➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[007Sean]

I don't like for my quail chicks to go longer than 18 hours before I move them to the brooder. Button quail chicks 12 hours.
Pheasant chicks I usually wait 24 hours before removing them to the brooder.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

I think you are all exceedingly reasonable people and I am going to continue to split the difference at 6-18 hours

 

[Kiki]

Does anyone know whether it would work to heat quailchicks from the bottom up? I was looking at those thermostats ya’ll showed me, and there were some that were designed to control the heat mats you use for starting seedlings indoors. People apparently use them in reptile housing. The heat mats are pretty reasonable; the thermostats a bit pricey, but of course, you gotta have infrastructure.

I was thinking (sometimes dangerous) you could put one or two under the puppy pad or wood chips, etc. They’re vinyl, slick, easy to wipe clean or sanitize.

On the plus side,

• I don’t see how a chick could hurt itself on one (like the heat plates/mama hen heating pad/caves some here have had bad luck with).
• Also, you don’t have the unnatural constant lighting you do with overhead bulbs,
• nor the danger of fire.

On the minus side,

• Hens (when they used to brood their babies) did it from above not below.
• It might be harder for the chicks to come to or flee from the heat if there’re no visual indicators as to where the heat’s coming from.
• It seems a chilly sort of heat, but maybe not. We have in-floor heat and it keeps us comfortable.

Yes I have successfully heated quail with the heating pad underneath them.

 

[007Sean]

I think you are all exceedingly reasonable people and I am going to continue to split the difference at 6-18 hours

These are the way 'we' do things...someone else may do things differently...doesn't mean their wrong or right! Whatever works best for the individual having to deal with their situation and what works for them, then is the 'best' for them. There's more than one way to skin a cat! If there wasn't you could read and know everything about raising quail, chickens, pheasants, turkeys, guineas, ducks or geese in about 30 minutes.

 

[R2elk]

Does anyone know whether it would work to heat quailchicks from the bottom up? I was looking at those thermostats ya’ll showed me, and there were some that were designed to control the heat mats you use for starting seedlings indoors. People apparently use them in reptile housing. The heat mats are pretty reasonable; the thermostats a bit pricey, but of course, you gotta have infrastructure.

I was thinking (sometimes dangerous) you could put one or two under the puppy pad or wood chips, etc. They’re vinyl, slick, easy to wipe clean or sanitize.

On the plus side,

• I don’t see how a chick could hurt itself on one (like the heat plates/mama hen heating pad/caves some here have had bad luck with).
• Also, you don’t have the unnatural constant lighting you do with overhead bulbs,
• nor the danger of fire.

On the minus side,

• Hens (when they used to brood their babies) did it from above not below.
• It might be harder for the chicks to come to or flee from the heat if there’re no visual indicators as to where the heat’s coming from.
• It seems a chilly sort of heat, but maybe not. We have in-floor heat and it keeps us comfortable.

Anything that keeps the whole area the same temperature is not ideal. It is best to have a heated area with a cooler area so that the chicks can come and go as they desire.

If you haven't already, you may want to check out the Mama Heating Pad in the brooder.

 

[CindyinSD]

Yes I have successfully heated quail with the heating pad underneath them.

Cool! Did you like it? Did you feel it was a superior way to brood, or do you prefer another method?

 

[Kiki]

Cool! Did you like it? Did you feel it was a superior way to brood, or do you prefer another method?

I haven't decided which I like better...a regular light bulb or a heating pad flat up against the side and bottom of part of a brooder.

Well actually I think I prefer the regular ( not heat lamp bulb) light bulb in the clippy lamp plugged into my reptile thermostat because the thermostat does the work for me.



Does that make sense?
I can try to say it differently if it doesn't.

 

[CindyinSD]

Anything that keeps the whole area the same temperature is not ideal. It is best to have a heated area with a cooler area so that the chicks can come and go as they desire.

If you haven't already, you may want to check out the Mama Heating Pad in the brooder.

Thanks for posting that link, R2! I’ve been looking for it. For some reason I have a hard time locating it. Maybe I’m just trying to go through the magic wardrobe at the wrong time.

I used an infrared brooder panel for my chicken chicks (the fatal event in which I entered livestock “Narnia”) last fall and I really loved it. The babies were lively but hardly any vocalizing (except on the long drive home during which they cheeped constantly and pitifully).

But... some of the peeps here have had quail chicks get hurt on the panels (and the heating pads, too) by getting wedged under the legs or in the makings of the “cave”, so I’m trying to find a way out of using lights because I hate them. Not just the illumination, but also the awkwardness and fire potential. Otherwise the ceramic heat “bulbs” would be a good alternative.

The seed mats I have aren’t that big. I could use both of them and not cover more than half of the huge clear tote I just brought home. It just seems weird, though. The seed mats, I mean. I don’t know that it’s altogether a good idea.

 

[CindyinSD]

I haven't decided which I like better...a regular light bulb or a heating pad flat up against the side and bottom of part of a brooder.

Well actually I think I prefer the regular ( not heat lamp bulb) light bulb in the clippy lamp plugged into my reptile thermostat because the thermostat does the work for me.



Does that make sense?
I can try to say it differently if it doesn't.

Yes, that makes perfect sense, Kiki. Thanks! It’s a lot of help to know that.

 

[Kiki]

Thanks for posting that link, R2! I’ve been looking for it. For some reason I have a hard time locating it. Maybe I’m just trying to go through the magic wardrobe at the wrong time.

I used an infrared brooder panel for my chicken chicks (the fatal event in which I entered livestock “Narnia”) last fall and I really loved it. The babies were lively but hardly any vocalizing (except on the long drive home during which they cheeped constantly and pitifully).

But... some of the peeps here have had quail chicks get hurt on the panels (and the heating pads, too) by getting wedged under the legs or in the makings of the “cave”, so I’m trying to find a way out of using lights because I hate them. Not just the illumination, but also the awkwardness and fire potential. Otherwise the ceramic heat “bulbs” would be a good alternative.

The seed mats I have aren’t that big. I could use both of them and not cover more than half of the huge clear tote I just brought home. It just seems weird, though. The seed mats, I mean. I don’t know that it’s altogether a good idea.

I clip the heating pad to the side of the brooder with only a couple inches of the pad on the floor.
Like this...pretend the wall is the side of a brooder.

Then I cover it with a towel and keep it tight so the babies can not get under or behind it.