➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[Kiki]

I am not a fan of cave type things.
I need to be able to see the babies at all times.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Okay.

I have the opportunity to pick up a HUGE batch - o - buns and prove I am up to murdering their cute little faces before breeding my own from their Flemish/rex mom whom I will keep.

For like. Real real cheap.

This is exciting. Maybe I can convince hubby I won't end up with 300 rabbits once I get going and then find them too adorable.

Also, I have to prove I really, REALLY like rabbit meat for this whole thing to be worth it anyways, and this feels like a good opportunity.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

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.

I like my ceramic bulbs quite a bit, not too hot and very sturdy.

That said, it's not so much that I like them as:

Infrared bulbs are TERRIBLE! I had my first one explode all over my chicks the other week when a drop of water hit it.

 

[CindyinSD]

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.
View attachment 1699735
Then I cover it with a towel and keep it tight so the babies can not get under or behind it.

Nice! How many chicks could that take care of, Kiki? I like that they also have a wall to snuggle up against.

I am not a fan of cave type things.
I need to be able to see the babies at all times.

I get it. I was always lifting it up to peek; DH was always admonishing me, “Leave them alone. They need to sleep. Stop pestering them!” Like that’s any of his business. I do like the thought of them all cozied up in a warm dark mama hen-like space. Like a little kid in a bunk bed fort. I had it covered with a sacrificial towel with little entrances for them. I imagined that it made them feel happy and secure.

I like my ceramic bulbs quite a bit, not too hot and very sturdy.

That said, it's not so much that I like them as:

Infrared bulbs are TERRIBLE! I had my first one explode all over my chicks the other week when a drop of water hit it.

I hate them too... don’t want the light or the danger.

 

[Kiki]

Nice! How many chicks could that take care of, Kiki? I like that they also have a wall to snuggle up against.



I get it. I was always lifting it up to peek; DH was always admonishing me, “Leave them alone. They need to sleep. Stop pestering them!” Like that’s any of his business. I do like the thought of them all cozied up in a warm dark mama hen-like space. Like a little kid in a bunk bed fort. I had it covered with a sacrificial towel with little entrances for them. I imagined that it made them feel happy and secure.



I hate them too... don’t want the light or the danger.

I kept 13 chicks this way.
I am sure you could rig up more heating pads along a wall if needed for more chicks.

 

[007Sean]

I'm still 'old school', I use heat lamps. I guess I've been either lucky or just very careful, I haven't had any problems with them exploding, shattering,... just burning out.
I did 'upgrade' the lamps when I think it was @casportpony told me about putting a light dimmer switch on the lamp. Now I don't have to raise or lower the lamp, just make adjustments on the dimmer switch.

 

[muddy75]

21 babies in the brooder, 1 still in the bator. had no idea there would be this much color variation among the chicks! more hatch as not quite 24 hours since 1st hatch. have only noticed the 1 with bad foot so far.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

View attachment 1699807 View attachment 1699806 21 babies in the brooder, 1 still in the bator. had no idea there would be this much color variation among the chicks! more hatch as not quite 24 hours since 1st hatch. have only noticed the 1 with bad foot so far.

RAINBOW BABIES!

I see more charcoals and maybe some German pastel red types.

 

[Kiki]

View attachment 1699807 View attachment 1699806 21 babies in the brooder, 1 still in the bator. had no idea there would be this much color variation among the chicks! more hatch as not quite 24 hours since 1st hatch. have only noticed the 1 with bad foot so far.

Such a nice variety.

 

[Kiki]

RAINBOW BABIES!

I see more charcoals and maybe some German pastel red types.

I see yellow.