How often and when/what dictates when a quail will molt?

[owlett5]

As the title says. My little birds are now about 3.5 weeks old, and look like mini adults. I was curious to know when I should expect them to molt. Is this something triggered by light cycles, temperature, age, all three?

Ideally I'd like to move their pen outside until the feather explosion is done.

 

[Ironsun10]

Hi,

You can expect the first moult at around 7/8 weeks old, this first moult drops all juvenile feather and replaces them with the true adult feathers.

Ironsun.