Fall lighting and the risk of cold weather moulting

[dand883]

Hi guys, relatively new to quail and this will be my first fall/winter with them.

We're getting down to where we're only getting a little less than 14 hours of sun a day now, and the days are getting shorter. I would like to add some lights and keep my quail laying for a little while longer as they've just started within the last few weeks. But I would turn them off for the cold winter months.
I've read though that the change in light duration when you stop the extra hours can cause the birds to molt. Would this be a concern if I turned the lights off in october when it's getting colder out and risk the quail?
I want to get some extra eggs, but not at the expense of losing birds because they lose their feathers too late in the fall. Am I worried about nothing or is it a real concern?

 

[JaeG]

Quail don't go through a major molt like chickens can so you don't have to worry about bald patches or anything major. As long as they can cuddle up together out of the wind and up off the cold ground (straw is always appreciated) then they'll be fine if they do molt.

Your other option would be to keep providing the extra light over winter and letting them have a rest next winter.