What is the best way to brood quail??

[daze333]

I have 85 shipped eggs in the hatcher. 10 have hatched today so far. This will be a brooder only. Until they can go outside. How old until they can go outside?

 

[daze333]

Thank you for your help and ideas! I lined the lower half and bottom of the cage with cardboard, then put down paper towels and corn cob bedding, heat lamp, food and water etc. I have 17 hatched now and they are doing fine in there. I am sure it wont last for too long as they grow, but it works for now.

 

[JJMR794]

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.

WELCOME TO QUAIL.... THATS A COMMON BEHAVIOR WHICH ALSO STARTS QUITE YOUNG

 

[Rainwolf]

Heya Daze! long time no see!

here is what I find works best for me. Depending on how many babies you have you may want to adjust the size. I use Clear totes I used to use for storage in the basement. It is easy to clean and easy to put away when not using as a brooder. (I have about 10 of these totes and about 5 lids since I rarely use more then 5 at a time) I keep a clean stack of totes with bedding all ready to go. To clean I just move babies, food and water to new tote. and take the dirties outside to compost and clean.

The lids use real wire screen nothing with plastic, that way you can place the light directly on the top.
I line the edge of the cut out hole with tape to soften the sharp edges.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
X2 EXCEPT I HAVE THE SLIGHTLY BIGGER TOTES.... ABOUT 45 OR SO OF THEM.

 

[Rainwolf]

I keep mine inside for the first 2 weeks then they go to a outside enclosed brooder for another 2 weeks then a wire floor "brooder" cage for 2 weeks then into the big pen since at 6 weeks they should be big enough to play with the adults and not get clobbered. But I hatch coturinx all the time so the stages helps me not have to many in one place/cage!

Welcome to the world of Quails!

trick to heat for the babies... watch them... they grow so fast that you need to watch for when they are to hot and reduce heat.
and if they pile they are too cold. start at 95F and reduce as they spread out away from the light/heat to sleep.

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:
X2 EXCEPT I HAVE THE SLIGHTLY BIGGER TOTES.... ABOUT 45 OR SO OF THEM.

yes well I'm a urban farmer with just a little space

I have a big yard for a city slicker so have more then the norm urban farmer but nothin like your farm.

 

[JJMR794]

Its Not So Much Space More Convienience Than Anything Really As The More Totes I Have The Longer I Can Go Without Cleaning Them

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:

Procrastination eh?

 

[daze333]

Thanks for all the advice!!

Rainwolf-do we know each other? (I have a bad memory!)
Also how do you catch them all to switch to the new bin without them flying out the lid where your arm is? Or do you just keep a net handy?