Coturnix Quail and the Cold

[le_bwah]

I tarped up the roof today after the forecast called for cold rain. The aviary is covered in clear plastic half-way up, all the way around.

Another note: wether or not feeding them grain treats before bed keeps them warm, I've noticed it seems to make them calmer at night.

It's a little dark, but they don't seem to mind.

Ran out of furring strips, cardboard and staples are holding up just fine.

 

[BullChick]

Short but sweet! You’re helping many during their first winter with quail.

 

[Kiki]

After almost three years of fretting over my quail's wintertime safety and comfort, I finally feel confident in their ability to weather the cold. These are a few things I've found helpful in helping quail remain comfortable in sub-freezing temperatures.

• Quail lose heat fastest through their unfeathered bits (read: feet). Piles of straw/other dry bedding create dry areas where they can warm up.
• Plastic sheeting/tarps are excellent windbreaks. But whatever you're tarping up, remember to leave an opening at the top to preserve airflow—condensation is the enemy.
• Any box/dome will trap heat and provide good shelter given that it's small enough to be heated efficiently by one or more birds.
• My quail go nuts for "birdie tea," essentially warm water (sometimes with a bit of electrolyte added). I give them their "tea" in the morning and when I change their water before dark.

Most of these seem like common sense, but I know there are people out there who, like me, worry about their birds' comfort in the cold and need to hear again that it is possible to raise Coturnix in climates with cold winters. Following the above steps, my birds have been active and alert down to the mid single digits. Any lower than that and I rotate stacks of warmed bricks through their little shelters—these let them pop in and out all day when they need to warm up. No shivering, happy birds.

Below is a video from this morning, our first snow of the season. It's about 30 degrees Fahrenheit out and most of the girls are as active as ever, scratching for their cracked corn. The scaredy birds are pacing in the back waiting for me to get out of their way .

If you have any other winter tips or warnings, please share. I'm always looking to make my quail more comfortable.

I saw the video on YouTube the other day and I meant to come see if you posted here too and I forgot. I'm glad you did!