What did I DO?!?

[Tegan]

I have 120 eggs going into lock down tonight. I have a brooder that holds maybe 25 comfortably for a few weeks....

Right now I have 9 adult(ish) birds in it....

I think I need a bigger box. Oops!

 

[karlwakim]

Build one. Just get a big box and put a heat lamp in it. You don't need a thermostat, the quail will sit where they feel comfortable.

 

[Tegan]

Heheh yeah that's my plan. I just need to run to the hardware store tonight. I have a tarp I can put down, just need 4 walls high enough to keep them in until they feather out and start to fly. Have plenty of lamps and such.

Quail math added up faster then I thought it would is all. Heheh.

 

[Julbrod]

Some people just use the big plastic tubs with the lids. They cut out a big section of the lid and duct tape on some wire, put a heat lamp on and you're done.

 

[Tegan]

That's what I did for my first one, but I've still got some adults in there since the weather is still screwy and I don't want to move them outside yet. Plus that thing only held 20 chicks MAX...I have up to 119 hatching very soon. I ended up going with a BIG kiddy pool. By the time these guys feather out enough to jump or fly high enough to get out of it the weather SHOULD be warm enough to move them outside.....worse case I'll just raise the sides with cardboard hehe.

 

[James the Bald]

At one point, I think everyone has made this error. For the first 2 weeks, each chick needs about 2.5 square inches. I had built a 24" x 24" brooder, which was good for 10 chicks for their first 2 weeks. Then, like you, I realized my error and overnight I built a 2.5' x 5' brooder. Now, I use my smaller brooder to separate the roos from hens.
James

 

[Julbrod]

That's what I did for my first one, but I've still got some adults in there since the weather is still screwy and I don't want to move them outside yet. Plus that thing only held 20 chicks MAX...I have up to 119 hatching very soon. I ended up going with a BIG kiddy pool. By the time these guys feather out enough to jump or fly high enough to get out of it the weather SHOULD be warm enough to move them outside.....worse case I'll just raise the sides with cardboard hehe.

That's alot of chickies! Can you put an ad on craig's list with a cute picture of some of your chicks and unload them fast? I've had good luck this way. I've given some away to make room also.

 

[Tegan]

That's alot of chickies! Can you put an ad on craig's list with a cute picture of some of your chicks and unload them fast? I've had good luck this way. I've given some away to make room also.

I would if I didn't want to eat them all! LOL. I got this batch of eggs to help fill the freezer with quail meat. I have enough room for them once they get big enough and feathered enough they don't need a heat source.....I just kinda "duh'd" out on the before hand part! Hehehe.... I've got it well taken care of now though, plenty of room for everyone!

 

[Julbrod]

That's good to hear. I think a lot of us have done the same thing!