Periodically Losing Quail

[Bigfishbobby]

I do think a wind barrier would be an upgrade but it has been warming recently and we really haven’t had any real wind to speak of in the past couple weeks. Went out this morning hoping I wouldn’t find any more and everyone seemed fine. I just can’t figure it out…if these birds were this fragile they would be extinct by now.

 

[Nabiki]

They're actually quite hardy, but they have been domesticated for a long time, so some of their survival instincts went along with their inclination to go broody and raise their own young.

The keys to keeping coturnix in very cold temperatures are keeping them dry, out of the wind, and small shelters.

 

[Bigfishbobby]

I have definitely missed the mark on small shelters. Looks like a trip to the dollar store for some bins to flip over in the run are in order.

 

[Nabiki]

I have definitely missed the mark on small shelters. Looks like a trip to the dollar store for some bins to flip over in the run are in order.

Cardboard boxes work well too if you want to go cheap. Dollar store often has candy bar boxes that work great. They even have an entrance already cut in them!

 

[catesquire]

I'd also recommend plastic sheeting around the outdoor portion to cut down on any wind --just make sure to leave it partially open at the top so moisture can escape.

 

[Bigfishbobby]

Thanks. I’m thinking that since one end is the coop, and the back side is the firewood storage, I only really need to cover the front. I’m thinking instead of tarp or plastic sheeting I’ll buy some of the plastic roofing type material that is see through and mount hooks for it so I can just put it across the front and easily remove it. I think we are going to do the same for the backside of the chicken run as well.

 

[Bigfishbobby]

So it just kind of dawned on me…recently it seems like the males are crowing more and are more actively looking to mate. Despite no visible injuries on the hens that died, is it possible one of the males is killing them? My ratio of male to female was 2:11 before the last two deaths, and is now 2:9.

 

[catesquire]

If the boys were responsible, I'd expect to see either injuries to the scalp from overbreeding, or signs of the hens accidentally hitting their heads as they tried to run away--I've definitely had a young hen snap her own neck trying to get away from boys, but it was a fairly obvious injury. Your ratio doesn't sound bad if the roosters are getting along and the girls aren't being overbred. If you're worried about that, keep an eye out for scalp injuries, and take a little time each day to watch them and make sure they don't seem too stressed.