Quail coop planing

[MrsBrooke]

Okay, I'll get to researching! Thanks for the food type recommendations! I am just going to do chick starter that's 24 percent protein and just treat them with veggie scraps and mealworms each week to supplement their diet. I'm also deffinatly going to go to some local Mills and ask about grain! I never even thought about doing that!

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2003000200010

Here's some science. This article recommends 21-23%... Personally, I feel that's low. BUT! What do I know?

Good luck with your feed! I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Sounds like you're on the right track.

MrsB

 

[McDuff N Stuff]

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2003000200010

Here's some science. This article recommends 21-23%... Personally, I feel that's low. BUT! What do I know?

Good luck with your feed! I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Sounds like you're on the right track.

MrsB

Thank you Mrs. B! Well science is science I guess. I can't wait to share progress in a few months! Thanks again for so much awesome info!

 

[Sill]

I feed 26% turkey starter since it's readily available here. I spend the extra money for organic feed since my family eats the eggs and meat and I care what my family eats. I do supplement with greens, fermented feed, duck weed, clipped grass, dehydrated meal worms & BSF larvae, powdered moringa leaf, finely grated carrots/beets and plain yogurt. By supplement I mean only about 5-10% of their diet, the bulk of what they eat is their turkey starter. However they love their extras and practically tear off my hand to get to the food.

 

[MrsBrooke]

I'm back!

I wanted to share a few pictures with you, so you can see my brooder. It's nothing fancy, but it gets the job done... Although there IS something to be said for a brooder with a lid, since my chicks are now covered in feathers and are getting some hangtime when they popcorn in the air like they do. Very jumpy, flighty things.

Anyway! Without further adieu...



As you can see, I have taped two large moving boxes together. There's a "door," but you can't see it in this photo.




Here is a shot with the door... I taped all the edges and seams with clear packing tape, so there's nothing for them to peck at. This gives them a chance to get away from the heat lamp if they get too hot and stretch their legs a little. It also gives them enough space to grow without me having to move them to a larger area, which is stressful on everyone.

I blocked that entrance until they were all up and moving... I noticed that, being a day old, that if they wandered over to the other side, they would just kinda give up and start panic-peeping. They hadn't yet figured out the layout.

Super easy to clean, too. Put the babies in a shoe box with some shavings, carry the whole thing outside and dump the contents in the yard or trash or whatever. Make sure it's nice and clean, reload with shavings, and you are good to go again!

Here's a breakdown of what it took to put this together. All prices are ~$approx.

Quail hatching eggs - FREE (got them with some pullets we purchased)
Two large boxes - ~$5 at Lowes
Heat light - ~$26 for two bulbs (package)
Metal light socket - ~$10
Thermometer - FREE (already had one)
Chick waterer - ~$9 (glass jar is a large yogurt jar I had)
Chick feeder*** - ~$9
Pine shavings - ~$15 at Tractor Supply (lasts forEVER)
30# bag of turkey feed - ~$15-$20 at Livengood Feed Store (a local store here, your mileage may vary - also lasts FOREVER)
Big, disposable plate of dirt from my backyard - FREE (I used a small mason jar lid when they were smaller, but they outgrew it and needed a larger sand box to play in!)
Joy of having baby peeps running around - PRICELESS

*** When I first put the feeder in the brooder, it had a glass jar screwed in for gravity feed. The feeder capacity was larger than the jar, so the jar was emptied immediately when I flipped it over... I soon discovered that the quail would climb INTO the feeder and get stuck up in the jar... I removed the jar and just have the open feeder now. It works much better, and no more trapped babies!!!

There you have it. This set up can also be used for chickens. You would need the make the "door" a little larger and consider adding a few more boxes (but confine them to the heated box only for the first few days gradually opening up the other boxes as they grow).

Hope to hear lots of great quail stories from you!

MrsB

PS - I noticed that they kicked shavings into their water and pooped in it, too. Since I'm at work for eight hours, I shudder to think how soon their water got dirty after I put it down. Problem solver that I am, I placed a mason jar lid ring under the waterer (there was a convenient indention on the bottom that just fit), and that lifted the waterer about .5" off the bottom of the brooder. It was just enough so they can't poop in it. They still manage to kick a few shavings in, but it's MUCH less than before, and the water stays clean-ish until I can get home and change it in the evening for them. It's "dirty," but not unsanitary.

Just sharing my learning curve with you!

