New Quail owner help!

[mmakarow]

Hello, my quail are about two weeks old and I thought it would be easy to get info on their care and feeding but I am feeling a little confused about how to proceed. Right now I have them in a brooder under a lamp and they are eating the Southern States Sports mix that gives them 30% protein. They appear to be feathering out a bit, and I am not sure when I should move them outside and off the heat lamp. Also, when should I change their food and to what exactly? The breeder said they mix their own and add corn and calcium after five weeks to the mix they sold me to start them on. I am not sure if I should try to buy some more from them or not since I want to raise them for eggs and maybe meat (not sure about that yet). Then there is the grit that they will eventually need, plus sand to bathe in. What kind of grit and what kind of sand? The more I read, the more confused I got since everyone seems to be doing something slightly different. Please help! Thanks, M.

 

[mdees88]

Are they coturnix quail? They should be very feathered out at 2 weeks old. Usually completely feathered around 3 weeks.

What are the high and low Temps where you are?

They can usually go outside at 2 weeks as long as it's not very cold. They can still go when it's cold if you move your lamp outside also. I just moved mine outside at 10 days old. Highs in 80s lows in 60s.

I have fed mine 30% turkey starter for the life of the birds and they laid eggs just fine. But it is recommended to feed them something with higher calcium starting at around 6-10 weeks to help with egg production. . That will usually be a layer crumble between 17 and 20% protein. The 30% protien is what gets them big so I would probably leave them on that till around 10 weeks then transition to a layer feed.

I don't think they really need grit unless people are adding that to boost the calcium, not 100% sure on this.

Pretty sure any type of sand works. I give mine play sand from lowes.

The fact that everyone is doing something different means the birds are very easy to raise and you just need to figure out what works best for you.

 

[mmakarow]

Are they coturnix quail? They should be very feathered out at 2 weeks old. Usually completely feathered around 3 weeks.

What are the high and low Temps where you are?

They can usually go outside at 2 weeks as long as it's not very cold. They can still go when it's cold if you move your lamp outside also. I just moved mine outside at 10 days old. Highs in 80s lows in 60s.

I have fed mine 30% turkey starter for the life of the birds and they laid eggs just fine. But it is recommended to feed them something with higher calcium starting at around 6-10 weeks to help with egg production. . That will usually be a layer crumble between 17 and 20% protein. The 30% protien is what gets them big so I would probably leave them on that till around 10 weeks then transition to a layer feed.

I don't think they really need grit unless people are adding that to boost the calcium, not 100% sure on this.

Pretty sure any type of sand works. I give mine play sand from lowes.

The fact that everyone is doing something different means the birds are very easy to raise and you just need to figure out what works best for you.

Thanks! Yes, they are Coturnix Quail. What brand of Turkey starter do you buy? The weather here in the Piedmont of
NC is very variable until May. It could be in the 80's one day and then go down to frost temps then back up again. I think I am going to keep them inside for a few more weeks until I finish their pen.

 

[mdees88]

Thanks! Yes, they are Coturnix Quail. What brand of Turkey starter do you buy? The weather here in the Piedmont of
NC is very variable until May. It could be in the 80's one day and then go down to frost temps then back up again. I think I am going to keep them inside for a few more weeks until I finish their pen.

Tucker Milling but my local feed store isn't carrying it anymore. They're replacing it with a game bird feed , probably 28% so I'll use that instead.

Mine are 3 weeks old today and are fully feathered. Yeah I'd probably leave yours inside until you finish their pen then move them outside. As long as you have an area that blocks the wind they should be fine at 3 weeks. You can add a pan of dirt, straw, or sand if keeping them on wire. They stay warmer when there are no drafts below them, and if gets near freezing you can put a lamp out there for them.