Raising quail in the winter

[VickieB57]

I'm raising my Coturnix Jumbo Brown quail in stacked rabbit cages outside. I had planned on hatching some more eggs and raising the chicks for meat, but now that it has turned cold I'm wondering if that can be done with chicks in the cages. Do any of you successfully raise the chicks outdoors in the winter in wire cages?

 

[TwoCrows]

Where are you located? Unless you are in southern Florida or southern CA, cages won't due for raising chicks. The drafts will kill them. If you must raise them outside, you will need to do it in a barn, shed or garage that you can stop all wind, and heated to some degree. The brooder as well will need to have completely solid walls and floors. Circular brooders work the best to stop drafts. Lots of deep bedding...no wire floors. You will have to work with the heat get it to stay consistent throughout the night, which will be the time of greatest challenge.