Abstract Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of various floor space allocations for quail brooded in litter-floor pens from hatch to five weeks of age. Pens contained 7.432 m2 floor space had a concrete floor with peanut hull litter and a 2-bulb infra-red brooder. Floor space allocations were 929, 464, 232, and 116 cm2 per bird in Experiments 1 and 2; 372, 232, 169, and 133 cm2 per bird in Experiment 3; and 372, 232, and 169 cm2 per bird in Experiment 4. Significant differences in five week body weights were found among birds from various space allocations in Experiments 1 and 2 but not in Experiments 3 and 4. These differences, however, were not consistent between experiments. Mortality was increased by the low space treatments (232 cm2 or less). Higher space allocations tended to result in lower feed consumption and better feed conversion, but the effect was statistically significant in only one case. A space allocation of 372 cm2 or more per bird is recommended.