Will they be safe from freezing tonight?

[Celeste Cannon]

Hello, I have three 4 1/2 week old quails that I’ve moved outside tonight and I’m a little worried about them freezing. They’ve got all their feathers and are living in a small rabbit hutch. I’m in southern Cali so the lowest it’s gonna get is 55 Fahrenheit but I just want to check if they’ll be alright

 

[Tamdog]

Is it raining there? How many quail are there? The more babies there are the warmer they will keep each other. I put some ( 6) chickens out at 4 1/2 weeks when it was 50* but they were in a small wooden coop box with lots of shavings I went out about 11 o clock at night and put a VERY large vinegar bottle filled with 140* water wrapped in a towel and secured - pushed it right up to all the pine shavings to create a secure nest. That morning about 5:30 Am when it was the coldest -before dawn I put in a fresh warm bottle and took out the cold bottle. Mine were fine- but maybe someone who knows Quail will jump onto this post and have a better answer specifically for quail. If it is going to worry you and you cant sleep sometimes it is best to let them go to sleep, slide out there and pick them up but them in a box to take back in for the night. Good luck

 

[Celeste Cannon]

Is it raining there? How many quail are there? The more babies there are the warmer they will keep each other. I put some ( 6) chickens out at 4 1/2 weeks when it was 50* but they were in a small wooden coop box with lots of shavings I went out about 11 o clock at night and put a VERY large vinegar bottle filled with 140* water wrapped in a towel and secured - pushed it right up to all the pine shavings to create a secure nest. That morning about 5:30 Am when it was the coldest -before dawn I put in a fresh warm bottle and took out the cold bottle. Mine were fine- but maybe someone who knows Quail will jump onto this post and have a better answer specifically for quail. If it is going to worry you and you cant sleep sometimes it is best to let them go to sleep, slide out there and pick them up but them in a box to take back in for the night. Good luck

Not raining, and there’s 3. I’m constantly checking on them lol. They won’t go to the shielded area, they’re staying right at the fencing

 

[Tamdog]

Not raining, and there’s 3. I’m constantly checking on them lol. They won’t go to the shielded area, they’re staying right at the fencing

hum, that is not enough chicks for them to create much combined body heat, and if they will not take shelter I would bring them in. Might help you to tell yourself that it is only one night- maybe it will be a bit warmer tomorrow night and you can try again. If you do not have anything set up maybe put them in a laundry basket to sleep.

 

[Celeste Cannon]

hum, that is not enough chicks for them to create much combined body heat, and if they will not take shelter I would bring them in. Might help you to tell yourself that it is only one night- maybe it will be a bit warmer tomorrow night and you can try again. If you do not have anything set up maybe put them in a laundry basket to sleep.

Ok I brought them back in. They seemed cold when I did I feel bad . This is what they look like btw! Very cute just thought I’d share

 

[Tamdog]

How cute. I use to paint farms scenes on quail eggs. I still have a dozen ones I did not paint - I hated to get rid of them because they are so small and cute. The hutch I am keeping my baby chicks looks like that only a bit bigger. What we do is grab the babies after dark when they are all asleep- toss them into the indoor area and put a board held in place with a rock across the door to keep them in til morning. - on cold nights make sure there is plenty of bedding and push a warm water bottle up against the bedding to hold it in place like a nest so they do not move around at night and strow it all over the floor- if there is no wall between the screened area and the covered area maybe slide a cardboard box with tall sides into the enclosed area. Cut the front out on the door side so you can open it and set it up- if there is a small place they can squeeze out of to go into the fenced area in the morning that is good too. The trick is to figure out how to get a place they can cozy up in when they are cold. Hope this helps at this point I am guessing at everything. : )

 

[Celeste Cannon]

How cute. I use to paint farms scenes on quail eggs. I still have a dozen ones I did not paint - I hated to get rid of them because they are so small and cute. The hutch I am keeping my baby chicks looks like that only a bit bigger. What we do is grab the babies after dark when they are all asleep- toss them into the indoor area and put a board held in place with a rock across the door to keep them in til morning. - on cold nights make sure there is plenty of bedding and push a warm water bottle up against the bedding to hold it in place like a nest so they do not move around at night and strow it all over the floor- if there is no wall between the screened area and the covered area maybe slide a cardboard box with tall sides into the enclosed area. Cut the front out on the door side so you can open it and set it up- if there is a small place they can squeeze out of to go into the fenced area in the morning that is good too. The trick is to figure out how to get a place they can cozy up in when they are cold. Hope this helps at this point I am guessing at everything. : )

The paintings sound so cool! I’ve never heard of that. I’ve been moving them in at night, they turn 5 weeks old tomorrow and the lowest temp tonight will be 57, still too cold?

 

[Tamdog]

The paintings sound so cool! I’ve never heard of that. I’ve been moving them in at night, they turn 5 weeks old tomorrow and the lowest temp tonight will be 57, still too cold?

I will see if I can round up one or two that I have painted and take photos. My eyes are not good enough to want to paint something that small anymore.