Finally feels like summer around here, got a heat wave this week that made both me and the birds a little hot. Not too much activity this summer with the quail, no hatches, no loses, just collecting eggs and maintaining. It’s nice when a system gets to the point where you can run it on auto-pilot and the weather has helped.
So speaking of the heat, just a couple of friendly reminders. I have positioned my cage so that it is under a large pine tree. This provides all day shade in the summer and protection from cold winds and snow in the winter. The other key is that the cage is open (wire mesh) on two sides and the bottom to allow good airflow. Finally make sure your birds have fresh clean water available all the time and replace it twice a day on hot days.
Trying to decide what to do this fall. Just thinking out loud, I will probably get some outside eggs to hatch and retire a couple of hens. I need to get on that soon so they have time to mature before the weather changes. How about you, what are you bird related plans for the fall?
I want to learn how to keep quails
Check out the various post on this site and feel free to ask any specific questions.
I have been reading and asking the old timers about quail I know not to just throw the quail out of the broader into the cold but what I need to know is how to transition them from the broader to a cage in the colder months. I have an aviary that I use to raise birds in that I have adapted for the quail I have storm windows and plastic on it in winter I have wooden boxes and sand shavings and hay throughout. But how do I move the young from the broader to the pens or is it possible?
First don’t do anything until the birds are fully feather.
Then try to find a way to slowly adapt them to the cold. Lower the brooder temp over several days until they are good without the extra heat.
Then if you have a porch or garage to move them into use that to transition them further.
If your night time temps are already close to or below freezing, consider bringing them back inside at night and back out during the day for about a week.
I’m thinking about getting some quail I have 2 chicken coops in my yard that are not being used. DO you think I can convert the for the quail. They have an enclosure and a covered area, but It’s not entirely covered. Would they fly out? the fence is about 4 feet high. What are your thoughts?
Yes the would most likley fly out never to be seen again. If you could enclose that opening somehow then should work fine. They are very adaptable and any coop that protects from predators would work.