YWoody
Chirping
- Jun 5, 2023
- 105
- 85
- 91
Hello, I'm just starting out with backyard Coturnix quail. (I wanted a small covey just for eggs & pets). I researched the heck out of this subject before starting.
Waiting on the shady side of my backyard is a sturdy outdoor Aviary w/ 1/2 inch wire hardware, submerged w/ wire floor & it's a virtual fortress.
I'll share my experience thus far & welcome any & all comments, tips, etc.
It's been a rocky start... majority of eggs shipped to me were either not fertile or damaged in shipment & not viable; then the NR 360 incubator's temp fluctuated CONSTANTLY despite location in closed office, closed windows & closed AC vents. (Tractor Supply said I had a bad unit & refunded my $ which did not help with the disappointment). I "autopsied" the unhatched eggs after 21 days & only one unhatched chick was somewhat developed.
In the end I had only 3 chicks, but they were beautiful & healthy & I was not giving up. I obtained 4 more chicks from local breeder that were only a few days younger than my chicks; so I now have 7 quail (2 of which I will give back to local breeder as I ended up with 3 roos).
Two of the chicks given me by this local breeder have crooked necks; and I've tried everything I've read to resolve this, w/only minimal improvement (assuming it's a nutritional issue & not a mutation as some have said); they still are getting poultry vitamins in their water & the 2 with crooked necks are eating & drinking normally & are not getting picked on.
Since getting off supplemental heat they've been in a large brooder in my garage; (my garage has 3 large skylights so they are used to the night/day changes). The temp in my garage is constant between 79-86 degrees. They are all healthy and happy, & at 5 weeks old they are more than ready to go out into the Aviary, however, I am so concerned about our high heat this time of year.
This forum has been a great help to me, as most of my questions were already posed by others, so this is the first time I've posted a question of my own...
There's been a lot of conversation about how young quail tolerate the cold, however not much to address the high heat we get in Tucson. Nighttime lows are now 63-68 degrees & Highs are currently 92-98 degrees; but it WILL get hotter! My aviary is open to breezes, protected on one side by a wall, & surrounded by mature plants. There are a few tuff grasses planted in the corners that are reported to be safe for Quail (can anyone provide names of other plants that are safe inside a quail aviary?). There is always some shade inside the aviary, & it's partially in sun until about 12-1pm at which point it's then completely shaded by a wall. I have a Govee thermometer sitting on the ground inside my aviary & in the hottest part of the day it has read up to 99 degrees!!
Question.... What can I do to help my quail survive the heat?
YWoody
Waiting on the shady side of my backyard is a sturdy outdoor Aviary w/ 1/2 inch wire hardware, submerged w/ wire floor & it's a virtual fortress.
I'll share my experience thus far & welcome any & all comments, tips, etc.
It's been a rocky start... majority of eggs shipped to me were either not fertile or damaged in shipment & not viable; then the NR 360 incubator's temp fluctuated CONSTANTLY despite location in closed office, closed windows & closed AC vents. (Tractor Supply said I had a bad unit & refunded my $ which did not help with the disappointment). I "autopsied" the unhatched eggs after 21 days & only one unhatched chick was somewhat developed.
In the end I had only 3 chicks, but they were beautiful & healthy & I was not giving up. I obtained 4 more chicks from local breeder that were only a few days younger than my chicks; so I now have 7 quail (2 of which I will give back to local breeder as I ended up with 3 roos).
Two of the chicks given me by this local breeder have crooked necks; and I've tried everything I've read to resolve this, w/only minimal improvement (assuming it's a nutritional issue & not a mutation as some have said); they still are getting poultry vitamins in their water & the 2 with crooked necks are eating & drinking normally & are not getting picked on.
Since getting off supplemental heat they've been in a large brooder in my garage; (my garage has 3 large skylights so they are used to the night/day changes). The temp in my garage is constant between 79-86 degrees. They are all healthy and happy, & at 5 weeks old they are more than ready to go out into the Aviary, however, I am so concerned about our high heat this time of year.
This forum has been a great help to me, as most of my questions were already posed by others, so this is the first time I've posted a question of my own...
There's been a lot of conversation about how young quail tolerate the cold, however not much to address the high heat we get in Tucson. Nighttime lows are now 63-68 degrees & Highs are currently 92-98 degrees; but it WILL get hotter! My aviary is open to breezes, protected on one side by a wall, & surrounded by mature plants. There are a few tuff grasses planted in the corners that are reported to be safe for Quail (can anyone provide names of other plants that are safe inside a quail aviary?). There is always some shade inside the aviary, & it's partially in sun until about 12-1pm at which point it's then completely shaded by a wall. I have a Govee thermometer sitting on the ground inside my aviary & in the hottest part of the day it has read up to 99 degrees!!
Question.... What can I do to help my quail survive the heat?
YWoody
