sq ft per bird

[MCM37]

i know that it is 1 sq ft per adult bird but up until the birds are 4 wks old how much do they need each?
oh ya and how do u store your eggs before incubating.

 

[JJMR794]

Coturnix 1sq Ft Per Bird
New World Quail ( Bobs, Valleys, Gambels, Etc..) 2 Sq Ft Per Bird

The General Rules Are Lifetime Rules And More Of Guideline Really

 

[MCM37]

so even on the chicks?? i did not realize they needed so much room..

 

[tuesdays chicks]

I don't think jj understood, or its different for quail then chickens I would like to know this too, I know what you mean how big do you need the brooder, I only had a 2x3 plastic box for my 5 chicken chicks, which all turned out being bantam chicks was wondering why they didn't seem to be growing big thought I was doing something wrong lol. how old are they before you move them out from under a heat lamp they mature quicker then chickens.

 

[Rozzie]

You can put a few chicks in a Rubbermaid tub. You'll need to move them as they grow, of course.

The space guidelines are just guidelines. You'll see people who cram birds into much smaller spaces than 1 square foot each (coturnix). Most of those folks plan to butcher their birds - they won't have a long life in a small area.

Then, you have crazy whacked out people like me who have small layer flocks of coturnix quail on pine shavings with 4 square foot per bird. Could they do with less? Sure. However, they are AWFULLY happy and doing tremendously well with that amount of space.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

MCM your 2x4 brooder is fine for your 40 Jumbo C. chicks. Around 3-4 weeks you will see they are feathering out nicely and you can move them to the grow out pen.

In the summer I put my babies at 10 days old out in the grow out pen with a light for heat at night only . Now I am going to make a 2x4 brooder box for my hatch, then they will get moved to the grow out pen will a light if need be.

As long as you can run an extention cord with a light for at night to your big grow out pen, don't worry about it. You have it covered.

edited to add: I think if I had a 4x10, I would divide it down the middle lengthwise and put maybe 3 doors on each side down the length. Just an idea. Or make separate breeder cages on and end.

 

[MCM37]

ya i got a 4 x 10 pen and i put bid 2.5ft doors on both ends and i put a wall going width way to make a 7x4 growing pen and a 3x4 breed pen and i figure i can get started with that.. thank you for your help an dclearing that up.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
OOPS SORRY THAT WAS DURING MORNING COFFEE

LOL-- AS BABIES THEY DO FINE WITH SMALLER SPACES, AS JUVENILES THEY WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THEY ARE CRAMPED (PICKING AND BULLYING BEGIN) I ACTUALLY BROOD ALL MINE IN THE STERILITE PLASTIC TOTES WITH NO PROBLEMS.... I HOUSE AS MANY AS 2 DOZEN IN THE LARGEST TOTES FOR UP TO 4 WKS OR SO WITH NO COMPLICATIONS OTHER THAN FREQ CLEANING

 

[JJMR794]

As Far As Storing Eggs I Keep Them On The Counter (house Stays 72 Degrees In Warm Months, 65 In Cold Months)in A Spare Autoturner. You'll Find Best Results On Eggs 3-8 Days Old. On Or About Day 10 Hatchability Starts To Take A Nose Dive Really Quick. Hatchability Actually Improves With At Least 48hrs Of Storage. Weird I Know, But I Didnt Design Them

 

[_Randall_]

Like JJMR said, Bobs need space......as much as possible. Sometimes I wonder if the Superdome would be big enough for two Bobs that are just mad about being alive.....

Anyway, right now, I've got 84 Bobs six-weeks-old in a 3'x9' pen! Yep, I know it's the exception, and not the rule. But, all of my grow-out pens are full of ones I'm about to process, and some I'm gonna keep for next year's re-producers. So far, I've been lucky and only lost 1 bird, as they went in there at 2-1/2 weeks old. It's gettin' pretty crowded in there now though, and they will go to a grow-out pen this weekend when I process about 50 or so grown birds. Here's a pic of them at about 4 wks....