- Aug 19, 2014
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I live in a cold/snowy winter state. Can I keep my quail outdoors in an unheated garage in winter? Or must I find some way to move them indoors?
Keeping quail outdoors in winter?
- Thread starter Kherome
- Start date
Hi, my quail live in outdoor cages that are roofed and has one third section of the cage of the sides covered in ply, it gets down to -5 celcius during winter frosts and snows a couple or three times during winter. My adult Japanese quail are more than happy through winter. Being wet and drafty are more likely to cause problems. So I think your garage should be fine.
- Thread starter
- #3
- Aug 19, 2014
- 112
- 10
- 63
We get -40 and occasionally even colder and it's snow from December until May. I'm concerned about them freezing to death even in my garage. And their water freezing. I'm thinking I'm going to have to put a heat lamp on their house and keep their water in that box so it doesn't freeze and they have a place to stay warm. Or move them into the basement.
- Jul 18, 2014
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I've done a lot of research on this, as I'm starting up and I live in Wisconsin (-40 might be a stretch but -20 F is normal at night where I'm at in Jan/Feb). I've seen a lot of people saying that they are hardy through the winter, but the only actual numbers I've seen listed were >0F. I've seen a lot of people say "It gets in the single digits" or "It gets close to zero" and they are fine, but nobody really confirming below-zero temperatures. My guess is that most people in the colder areas haven't bothered to put their birds in that situation and just keep them in warmer places.
The ones I just got are outside now in a cage I intended to wind-proof in the winter. The cage has a small "coop" attached that's like 1'x2' and 20 inches high that I'll probably put a 60 or 100 watt incandescent bulb in and have that turn on at 1am and turn off at sunrise to facilitate laying and warm things up during the coldest parts of the night. I'll be crossing my fingers.
The ones I just got are outside now in a cage I intended to wind-proof in the winter. The cage has a small "coop" attached that's like 1'x2' and 20 inches high that I'll probably put a 60 or 100 watt incandescent bulb in and have that turn on at 1am and turn off at sunrise to facilitate laying and warm things up during the coldest parts of the night. I'll be crossing my fingers.
You'll trigger odd molting if you run a light for odd hours like that. Instead of a light use a ceramic heater that screws into the light socket.
Something like this would be better for you.
- Thread starter
- #6
- Aug 19, 2014
- 112
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- 63
Thank you for the insights. I will save that lamp in my favorites.
- Jul 18, 2014
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I don't know about Kherome, but for eggs we need to extend daylight. Is having light on at night better than morning?
You only need to extend the daylight period to 14-16 hours. If you leave it on longer than 16 hours it causes the birds a lot of stress and they can even go insane (no joke) from having too much light.
It is better to have the light come on just before dusk and kick off in the night so you can better replicate a natural light cycle.
It is better to have the light come on just before dusk and kick off in the night so you can better replicate a natural light cycle.
Jessica Thompson
Songster
I need help with that too I don't seem to Be able to remember how to make a thread sooo can you guys help me I have two Texas a&m quails and I don't know what to do
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