Protecting quail from wind

[SuseyQ]

Hi,
I live in NM where we have a 3 month or longer windy season and I mean windy. Some days the sand blows so much that the sky is brown instead of blue. I'm wondering what you folks suggest to protect quail from this wind yet provide them sufficient light. What type of pen should I build? The Gamble quail that live here stay under our Mesquite bushes when this happens.

Thank You,
SuseyQ

 

[Em Ty]

Put solid sides or tarps on the two faces most likely to see wind.

 

[SuseyQ]

Em Ty,
If I do that then I'll need to provide an alternative source of light, right? I had planned to face the pen west (the largest side). The east side would be against a building (block). The wind usually comes from the south and west which means the only light would be coming from the north. That is if I put solid sides on the west and the south side. Tarps would easily blow away in the wind we have. I've had cloth down for weeds before and even with rocks holding it down it blew off.

Thank You,
SuseyQ

 

[Em Ty]

Any time the sun's up is good light and you don't need direct sunlight for laying. If the sun's up for 12 hours or more, you're good. If not, just provide extra light to make up the difference. Light in the morning is preferable so they get the sun setting in the evening and the gradual light decline, but they don't roost, so it's not critical. You could even get one or two solar lights and stick them by the pen. They'll charge up during the day and extend the light into the evening. That way you don't have to wire anything up and you can probably find them on sale at TSC or wherever.

 

[SuseyQ]

EmTy,
I was just concerned if I cover up two sides of the pen to prevent wind problems and one side is against a wall, then the quail would only get a 2' opening of light for the entire pen and it would be from the north. I just didn't know if this would be sufficient light. I like the idea of solar lights for sure!

BTW I've looked at quails at James Marie. It says they are all Cortunix, but it says some are specialty and some are meat birds. Do you know if the specialty birds are the layers? I haven't been able to reach them yet via phone or e-mail. They looked different, besides the color so I wanted to make sure I ordered the right ones.

Thank You,
SuseyQ

 

[Em Ty]

In your climate you probably don't want the birds in direct light for most of the year, and they should always have shade available to them. You can use clear plastic as a windbreak or rig up something that's offset by a foot or so.

Quail don't have laying breeds like chickens. I'm not familiar with the birds at James Marie, but if you get any standard coturnix you'll get a great layer and a great meat bird, though smaller than the meat birds they sell. The meat birds have probably just been bred to be jumbos, which should lay just as well as standard coturnix. You'll really have to ask them to see what they say, but you can't go wrong with brown or jumbo, really. I wouldn't order any of the colour variations they carry; I doubt they're any better than browns for meat or eggs.

 

[jwalk2515]

you can always use clear plastic, like cheap painters drop cloth, lets plenty of light through (I have this over my temporary cages) or mesh like window screen or shade cloth.

Robby at JMF will help you if you want something very specific, but all his birds are great layers. I have a bunch of different colors from him and no complaints. Running 100 or so right now in a variety of setups to see what works best for me

 

[SuseyQ]

jwalk2515,
You don't sound like you're a "New Egg". I think I will try some clear hard plastic that can be removed. That way they get a solid wind break during that season, but it can be removed and reused. The other thing I'm concerned about is air circulation so something like the shade cloth could work better. We have plenty of that here and I know it lets sufficient light in. I'm just not sure if it would be enough protection from the wind and sand blasting, but I know it would help. Do the birds have a tendency to peck at the plastic or anything outside their pens?

Thank You,
SuseyQ

PS. What do you expect your hatch rate to be our of 100 eggs?

 

[SuseyQ]

EmTy,
You are probably right about the light, that's why I'm thinking the patio would work best, but I am concerned that they could be too smelly so I'm not 100% this will work. This is not enclosed, but it does have a roof and we do put up shade cloth in the summer because we get the western sun which is terribly hot. During the windy season we have had far success with the shade cloth on the patio. Sometimes it's too windy and must be raised. This cuts down on our cooling bills tremendously. Do the quail peck at the plastic or anything else keeping out the wind/sun?

I'm thinking eventually I'll get meat birds, but I'll start with the layers first. One step at a time.

Thank You,
SuseyQ

 

[jwalk2515]

Thanks. newish, at least on here. I frequent multiple quail groups on facebook (much more active) and remember to come over here once in a while. Ive been on the phone with Robbie a couple times and had good success with his birds. eggs-depends on shipping so I try not to hold that against supplier. I've had rates as high as 80% (of total, no candling or discarding) and as low as 40% Just now collecting my own eggs to start hatching and expect an increase in success because of no post office.

I'll try to take a pic of one of my plastic. I basically created an a-frame out of 2x4's and ran plastic up one side and then across to other legs far enough above my cages that I can get in to work on them as needed. Blocks southern exposure and top and one side is against house, So plastic doesnt actually touch the quail. for shade cloth, i have some against cages and they cant really get hold of it thru the wire so never had an issue.