 

[McDuff N Stuff]

I'm back! I wanted to share a few pictures with you, so you can see my brooder. It's nothing fancy, but it gets the job done... Although there IS something to be said for a brooder with a lid, since my chicks are now covered in feathers and are getting some hangtime when they popcorn in the air like they do. Very jumpy, flighty things. Anyway! Without further adieu... As you can see, I have taped two large moving boxes together. There's a "door," but you can't see it in this photo. Here is a shot with the door... I taped all the edges and seams with clear packing tape, so there's nothing for them to peck at. This gives them a chance to get away from the heat lamp if they get too hot and stretch their legs a little. It also gives them enough space to grow without me having to move them to a larger area, which is stressful on everyone. I blocked that entrance until they were all up and moving... I noticed that, being a day old, that if they wandered over to the other side, they would just kinda give up and start panic-peeping. They hadn't yet figured out the layout. Super easy to clean, too. Put the babies in a shoe box with some shavings, carry the whole thing outside and dump the contents in the yard or trash or whatever. Make sure it's nice and clean, reload with shavings, and you are good to go again! Here's a breakdown of what it took to put this together. All prices are ~$approx. Quail hatching eggs - FREE (got them with some pullets we purchased) Two large boxes - ~$5 at Lowes Heat light - ~$26 for two bulbs (package) Metal light socket - ~$10 Thermometer - FREE (already had one) Chick waterer - ~$9 (glass jar is a large yogurt jar I had) Chick feeder*** - ~$9 Pine shavings - ~$15 at Tractor Supply (lasts forEVER) 30# bag of turkey feed - ~$15-$20 at Livengood Feed Store (a local store here, your mileage may vary - also lasts FOREVER) Big, disposable plate of dirt from my backyard - FREE (I used a small mason jar lid when they were smaller, but they outgrew it and needed a larger sand box to play in!) Joy of having baby peeps running around - PRICELESS *** When I first put the feeder in the brooder, it had a glass jar screwed in for gravity feed. The feeder capacity was larger than the jar, so the jar was emptied immediately when I flipped it over... I soon discovered that the quail would climb INTO the feeder and get stuck up in the jar... I removed the jar and just have the open feeder now. It works much better, and no more trapped babies!!! There you have it. This set up can also be used for chickens. You would need the make the "door" a little larger and consider adding a few more boxes (but confine them to the heated box only for the first few days gradually opening up the other boxes as they grow). Hope to hear lots of great quail stories from you! MrsB PS - I noticed that they kicked shavings into their water and pooped in it, too. Since I'm at work for eight hours, I shudder to think how soon their water got dirty after I put it down. Problem solver that I am, I placed a mason jar lid ring under the waterer (there was a convenient indention on the bottom that just fit), and that lifted the waterer about .5" off the bottom of the brooder. It was just enough so they can't poop in it. They still manage to kick a few shavings in, but it's MUCH less than before, and the water stays clean-ish until I can get home and change it in the evening for them. It's "dirty," but not unsanitary. Just sharing my learning curve with you!

Thank you so much! It is much appreciated! I'm going to be ordering my eggs hopefully on Sunday! I'm really excited and nervous! I'll definitely follow your example for the brooder cause I don't think you can get much cheaper than that! Thanks for staying in tough and sharing too!!

 

[MrsBrooke]

I forgot to add - The only downside to the cardboard box approach is... It melts if you get it wet. Overturning the waterer could be disastrous and make everyone pretty unhappy.

You can mitigate this by lining the bottom with those plastic drawer liners. That will at least give you some time to employ damage control! These are good to have the first few days in the brooder on TOP of the shavings anyway, so the chicks learn what is food and what isn't. I took mine out on day 4, and the chicks pretty much ignored the shavings after pecking once or twice. The liners are very inexpensive, and you can find them almost anywhere. Putting that down will allow the chicks to have some grip (cardboard can be slippy, and spraddle leg is the devil), while separating them from the shavings.

Congrats on getting your eggs soon! I can't wait to see pictures.

MrsB

 

[Sill]

Since by a week or two of age they will be flying (yes flying) out of there get something to cover it. Plain window screen will work, or get some wire mesh. You won't want to accidentally step on a chick that flew out when you weren't aware.

Do you garden or know someone who does? Is there a community garden in your city? Used brooder bedding is perfect for the compost pile! Anyone that composts would be happy to use what you are now throwing in the trash and it will keep it out of the landfill.