My quail are a week old now and eating/drinking well. When is it o.k. to put something other than paper towels in the brooder (large oval tub with top and light)? What do you suggest I use? Do little quail need a dusting box? Thanks - Any info. appreciated
Some people use shavings, sand or hay in the brooders. I always go for a wire floor. It is much more sanitary in that the floor not only stays dry, but the chicks will come in contact with much less poo as it falls out of reach of the babies. You can use a 1/4 hardware cloth till they are about 3 or so weeks old, then switch to 1/2 inch cloth. However the other things I mentioned will work. They do not NEED dusting pans until they are fully feathered, that being over 6 weeks of age, however the dusting pan may entertain them for a while.
Thanks for the information. I will get them on wire today. I thought they were too young for wire. I have seen it in some brooders but thought the chicks were so tiny their feet would fall through. Thanks Again - B.K. - SE Missouri
you dont HAVE to switch them to wire like the other member said. i'v raised mine on larger shavings (top bedding(green)) too large to digest but small enough to absorb the duties at hand.... i;v been at it for years with a few hundred hatches of quail under my belt( no im not an expert or some big time breeder just a hobby) and can say as long as the shavings are not FINE cut you should be fine. some like newspaper better until of age and others like wire cloth so they dont have to clean at all. i enjoy the smell of fresh shavings and i think my birds like the shaving under their toes rather than hard wire. just understand that IT CAN HAPPEN a chick CAN digest shavings and it CAN impact and kill a chick. i have NEVER had this happen with ANY of my birds. but certainly have seen it with reptiles on a number of occasions. more or less do what you want just be aware!
I wouldn't keep chicks on wire, their legs aren't strong enough. I keep them on pine pellets or shavings for the first few weeks and then go to wire. They don't have to be on wire yet, but you'll want to soon. They like dustpans, but you don't have to have them. I put sand or dirt mixed with DE in them.
