outside pen for 6 wk old quail

[bfrancis]

Quote:
What size of light do you currently have on them and how far above them is positioned?

 

[bfrancis]

This is an older pic of my indoor brooder...

does yours look something similar?

 

[bfrancis]

I just went out and took a pic of my 6 week olds. They are outside, with temps close to what you say you are having (we're expecting a big storm right now that's why its darker)...they are in a 3' x12' pen. I built a 2 sided wall to protect from winds and put 60 watt light over them at about 16" from the floor. They are on pine flakes for bedding. you can see that some are under the light...it's pretty chilly here right now, and some are wondering about. If they get cold...they'll go to the light...if temps are ok for them...they do quail stuff.

Now I have close to 60 quail in there as opposed to 10, so they can keep warmer with more. You would just need to get a higher watt bulb. with anything electric and hot...make sure that it cannot drop into the bedding and catch fire. I have used .032 wire and tied the fixture to a piece of 3/4" cooper plumber's pipe and also tied the cord back for a secondary if the fixture gives way (It won't, but always safety!)

Right now I just leave it on 24/7...mainly because I'm afraid I would forget to turn it back on at night. (i'm old..lol) but over the next couple weeks I will be weaning to go with only a night time light then no light at all.

If you are using a cage, the concept would be the same just on a smaller scale. The main thing just watch the birds...they'll tell you if they're too cold. but be sure to allow them room to get out of the heat if need be.

 

[jenmiller]

i have a 60 watt light on them. They are feathered out and i also found that they piled on top of eachother to get warm and killed bunches of them. I dont know what to do b/c if i put a higher light on them they seem to die and if i put a smaller light on them they die to try and stay warm. Inside i didnt think it would matter since it almost doesnt vary in temp in the summer its like 75 degrees in there and now its like high 50's maybe 60's in there, that would almost make me feel like they didnt need light and thats what i was told.

 

[bfrancis]

I will admit, I'm at a loss for guidance here...

Typically they pile if too cold..not too hot...but you say with a higher temp bulb they die too? If it is a temp issue, my only thought with having it hotter and they die...they didn't have an area to get out of the light? ...if they did, then maybe another issue could be going on...type of feed? amount of feed? Knowing where you got the eggs or day olds...do they have healthy birds? Is there enough open ventilation to allow fresh air in? Some times in an all glass brooder like an aquarium, you have a green house effect where even though the light is at one end, the heat cannot escape and the babies die. I think you said you had a plastic tub though


Perhaps someone else will respond with other possible solutions.

I'm sorry to hear about your losses.

 

[jenmiller]

i was moving them from an aquarium to a plastic container outside, but i wanted to make sure they were healthy and feathered out before i did that and killed them on accident. I think i am just going to go on with it and keep an eye on them until i know they are okay where they are.

 

[bfrancis]

Quote:
So an aquarium was in the equation? I would definitely put them in the plastic tub you had talked about earlier then and start troubleshooting again from there. It's not too late, you can save your remaining quail...

good luck!

 

[Stellar]

Alright...

How many 6 week olds do you have?

What does your brooder look like? At 6 weeks old they do not need light indoors unless you are setting up a lighting program for laying.

If you are moving birds to the shed, I would actually put them in wire rabbit cages and use a 100 watt bulb to keep them warm if it gets cool in the shed. The container you are mentioning seems like a brooder and the birds are old enough for wire cages. When you feel more comfortable move them in a rabbit hutch with 3 sides covered with wood and the front wired (and a roof) and attach a lamp near by.

Photos will help as well so we can help you more.

 

[jenmiller]

Quote:
i have 10 of them and the brooder is an aquarium. i have a choice between the plastic container and a cage with holes that are like 2inch x 1inch. Will that be sufficent or should i find a smaller one bc im no sure i have a cage with smaller wire right now, and the storage container i have has wire in the bottom. the 1/2 inch square wire i believe.

 

[Stellar]

How large is your aquarium. They shouldn't be in an aquarium at 6 weeks...they could trample each other hence all your problems in the past. I would find a large enough container, put them in and move them where they have more space. Photos help a lot. I am a visual person so I would like to see photos of both setups you have for your quail and then I can try to help further.