Moving Button auil to new home

[isegal]

Hello, my 5 2-week-old button uail (sorry, one of my keys are broken) are currently in a decently sized plastic container. I have prepared for them a good sized coop, with an even bigger outside area to run around in. When should I move them in? I think they want a bigger home, they are constantly makng noises and pecking on the plastic. They are getting bigger and their container is getting uite stinky. They are also beginning to fly, and their container is only around 4-6 inches high, and they've hit their heads on the top multiple time. The weather for the next 15 days is around 67-78 degrees Fahrenheit, with rain for a day in 10 days. When should I transition them in? Should there be a heat lamp, or would the sun be sufficient?

 

[realenthusiast]

Hello, my 5 2-week-old button uail (sorry, one of my keys are broken) are currently in a decently sized plastic container. I have prepared for them a good sized coop, with an even bigger outside area to run around in. When should I move them in? I think they want a bigger home, they are constantly makng noises and pecking on the plastic. They are getting bigger and their container is getting uite stinky. They are also beginning to fly, and their container is only around 4-6 inches high, and they've hit their heads on the top multiple time. The weather for the next 15 days is around 67-78 degrees Fahrenheit, with rain for a day in 10 days. When should I transition them in? Should there be a heat lamp, or would the sun be sufficient?

I do not keep button quail, but I do keep bobwhites, and with those I would say as long as they are fully feathered out with adult feathers they should be just fine outside in those temperatures. You can always provide extra heat overnight if you are nervous and just want to be extra safe, but during the day I wouldn't. And I would try and make sure they stay dry when and if it rains until they're full grown.

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

Sounds like good advice!
Just make sure to lock them up nice and tight at night. (Especially if it’s going to rain!)

Button Quail are so cute! Congrats on your new flock.

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

Welcome to BYC, by the way!

 

[Nabiki]

At those temperatures, they should be fine outside. Make sure that they're dry and out of the wind. Button quail are not particularly cold hardy, so make sure they have heat if the temperatures drop below 40.

 

[isegal]

@Nabiki Are they fully feathered? I think so, but I'm not sure. They were born October 1st. Will they be fine in these temperatures? We do have winds here in California, and unexpected rains. How should I transition them in? Should I just dump them in? Its a huge area and they're so tiny! Also, in their nesting coop theres basically the biggest area the main entrance and two smaller rooms to the side but in the main area for some reason it came with two wooden planks that they need to jump over since its designed for chickens but its like twice their height, also I'm scared they could get stuck underneath.

 

[isegal]

Also, could the coop possibly be too big for them?

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

Do you have a picture? That might help to see if they are fully feathered!

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

When ever I move young’ns out in Fall or Winter, I put a small, 2x2 wooden box in the big coop to give them a smaller area at night, and keep them a bit warmer!

 

[Nabiki]

@Nabiki Are they fully feathered? I think so, but I'm not sure. They were born October 1st. Will they be fine in these temperatures? We do have winds here in California, and unexpected rains. How should I transition them in? Should I just dump them in? Its a huge area and they're so tiny! Also, in their nesting coop theres basically the biggest area the main entrance and two smaller rooms to the side but in the main area for some reason it came with two wooden planks that they need to jump over since its designed for chickens but its like twice their height, also I'm scared they could get stuck underneath.

If they only hatched two weeks ago, they are not ready to go outside yet. I would wait until they're at least 6 weeks old.

Where in CA are you? There is a big difference in climate between say, San Diego area, SF Bay Area, and further north CA in the Sierras.

There is no such thing as too big a coop. There IS such a thing as too large openings. Are all of the open parts of the coop covered in 1/2" hardware cloth? A picture of the coop/run area would really help.