We’ve rehomed more than one million ex-commercial hens, but our progress has depended on constructive relationships with farmers, vets, retailers and consumers. Quail will require the same pragmatic approach on a global scale. Quail are not miniature chickens. They are ground-dwelling birds driven to forage, hide, nest and dust-bathe. When startled, they shoot upwards; in restrictive housing, that response can lead to head injuries and fractures. Crowding, unsuitable flooring, poor litter and a lack of cover create further welfare problems. There is no simple, universal fix. Production ranges from vast commercial supply chains to small family enterprises, while reliable data and species-specific guidance remain limited. Improvements must work for the birds and for the people whose livelihoods depend on farming them.

Jane says the early work points towards China, one of the world’s largest quail-producing countries, as a possible first-country case study. Contacts there, she says, have been open to outside expertise and “thirsty for knowledge” about welfare and bird health. The hope is to work with producers to understand practical obstacles and develop research metrics that can be tested on farms. In time, the findings might help inform new standards or recommendations, with appropriate local adaptations. The BHWT and FAI are a good fit here – evidence, relationships and working towards achievable change. A speckled quail egg is a tiny thing of beauty. But the hen who laid it is woefully often overlooked. This project will make sure she is finally seen.

QUAIL TO ACTION

You’ve already generously raised enough to cover Stage 1 of this vital work. Now, to keep the project moving, you can donate or organise a fundraiser, from sponsored walks and cake sales to cycling challenges and coffee mornings. Every contribution will help the BHWT and FAI Farms build the evidence and practical solutions needed to improve commercial laying-quail welfare around the world and give these birds a brighter future.

Visit bhwt.org.uk/donate