How Much Should I Charge or Pay for Eggs

The below information is just a starting point. Depending on the customer, market you are in, supply & demand, quantity of eggs, size (standard or jumbo) and other variables, you should do some more research on your market to determine what is best for you. Below is just an average taken from several different resources based on 2026 Information.

Quick Price Overview (2026)

Here's what you'll typically pay in the US right now:

• Hatching eggs: $1-$3 each ($12-$30 per dozen)

• Day-old chicks: $2-$6 each

• Juveniles (4-6 weeks): $5-$10 each

• Adult laying hens: $10-$20 each

• Breeding pairs/trios: $25-$60

• Rare/specialty breeds: 2-3x standard pricing

Price by Breed

Coturnix (standard Pharaoh) — The most affordable and widely available. Chicks run $2-$4, adults $8-$15. Hatching eggs average $15 per dozen. Jumbo Coturnix — Slightly more due to genetics. Chicks $3-$6, adults $12-$20, hatching eggs $20-$30/dozen. Texas A&M Coturnix — White-feathered meat line. Chicks $3-$5, adults $12-$18. Bobwhite Quail — Chicks are cheap ($2-$4) but flight-conditioned adults for hunting preserves run $6-$12. Button Quail — $8-$15 per bird. Often sold as pairs at $20-$30. California Quail — $25-$50 per bird. Supply is limited. Mearns, Mountain, Gambel's, Harlequin — $40-$100+ per bird. Rare and seasonal.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Quail Flock?

For a starter flock of 12 Coturnix, here's the real all-in cost:

• 12 chicks: $36-$72

• Brooder setup (tote, heat plate, feeder, waterer): $60-$120

• Adult cage (24"x48" wire): $80-$200 (or $30-$60 DIY)

• 50 lb gamebird starter feed: $25-$35

• Bedding, vitamins, misc: $20-$40

Ongoing Monthly Costs

For a 12-bird Coturnix flock producing ~200 eggs/month:

• Feed (~20 lb/month): $10-$15

• Bedding/supplements: $5-$10

• Electricity (heat lamp, winter lighting): $3-$8

Why Prices Vary So Much

Four factors drive the price spread you'll see on QuailSales and other marketplaces:

• Genetics & lineage — show-quality or jumbo-selected bloodlines cost more

• NPIP certification — NPIP-tested flocks command a 20-40% premium and are legal to ship across more states

• Age — adult proven layers cost more than chicks because someone else took the raising risk

• Location — shipping live birds is expensive, so local pickup is almost always cheaper

Where to Find the Best Prices

Prices on QuailSales are set by breeders in your state — which usually beats hatchery prices once you factor in $40-$80 shipping. Browse Coturnix quail for sale, Bobwhite quail for sale, or search by your state to compare local breeders. Hatching eggs ship nationwide affordably via USPS.

Are Quail Worth the Cost?

Compared to chickens, quail are dramatically cheaper to start with and reach productivity 4x faster (6-8 weeks vs 20-24 weeks). A $350 starter investment can produce 2,400+ eggs per year — that's real ROI for backyard keepers, and excellent margins for sellers.

**The above research comes from Quailsales.com