What is the best way to brood quail??

[daze333]

I have hatched quail before and I tried it in a rubbermaid tub like chickens, but they kept flying out! Now I have 3 different bird cages to put them in, but then I wonder if a cage if warm enough to hold heat in from the heat lamp. Should I put them in a tub for the first couple of days or week, then into the cage? What do all of you do?

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Just use the tub, and make a cover

 

[FeatheredObsessions]

My larger quail....larger than chinese blue breasted..... are in a cage brooder I have. It has a metal floor and 1/4 in hardware cloth walls and ceiling. I have removable "walls" that are inserted on the sides when the chicks are young. As they grow older I slowly remove the solid walls so they just have the wire walls.

 

[daze333]

Quote:
I did make a cover and every time I reached in to change water or food, then flew out the hole where my arm was.

 

[FeatheredObsessions]

On many of my cages I have the front that opens entirely for cleaning and then a very small door for feeding and capturing... maybe a smaller door?

 

[daze333]

Quote:
Here is the cage I was planning on using. The wires are 1/2 apart on center. Can they fit through this when little? I can line the bottom half with cardboard inside to keep warmer and keep them in. The heat lamp will hang from a roost.

Also I have chick waterers with rocks in it for water and a plate or whatever for a feeder. How do you get the big waterer in the larger door with out them getting out? Should I put some cover in the cage for them to hide under? Am I just being paranoid?

Thanks for your help!

 

[daze333]

PS These are supposed to be jumbo coturnix.

 

[daze333]

Sorry forgot the pic.

 

[FeatheredObsessions]

I don't know about the waterer.... I use rabbit water bottles for all my birds.

 

[FeatheredObsessions]

How many / How old are they? that cage seems small. Coturnix are ground birds and need ground are more than height. I don't use cover in the majority of my coturnix pens. The Valley and Bobs have more elaborate branches but they do use them.