Coturnix Quail, Button Quail, Chicks, Hens, Roosters, Egg, & More
Getting Started With Your Quail Chicks
What To Expect
You will need a variety of things before you get your chicks. These things are VERY important to make sure they grow and are happy and healthy
Chicks Will Need Heat!!!
Temps should be 95 degrees 1st week of life then drops 5 degrees until fully feathered (approx 6-8 weeks of age). Highly recommended to have a thermometer inside your brooder to make sure you are heating it enough. Heating can be obtained with a heat lamp or heating plate. We do not recommend using a heating pad as it could burn their little feet.
Chicks Will Need A House
Large size bins can be used as brooders for the first 2-4 weeks of life depending on the amount of birds you have and how big your bin is. Very inexpensive way to house chicks until you have a cage ready for them. Cut lid in the center and apply 1/2" wire mesh with rivets, set heat lamp on top of wire and turn on. Or place your heating plate inside the bin and put lid on.
Chick Brooder Flooring
Your new babies will need flooring in their new home. Paper towels & puppy pads work best. We recommend changing these out at the min of once a day for the first few weeks. Changing the paper towels/puppy pads at least once a day is so they don't get poop build up on their feet. Then change to pine shavings
They Need To Eat & Drink Water
When it comes to choosing the type of waterier as there are so many of them to choose from, Make sure you chose one with a shallow bottom. If you can not find one with a shallow bottom you can put small rocks, pebbles in there so they don't drowned.
We recommend using a Gamebird/Snowbird NON-MEDICATED crumble feed. This can be found at most feed stores in town. Depending on how big the crumble is you may have to grind it up just a little do the babies don't choke on the big pieces just for the first week or so.
Fully Feathered Quail
Once your then baby quail are now fully feathered and ready to be moved out of the heat they will need a new home. There are a variety of options available weather you buy a cage or build your own. A few options would include a greenhouse turned into an aviary, A rabbit hutch (indoor/outdoor) which will need to be modified just a little ( 1/2" wire mesh above the pull out trays ), A bird cage which will also have to be somewhat modified ( to make sure they can not squeeze through the wire sides, Smaller chicken coop, Build your own out of wood, And last but not least Hatching Time Quail cages (indoor ie; garage,shed,house). Which ever option you decide to do make sure the height is a min of 2 feet tall. Quail can fly straight up and hit there heads and possibly die from the damage.