Young quail and the cold

[ecogen]

I am trying to decide if end of August is late to hatch cortunix quail and have them old enough to handle a TN winter. I plan on having them in a well built hutch-type aviary without lights (although I could add if needed). Alternatively, I could wait until spring but would like some adults birds to hit the ground running with some early eggs. Thoughts/suggestions? Thanks.

 

[citalk2much]

As they are full grown in 6 weeks I think they will be fine

 

[farrier!]

I am getting eggs this week....

 

[monarc23]

I'm up north of you here in PA (and on the top of a mt in the woods none the less), I'm still hatching and will hatch until my birds stop laying. I leave them in their brooder this time of the year until they are 2 weeks old then they go out in nonheated grow out wire pens. When it's colder I wait until they are fully feathered out to move them to the grow out pens which is normally around 3 1/2 to 4 weeks old

Then in the middle of winter when i do hatch (yep..

). 5 1/2 to 6 weeks old is when they go out becuase I throw them right in with the adults so they need to be of age to deal with grumpy adults and plus that way they have them to cuddle with.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:

I do this too! I'm still hatching... will probably hatch a few eggs here and there all winter depending on the need.

 

[ecogen]

Great information and thanks.

Do you use a heating source (like a light, etc.) for outside adult birds during very cold nights? If so, what temperature do you turn it on at?

Thanks again.

 

[monarc23]

No heat lamp on my wire pens I just give them shelter and tarp the entire enclosure up on really cold days nights which is almost every day and night in the winter

I really watch the weather and make sure they always have water that's not frozen

My coturnix barely ever use their shelter to get out of the elements which is why i tarp the entire thing

 

[monarc23]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Quote:

I do this too! I'm still hatching... will probably hatch a few eggs here and there all winter depending on the need.

yep i got some colors im working on that im planning to work on in the winter as well still no meaties here but we'll see

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
What are your coldest temperatures like? I moved mine into the breeders coop last year so they were at least inside, even though it was only about 10°F in there when it was -35°F outside. A friend of mine said she left hers outside like you do all winter with only a box of hay to snuggle into... no extra heat, and maybe only some canvas or tarp over the wire front. I don't have room indoors anymore, so I'll leave mine outside with a box of hay and tarp too. I use the soda bottle waterers, and just change them out 3-4 times a day, when they freeze up. I might keep a couple of breeders of each color indoors, just in case... our garage is heated to about 60°F all winter because of the furnace.

 

[monarc23]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Quote:
What are your coldest temperatures like? I moved mine into the breeders coop last year so they were at least inside, even though it was only about 10°F in there when it was -35°F outside. A friend of mine said she left hers outside like you do all winter with only a box of hay to snuggle into... no extra heat, and maybe only some canvas or tarp over the wire front. I don't have room indoors anymore, so I'll leave mine outside with a box of hay and tarp too. I use the soda bottle waterers, and just change them out 3-4 times a day, when they freeze up. I might keep a couple of breeders of each color indoors, just in case... our garage is heated to about 60°F all winter because of the furnace.

ooo your birdies are spoiled!!! hehe!!! But yes I can see why your friend doesn't have any issues with that sort of set up they have more benifits than chickens do without having waddles and combs to deal with

Alaskan winters are HARSH compaired to ours but I still do feel that just so drafts are kept to a minimum that they should be perfect a big ole box of hay for them to all snuggle in together with is more than they get here (though I may do that this winter just to make them more comfortable) they get a wooden dogbox type set up with just feed on the floor from my old rabbit hutch they're in

anywho we go into the negitives and our worst month is January but i assume that is for everyone? So cold when the coturnix are stupid and walk in tehir water and then walk on the wire they stick

luckly none have stuck perminantly lol but still that must suck.​