HELP Quail stopped laying....

[SandpointQuail]

Can I put a light in there to keep them warmer and have them lay year round or is that bad for them?

 

[TwoCrows]

You can add more light as quail do need at least 12 hours of daylight to keep laying, however warmth is also a factor. And it is never advised to use heat in the winter for many reasons, especially in your territory with the bitter cold winters you get. 1, if your power goes out, your quail can die from the extreme cold, having not gotten used to it the cold. 2, cold outdoor temps and added heat create a lot of moisture and can cause respiratory ailments and frost bite. Adding heat in the southern parts of the US isn't as big a deal as your northern climate. Forcing laying is also stressful on hens and does shorten their lives. In nature, they use this period to restock their depleted bodies from a season of laying. Seasonal laying is one of the draw backs to keeping quail for eggs. In your territory, the only way you might keep them laying safely is to bring them inside to your basement or some such warm place where you wouldn't need heat and could easily keep enough light for them to lay. Always give birds at least 8 full hours of complete darkness for good health.