Repost as I never got a response

[Jus1]

It's been a while since I've had any questions, but I have 2 now. We are getting ready to get into bitter negative degrees temps and we just went ahead and brought all our jumbo coturnix quail back into the house. Even though they have a hutch and a place to get out of the wind, I just felt that was too much. 1st question, was this the right move or did I add undue stress to them? 2nd question. We have only 1 male we saved and 6 females. We decided to thin them out to a more manageable number. The male no longer crows and hasn't for maybe 2 months. Is this normal if there are no other males, is it a winter thing, or completely NOT normal at all?

 

[sourland]

The not crowing is very likely a seasonal thing. The only problem with bringing them inside is that you will be unable to put them back outside until temperatures moderate significantly.

 

[le_bwah]

My response from your other ask:

1. I've heard of people moving them inside during sub-zero temps. The stress of moving might be worth avoiding the stress of the cold. And unless you're inducing them with extra light, it's not like they're going to be thrown off laying.
2. Roos get quiet when daylight gets short—a normal winter thing.

 

[Jus1]

The not crowing is very likely a seasonal thing. The only problem with bringing them inside is that you will be unable to put them back outside until temperatures moderate significantly.

It will actually be warming back up after this cold snap. It will be warmer than what it was, almost in the 60s

 

[Jus1]

My response from your other ask:

1. I've heard of people moving them inside during sub-zero temps. The stress of moving might be worth avoiding the stress of the cold. And unless you're inducing them with extra light, it's not like they're going to be thrown off laying.
2. Roos get quiet when daylight gets short—a normal winter thing.

So I should have left them in that kind of cold? I probably should have asked before I did so, but I was just worried about them. I have NOT kept any light on them to keep them laying. It's not something I personally want to do. They will have winter breaks

 

[MissChick@dee]

From 60*s to sub-zero is a freakish swing in temperatures. If you’re only keeping them in for the “cold snap” then there shouldn’t be much of a acclamation period. When the temperature drops 60 degrees you’re probably right in bringing them in. Smaller animals tend not to do well in drastic drops. Where do you live?

 

[Jus1]

From 60*s to sub-zero is a freakish swing in temperatures. If you’re only keeping them in for the “cold snap” then there shouldn’t be much of a acclamation period. When the temperature drops 60 degrees you’re probably right in bringing them in. Smaller animals tend not to do well in drastic drops. Where do you live?

TN. The wind is what is going to drop us in the negative. Yes this is a drastic change and why I was so worried about them

 

[bobbi-j]

TN. The wind is what is going to drop us in the negative. Yes this is a drastic change and why I was so worried about them

Do they not have protection from the wind? If they do, then windchill should not affect them. I don't know quail, so I don't know what kind of temps would be dangerous for them. I am currently dealing with chickens and horses in temps in the negative 20's and 30's for the next couple of days. Windchills will be in the negative 50's to 60's.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I see...I don’t have quail. And I’m not seeing sub zero temps in your weather screen shots. I keep chickens and we’ve had a couple weeks of nighttime temperatures at 0* and daytime highs of 14* I’ve trarped my run. It keeps it dry and blocks the frigid winds. There are some weather proofing measures you can take to make it more comfortable. I don’t know why I waited until this year to enclose my run with tarps they are wonderful they truly make a huge huge difference. I don’t know your set up perhaps just bringing them in overnight dunno. I make my chickens as comfortable as possible but they winter outside. If I had a cold snap where it truly did dip 60* degrees and left me with -30* I’d bring them in the garage I suppose.

 

[Jus1]

Do they not have protection from the wind? If they do, then windchill should not affect them. I don't know quail, so I don't know what kind of temps would be dangerous for them. I am currently dealing with chickens and horses in temps in the negative 20's and 30's for the next couple of days. Windchills will be in the negative 50's to 60's.

Yes they have a hutch. I will attach a picture. Where they are inside is their sand box area. There are 2 sides to the hutch. The picture is when we 1st introduced them into it, it's not common for them to all gather inside. They tend to stay outside for some reason, even during the cold. Again, this is why I was so concerned for them. They only go in there when I give them mealworms