Winter Care

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

How should I care for my bobs during winter?

Thanks

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Do they like the snow?

 

[Rozzie]

I'm not a Bobwhite keeper, but I'd guess it's pretty much like it is with Coturnix and chickens. Make sure they have a place to get out of the snow/cold -- some sort of shelter that they can get into. Bobwhites live in the wild in many places, even Wisconsin (though their range now only includes a portion of the state there.) If they can survive a Wisconsin winter, then they probably don't need a ton of fancy winter care.

My guess would be to make sure they have water that isn't frozen, provide them a dry, sheltered area out of the wind (perhaps line it with something like hay to insulate it - but only if the hay will stay dry!). Someone else will have to answer in regard to any nutritional needs/differences in the winter.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Thanks!!

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
Plenty of food...........make sure their water does not freeze..................keep'em dry.....................and have a place from them to get out of the wind. Other than that, if you wanna go a little further.........put'em some hay in their pen if it has a wire floor, but expect it to get matted with poop in a couple of days, depending on how many you have......... However, they fair well with just the wire floor in frigid temps.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Any other tips?

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
Send'em to Canola Lake or Kingsford Pit every chance you get to cut down on the maintenance.......

 

[Hooligan Farm]

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

NOW I get it!!! HAHA!!!

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I raised mine on the ground here in NC. They had areas to get out of the weather (actually old rural mailboxes) Plastic on one side to keep out the prevailing winds. I used clippings from Lowe's and tossed out Christmas trees to give them places where they could huddle if they wanted to. We had a LOT of snow last year and they did just fine.

I've always raised my Bobs on the ground. I'm working on a XL hoop coop with oneside to raise groups of babies and the other as a grow out/flight pen. Only small areas will be covered like now. Mother Nature takes care of most of my dirty work.