A trial to study the effect of housing and microclimatic condition on the performance of two groups of Japanese quail. The first group was intensively housed in multidecked quail rearing battery of 86x 84 cm cages. The second group was freely housed i a 305x244 cm. Pen space area was calculated as 372 cm?/bird and 131 cm/bird for floor and cage rearing birds respectively. The two groups were fed on the same diet ad libitum up to 6th week. Body weights, feed intake were recorded weekly. The weekly decrement of temperature was 2°C and 3°C in floor pen and cages respectively. Significant differences were observed in body weight at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age ant at 1,