Coturnix and cold weather

[Rozzie]

We're having nutty weather, too. We had 27 a couple of nights ago. It's supposed to be 70+ tomorrow, but back down to 20 by Wednesday night.

Not sure what to think of the weather we're having!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Coturnix can take very cold temps if they have shelter from the wind. Monarc23 lived in PA with her's and she would just cover their pens with tarps. I'm sure it gets below zero in PA. Mine do just fine here in southern KY with little boxes to snuggle up in if they so desire. Granted, it doesn't get all THAT cold here, but it gets pretty chilly. The coldest night we've had so far was a low of 26 or 27 and they do just fine. Usually I'll find them all laying on the outside part of their pen at night, then hiding in their 'house' during the day...silly birds.

 

[Rainwolf]

well its snowing now so it warmed up to 34F degrees outside.

 

[chickhopeful12]

Here in CT. we have already had some nights in the upper 20's and my coturnix are doing well outside. They have a pen with 3 closed sides and an open front. There is also an enclosed shelter part with hay they burrow in.

I will go out there concerned and they are just lined up looking at me wondering what my problem is. They are too cool. They are hardy, but I would just be aware of any huddling and it should be an easy fix.

 

[Wifezilla]

Our nights are in the 20's. The quail have lots of fresh straw, 3 sides of their pen blocked from wind, and a separate hutch filled with straw inside the pen. Everyone is fine. The only thing I have to do is thaw out their water in the mornings.

 

[Robo]

I put a small heat lamp over their waterer to keep it from freezing. This is the best way I have found to keep water from freezing, plus I don't have to give them lighting thanks to the heat lamp. Double Whammy!

 

[janen_33]

Hi all,

Like you Rain Wolf, I too am in Seattle (actually east of). We have 2 Coturnix - 1 male, 1 female....interesting story, in short, they weren't planned. - OK, so we have them in a 4x4 pen with sand, leafy branches, and wood shavings. They're in a corner of our aviary which is protected from the wind and rain. Since they don't get to cuddle - she would be bald if I didn't separate them - I added a heat lamp [last night]. I checked on them this EARLY a.m. and they weren't even near the lamp! I'm thinking they don't need it, at least not yet (I say 'not yet' since it's so early in the season that I'm guessing we're in for more freezing temps). Oh, and we're still getting eggs!

Thoughts, anyone?

Thanks!

 

[pringle]

If they arnt huddling under it I wouldent give it to them,wastes to much electricity.Ohh and if I were you I would start looking for some more females atleast 2 more so the boy cant just pick on 1.

 

[Robo]

If you have problems with waterers freezing you could use a heatlamp or a heated dogbowl.

 

[babieblues]

We've just been through a mini cold snap and my japs did just fine. 3 days in the range of -32C (-25.6F), -37C (-34.6F) with the wind chill.
They're in pens that are wired on 3 sides, solid top bottom and back with plenty of straw and huddle boxes in each pen. The pens are in a large room in our insulated, unheated barn. Their water froze solid so made a few trips out to refill them during the day and put a large bowl of snow in each pen for moisture in between refills. At no time were they stressed, huddling together for warmth, or shivering. Every time I checked on them they were wandering around eating, drinking, and doing what they normally do. Not once did I see any of them in the huddle boxes. Even got a couple of eggs. They weren't any good as they were frozen by the time I found them. This is their first winter outside and I've been so worried about how they'd handle the cold. Not as worried any more, but still have heat lamps standing by as well as extras cages in the house in case there are any problems.