Questions on Coturnix Quail during winter!!

[TinaandJohnny]

Hey all! So this is my first post and I’m posting with some questions that maybe everyone can chime in and give me some input. I’ve never had quail before but I hatched them myself and I love them all dearly. I was very excited when they started laying. It is warm weather here but winter is coming. I know that quail slow down on the egg production in the winter months.
Is there any way to keep them laying during the winter months? Lights? Insulate the enclosure? Any ideas, please let me know.
Another question I had was, how to extend a quail lifespan out as long as possible? I want my quail to live long, heathy, happy lives.
Thanks!

 

[QuailTail]

Welcome to the forum!

Lights will extend their laying time, but the more they lay, the shorter their lives... so you'll need to decide which you want to go with because unfortunately you can't have both!

It also depends on where abouts you are in the world - I'm in the southern hemisphere so my quail slowed down but continued laying all through the winter we've just had. If you're in a super cold climate or somewhere where there's dramatically less daylight hours during winter then yours will likely stop altogether and pick up again in the Spring

 

[TinaandJohnny]

Welcome to the forum!

Lights will extend their laying time, but the more they lay, the shorter their lives... so you'll need to decide which you want to go with because unfortunately you can't have both!

It also depends on where abouts you are in the world - I'm in the southern hemisphere so my quail slowed down but continued laying all through the winter we've just had. If you're in a super cold climate or somewhere where there's dramatically less daylight hours during winter then yours will likely stop altogether and pick up again in the Spring

Wow! That is good to know! I didn’t know that more eggs shortened their lives. Having long happy lives for them if way more important to me than eggs. I live in Oregon in the United States. We don’t get too cold of winters but we get snow, rain, fog and ice. The temperature can drop to about 20 degrees F at times though. Daylight drops usually to about 7-8 hours a day in the middle of winter. Should I keep them warm in some way?

 

[Nabiki]

If you give them at least 14 hours of light per day, they will keep laying. As stated earlier, it is a choice of more eggs or longer life. I'm in OR too, but I'm new here, so I'm going to be learning what the climate is really like.

 

[TinaandJohnny]

If you give them at least 14 hours of light per day, they will keep laying. As stated earlier, it is a choice of more eggs or longer life. I'm in OR too, but I'm new here, so I'm going to be learning what the climate is really like.

Thank you, it helped a lot!!

 

[QuailTail]

Wow! That is good to know! I didn’t know that more eggs shortened their lives. Having long happy lives for them if way more important to me than eggs. I live in Oregon in the United States. We don’t get too cold of winters but we get snow, rain, fog and ice. The temperature can drop to about 20 degrees F at times though. Daylight drops usually to about 7-8 hours a day in the middle of winter. Should I keep them warm in some way?

Yeah! They need that natural 3 month break to refuel and get ready to lay again - it's like working your whole life without a holiday, we'd die early as well!
It doesn't get even remotely that cold here, we have extremely mild winters as we're in a temperate climate, so I'm not sure about keeping them warm! I'd say as long as they have lots of nice warm bedding and aren't being directly snowed on then they should be okay? Definitely not an expert in that area, though!

 

[Nabiki]

Coturnix quail are very hardy. As long as they are dry and have shelter from wind, they can handle below freezing temperatures quite well. Make sure that their feet can stay warm so not on wire.

 

[Mischievous Little Chicks]

Hello! I have a question. My birds aren't exactly quails but I just wanted to ask how should I keep them warm during winters. I live in Pakistan and it doesn't get too cold but cold enough to wear a thin sweater. Please tell what I can do!

 

[Nabiki]

It depends on the type of bird. Coturnix quail are very cold hardy and can do quite well in below freezing temperatures if they are dry and have shelter. Button quail, on the other hand are tropical and don't do well in cool temperatures.

If you are worried, I would suggest small boxes that they can shelter in, and a heat lamp that will keep a corner of their pen warm.

 

[Mischievous Little Chicks]

It depends on the type of bird. Coturnix quail are very cold hardy and can do quite well in below freezing temperatures if they are dry and have shelter. Button quail, on the other hand are tropical and don't do well in cool temperatures.

If you are worried, I would suggest small boxes that they can shelter in, and a heat lamp that will keep a corner of their pen warm.

ok thank you!