Out of the brooder temps/changes

[bigjohn]

I had my two week old quail in a plastic tub for a week with a 60 watt light bulb. Then I moved them to my outdoor storage building in a small cage with the same bulb. It go so hot during the day in that building that I went ahead and moved them to an outdoor pen with that same light bulb. They were doing so well and it was so warm that I 'almost' did not use the light bulb last night. Well, today it got cool and the temp tonight will be about 49 degrees. But they seem fine with that little 60 watt bulb. They get close to it if they get cold.

Usually I wait til about 3 1/2 weeks before letting them go outside, but they are doing very well and growing like crazy.

It really is amazing how fast coturnix grow and how healthy they can be if you keep them clean and well fed. They adjust to changes in temps well.

If only I can figure out a way to keep the males from crowing then I will have the perfect quail! In only a couple of weeks they will start their chattering. I really like to wait til they are 8 weeks or older before butchering, but some of them may not make it that long.

Without bringing them inside, I don't know how to limit their exposure to long light hours so their crowing will not begin. It is too hot to put them in a covered pen.

I guess the only way to resolve the problem will be to hatch in the winter so I can keep them in a dark place for their allotted time.

 

[cariboujaguar]

I never knew quail crowed! Crazy! My husband wants to get a few of the flashy males to let roam the property... they sure are pretty!

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
you'll want bobwhite then (and the bobwhite crow is where they got their name...BOB-WHITE!)

And coturnix... they sound like they are saying "how m' i doin!?" or "Look at me!" my hubby and I always yell "NO"....but then again we're crazy so...

Coturnix aren't great for release.

To the OP you're a lot more caring than I am.

At 2 weeks out they go! Outside to the pens no heat no nuttin. But then again im the darth vadar of coturnix quails... do you expect any less from me?

 

[bigjohn]

Are you serious about 2 weeks and without supplemental heat? Even when the temps are cool? Guess I learn something new everyday. Saves on electricity and possible electric shock!

I always understood that you started at 95 degrees and lowered the temp by 5 deg each week until about 4 weeks old. Guess I was wrong. Coturnix are much more resilient than I thought.

Can't go wrong with a bird that hatches in 17 days, lays eggs at 6 weeks, tastes great, and is quiet and easy to care for. What a perfect little bird. Now to breed for less smelly poop!

You should see the size of the earth worms under my pens. I thought they were snakes this morning. I jumped back thinking I had really upset some baby snakes. I guess having those under the pens is a very good sign.

You should see my small garden, too. No fertilizer except the poop and dirt from under my pens. I have pole beans 9 ft. tall!

 

[shelleyd2008]

I was very protective of mine this winter, I think I kept them inside till they were like 3 or 4 months old!

My latest group has been outside for 4 or 5 days, and I think they are about 3 weeks old now. The goldens are starting to show their colors (of course, mostly males again

)

And it's good to know that I'm not the only one that says 'NO' when the roos crow!! I'll either say that or 'who wants to?' or 'why?' I think it sounds like 'Look at MEEEEEEE'

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
Nope no lie!

As for cooler temps in winter I wait until they are fully feathered which is around 3 1/2 weeks im so nice aren't I? LOL. Now, ofcourse if its below freezing that's a little harsh but there are mild days in the winter. As long as they get alcimatized in the much colder months they'll be fine.

 

[monarc23]

Quote:

yep you're not the only one LOL!

 

[silentrunning]

I'm new at this but I took all supplimental heat away at 7 days for 2 hatches and never lost a one. In Florida the coldest it has been is about 65 degrees at night and they are thriving. These are tuff little birds!

Doug

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Can't go wrong with a bird that hatches in 17 days, lays eggs at 6 weeks, tastes great, and is quiet and easy to care for. What a perfect little bird.

bigjohn,
You are sooooo right, they are a great bird! We are growing out 3 batches for the freezer right now, we have about 250+ to process. I think that number should get us thru the summer.

Steve in NC​

 

[silentrunning]

Quote:
Quiet??? Please send me some of you roos. You can hear mine two blocks away in the morning.

Doug