Quick! I'm getting 20 Coturnix quail chicks... INFO!

Ruby Rogue

Free Ranging
Mar 31, 2020
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Atlantic Canada
It is irresponsible to buy animals on a whim, without knowledge of the species, so I quickly need as much information as I can get without having to do research.

How much space will they need grown? (I have the resources to make this happen)

How much space do they need in the brooder? (They are a week old)

What should the temperature in the brooder be?

I buy game bird feed, quail, turkey, guinea, yes? What should the protein content be?

What else do I feed them? Nothing? Vitamins?

Is there an easy way to sex week old quail? Might I be getting a flock of all males?

How old will they be when they are ready to process the males, lay eggs for the females.

Any other useful information that I wouldn't already know from raising chicks and chickens, thank you.
 
Here's a pic...are they sex linked or anything like that? I'd like to get mostly females.
 

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As far as I know a week is going to be too early to sex them, you will almost certainly have too many roosters with 20 chicks. You will have to cull/ remove some otherwise there will be problems. I've had some begin to get pretty feisty at 6 weeks. I bought them as a straight run like yourself and had 23 males and 2 females.
 
It is irresponsible to buy animals on a whim, without knowledge of the species, so I quickly need as much information as I can get without having to do research.

How much space will they need grown? (I have the resources to make this happen)

How much space do they need in the brooder? (They are a week old)

What should the temperature in the brooder be?

I buy game bird feed, quail, turkey, guinea, yes? What should the protein content be?

What else do I feed them? Nothing? Vitamins?

Is there an easy way to sex week old quail? Might I be getting a flock of all males?

How old will they be when they are ready to process the males, lay eggs for the females.

Any other useful information that I wouldn't already know from raising chicks and chickens, thank you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...asics-information-and-pictures-galore.102281/ hope all this info helps
 
At 6-8 weeks old you can start sexing. Hold them gently but securely and look down at their vent. Press gently on the top. If there is foam it is male. But I dont immediately cull be cause of a hen has just been bred with. They can show foam too a little.

Chicks need around 30% protein until around 5 weeks. Then I slowly wean to 16%.

Hens will need extra calcium.

On the bright side they are very easy to butcher.

I don't recommend just keeping a batchlor flock. They'll still tear each other up a bit.
 
This is the care sheet that I give people when they get quail from me.
Coturnix basic care sheet

For new chicks less than 2 weeks old:

Housing:


Chicks will need to be kept in a brooder until about 3 weeks of age. There should be a warm side and a cool side. Keep the temperature between 85-95 degrees in the warm side. The younger the chicks, the higher the temperature they need. If they huddle together, they are cold and the temperature needs to be raised. If they are laying stretched out or panting, they are hot and the temperature needs to be lowered.

Food:

Chicks need a feed with around 28% protein. The amount of protein can be lowered once they are over 8 weeks old. The feed needs to be fine enough for them to eat. They should always have fresh water.

For adult birds:

Housing:


Coturnix quail are quite hardy and can handle freezing temperatures as long as they are dry and have shelter (boxes or some type of small container works). The minimum amount of space is one square foot per bird, but more is better. Remember to subtract the space taken up by food and water from their living space. They are ground birds and are happiest on the ground. If you give them a wire bottom hutch, make sure they have boxes of dirt for baths and to rest their feet.

Food:

Quail thrive on high protein food of around 28%, but can go as low as 20% once they are fully grown. Adult hens will need calcium either offered on the side or part of their feed. If it is offered on the side, it must be ground small enough for them to eat easily. If it is part of their feed, it should be about 3.5% calcium.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

 

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