Should I brood Gambel's Quail chicks in Arizona?

[SilverQuail026]

So, I'm a newbie who wants to raise quail, and I've come across a question for you more experienced people. I'm thinking of hatching a few Gambel's Quail, because I've grown up around them. By that, I mean that I live in their natural habitat (Arizona), where I see them running about every now and then. I read somewhere, that when the young hatch, the mother calls them from the nest almost immediately, and they go off to do their thing - which makes me wonder if brooding would be needed, instead of just keeping them outside, in a pen, with plenty of shade.

So, should I still keep the chicks in a brooder, or is it fine to let them stay outside for warmth? If it's fine for them to be outside, I would also think that they'd need somewhere to cool off, and obviously, plenty of water. Am I correct in thinking this? Or am I being a total newb. ^_^"

Thanks.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Aren't those Gambels adorable? We have them here too in our deserts. I just LOVE their calls and how they run around their little trails in single file, top knots bobbing. LOL

In the wild, Gambels breed during monsoon season and when it is really warm. So during the day they would not need brooding especially if it is roasting hot. But momma would gather them all up and keep them warm at night for a couple of weeks if it dropped below 90 or 95 at night.

Gambels need about 97 degrees to start and kept at this temp the first week. You would want to lower the temp by 5 degrees each week for a couple of weeks or until you reach your lowest over night low temp.

Chicks do not have the ability to cool themselves off just as they cannot produce heat at such a young age. It takes about 8 weeks before chicks develop the ability to work their internal cooling and heating mechanisms. So you will need to provide a place to cool off it gets to 100 or more. These temps are brutal on chicks, hence the wait for monsoon season in the wild. So you will need to use fans on them, lightly mist them with water, offer up cool treats like watermelon, chopped cool fruits, and when they are over 4 weeks of age, you can put ice in their water fonts.

 

[nchls school]

So, I'm a newbie who wants to raise quail, and I've come across a question for you more experienced people. I'm thinking of hatching a few Gambel's Quail, because I've grown up around them. By that, I mean that I live in their natural habitat (Arizona), where I see them running about every now and then. I read somewhere, that when the young hatch, the mother calls them from the nest almost immediately, and they go off to do their thing - which makes me wonder if brooding would be needed, instead of just keeping them outside, in a pen, with plenty of shade.

So, should I still keep the chicks in a brooder, or is it fine to let them stay outside for warmth? If it's fine for them to be outside, I would also think that they'd need somewhere to cool off, and obviously, plenty of water. Am I correct in thinking this? Or am I being a total newb. ^_^"

Thanks.

In nature Gambels chicks stay with the hen until they are feathered enough to be on their own. Treat them like other quail-a brooder is needed to keep them at the right temperature. But there are some species where the chicks can fly upon hatching with no parental guidance needed after hatching so don't feel your question is, "new^_^".

 

[SilverQuail026]

Thanks to you both, so much!

I had completely forgotten that it gets cold at night. I'll be sure to follow your advice. ^v^

 

[CostaMesaQuail]

Welcome to BYC!

Aren't those Gambels adorable? We have them here too in our deserts. I just LOVE their calls and how they run around their little trails in single file, top knots bobbing. LOL

In the wild, Gambels breed during monsoon season and when it is really warm. So during the day they would not need brooding especially if it is roasting hot. But momma would gather them all up and keep them warm at night for a couple of weeks if it dropped below 90 or 95 at night.

Gambels need about 97 degrees to start and kept at this temp the first week. You would want to lower the temp by 5 degrees each week for a couple of weeks or until you reach your lowest over night low temp.

Chicks do not have the ability to cool themselves off just as they cannot produce heat at such a young age. It takes about 8 weeks before chicks develop the ability to work their internal cooling and heating mechanisms. So you will need to provide a place to cool off it gets to 100 or more. These temps are brutal on chicks, hence the wait for monsoon season in the wild. So you will need to use fans on them, lightly mist them with water, offer up cool treats like watermelon, chopped cool fruits, and when they are over 4 weeks of age, you can put ice in their water fonts.

Are you saying that Gambels need to be under a heat lamp for 8 weeks? I’m in over my head then! I have Cots hatching that are going to need the brooder! 8 weeks even when it’s warm? It’s mid 60’s at night here in SoCal.

 

[albinosilver]

Are you saying that Gambels need to be under a heat lamp for 8 weeks? I’m in over my head then! I have Cots hatching that are going to need the brooder! 8 weeks even when it’s warm? It’s mid 60’s at night here in SoCal.

Coturnix grow much faster than gambels. At 8 weeks they’d already be fully grown and laying eggs. In the hot summer, I only brooded my coturnix for about a week and they were fine indoors without additional heat.

 

[CostaMesaQuail]

Coturnix grow much faster than gambels. At 8 weeks they’d already be fully grown and laying eggs. In the hot summer, I only brooded my coturnix for about a week and they were fine indoors without additional heat.

Yeah I put my Coturnix outside with a lamp at 10 days. But Gambels I’m new at. Do they need a heat lamp for 8 weeks?

 

[albinosilver]

Yeah I put my Coturnix outside with a lamp at 10 days. But Gambels I’m new at. Do they need a heat lamp for 8 weeks?

I’d say use your best judgement based on the temperature, how feathered they look and how they’re behaving. I’ve never raised gambels either but I’ll be getting some bobs soon and I assume they’re similar being both new world quail. I will probably be brooding for at least 3 weeks or until they’re mostly feathered and it’s warm enough outside.