cooltindog
In the Brooder
- Feb 25, 2015
- 11
- 1
- 22
Background:
I bought 10 Coturnix 2.5 weeks ago. They were "around 3 weeks old" when I bought them. They seem pretty healthy. I have them in a 2' x 5' coop. They have a waterer that holds one quart, and a galvanized feeder with a one quart mason jar, and a dirt bath. They are now on 1/2" hardware cloth (originally they were on a solid floor, but I was afraid of them walking on there own fecis). I put a light in on a timer so they will get 14 hours of light a day. I live in the Phoenix area, so it will be HOT this summer. They have shade. Their coop is off the ground because of snakes.
Questions:
They seem to waste a LOT of food. They will go through a quart a day, but it looks like 1/3 of it is lost through the hardware cloth. Is there a better way to feed them?
Is it safe to "recycle" the food that gets through the hardware cloth?
I never see them pecking each other, but in the last 5 days, many seem to have "ratty" looking feathers on the tops of their heads. Is that normal?
At what point should I put a "misting system" on them? 90 degrees? 100?
Can one mulch their feathers with their poop, or do I have to pick them out?
Are there any members in the Phoenix/Peoria area that raise Coturnix Quail that might like to network?
Sincere Thanks for All of Your Help, Carl
I bought 10 Coturnix 2.5 weeks ago. They were "around 3 weeks old" when I bought them. They seem pretty healthy. I have them in a 2' x 5' coop. They have a waterer that holds one quart, and a galvanized feeder with a one quart mason jar, and a dirt bath. They are now on 1/2" hardware cloth (originally they were on a solid floor, but I was afraid of them walking on there own fecis). I put a light in on a timer so they will get 14 hours of light a day. I live in the Phoenix area, so it will be HOT this summer. They have shade. Their coop is off the ground because of snakes.
Questions:
They seem to waste a LOT of food. They will go through a quart a day, but it looks like 1/3 of it is lost through the hardware cloth. Is there a better way to feed them?
Is it safe to "recycle" the food that gets through the hardware cloth?
I never see them pecking each other, but in the last 5 days, many seem to have "ratty" looking feathers on the tops of their heads. Is that normal?
At what point should I put a "misting system" on them? 90 degrees? 100?
Can one mulch their feathers with their poop, or do I have to pick them out?
Are there any members in the Phoenix/Peoria area that raise Coturnix Quail that might like to network?
Sincere Thanks for All of Your Help, Carl