When to start a daytime nighttime schedule

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

So I have had my quail 5 days and I have kept a light on above them the entire time. They definitely know where their food and water is now. Is there a certain amount of time I need to keep a constant light source? I’ve read many conflicting opinions on the matter. Right now I have a camera setup on them so I can monitor them while I’m gone and they are running around at all hours. I’m wondering when I can turn the light off at night to get them to start getting in a daytime / nighttime cycle.

 

[Nabiki]

I keep mine on a normal day/night cycle from the beginning by using ceramic reptile heat emitters instead of a light bulb for heat. How old are they? If they are 5 days old, they still need heat, but they should be able to handle room temperatures by 2-3 weeks (depending on how feathered they are and their individual thermostats).

They will tell you if they're cold by huddling together or tell you that they're hot by spreading out and avoiding the heated side of your brooder.

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

They are 8 days old. I use a heating plate for warmth. The light above is just the ceiling light in my garage.

 

[Nabiki]

They are 8 days old. I use a heating plate for warmth. The light above is just the ceiling light in my garage.

Then by all means, give them a normal day/night cycle. They should have that from the start in my opinion.

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

I spoke with my shire farms too and they said to do it as well. They said leaving them in constant light can promote aggressive birds in some cases. So tonight in honor of daylight savings they now get to learn what the dark is lol.

 

[Nabiki]

I spoke with my shire farms too and they said to do it as well. They said leaving them in constant light can promote aggressive birds in some cases. So tonight in honor of daylight savings they now get to learn what the dark is lol.

Sleep deprivation is no joke. I get cranky when the neighbour's dog steals too much of my sleep, that's for sure.

 

[TheRealTimShady]

Yea keep them to normal “summer” light schedule. What I use to do is acting up white Christmas lights around my coops and put them on timers. I would have the lights come on from like 6am-10am and also 5pm to around 8pm. This trucks the quails into thinking that it’s summer time all year hence they will produce eggs all year around on a “summer” schedule. I got some old photos on here somewhere showing it all

It’s been probably 11 years since I had quails