, offering both nutritious leaves and seeds. This plant is rich in protein, which supports quail’s feather development and egg production, making it a valuable addition to their diet.

Buckwheat also helps improve soil health by adding organic matter and fixing nitrogen, creating a healthier environment for both plants and quail. It grows well in full sun and requires minimal care, making it an excellent, easy-to-maintain option for your quail coop.

23. Broccoli

Broccoli growing in vegetable garden.YayImages

Broccoli is a cool-weather crop that provides a variety of nutritional benefits for quail, including vitamins C and K, which support immune health and egg production. The plants grow well in cooler temperatures, offering a fresh, natural food source during the fall and early spring.

Quail will enjoy foraging on the leaves and florets, benefiting from the dense nutrients found in both parts of the plant. Broccoli is relatively easy to grow and thrives in well-drained soil, making it a reliable addition to your quail coop garden.

24. Bee Balm

A hummingbird flying next to a pink bee balm flower in a gardenYayImages

Bee balm is a striking, aromatic perennial plant that not only adds beauty but also provides health benefits to your quail coop. Its fragrant flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, creating a more vibrant ecosystem.

Bee balm has medicinal properties, particularly for respiratory health, and can help reduce issues like respiratory infections in quail. This plant grows well in both sunny and partially shaded areas, and its strong scent helps deter pests, making it a valuable addition to your coop.

25. Nasturtium

Nasturtium flowers in the garden in springYayImages

Nasturtiums are vibrant, fast-growing flowers that provide both nutritional and medicinal benefits to quail. The leaves and flowers are rich in vitamins A and C, boosting immune function and promoting overall health in your quail flock.

Nasturtiums also have natural antibiotic properties, helping to keep your birds healthy by reducing infections. They thrive in sunny, poor soil conditions, and their quick growth adds a pop of color to your coop while offering a nutritious snack for your birds.

California quail standing on a cut off tree trunk.YayImages

Plants That Are Toxic To Quails

While there are many plants that are safe and beneficial for quails, some are toxic and should be avoided. Plants like nightshade, foxglove, and rhubarb leaves contain harmful compounds that can be dangerous if ingested. 

Other common garden plants such as daffodils, tulips, and oleander can also pose a risk. Always research plants before adding them to your quail coop to ensure a safe environment for your birds.

Quail on a lawn.YayImages

Conclusion

Incorporating a variety of plants into your quail coop can enhance the health and well-being of your birds while enriching their habitat.

From herbs like sage and oregano to vibrant flowers like calendula, these plants provide both nourishment and protection.

With the right selection, your quail coop can become a thriving, natural environment that benefits both your birds and your garden!

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