Brooding
- After hatching, chicks can survive 48 hours without eating or drinking, which gives them enough time to completely dry prior to being moved to the breeder. However, water and food should be supplied as quickly as possible to reduce stress.
- The brooder should be disinfected days before the chicks hatch. Clean food, water and a heat source must be provided (remember chicks are only 2 inches tall, so temperatures must be monitored according to their height, so leave a thermometer on the floor of the brooder).
- At first the temperature should be regulated at 99-100 DEGREES Fahrenheit.
- The temperature of the brooder should be decreased by 5 degrees each week until the pen is at room temperature.
- All openings should be covered with fine mesh to prevent the chicks from escaping.
- There should be a heated and unheated section. The food and water should be kept in the unheated section.
- Chicks need the floor to be covered with straw, grass, or moss, to protect their feet. Smooth surfaces can cause their legs to become deformed.
- After 3-4 days the straw or grass may be removed, but they should be be provided with dirt to play in.
- Quail will be moved after approximately six weeks.
- Start collecting cardboard boxes of various sizes.
- The starter brooding box should be about 21” x 14” x 12.5”
- Change the box (and sand) every week, increasing in size (size increase suggested will be sent out later since it will be based on quail growth).
- Prior to moving the quail into the new box, set it up and let the sand dry out and warm up and then transfer the chicks
- Cut a rectangle in the side of the box about an inch from the bottom. Cover the opening with an overhead transparency or page protector to create a window for the chicks.
- Fill the bottom of the box with play sand.
- Attach the lamp clamps to cabinets rather than to the cardboard box (to avoid a fire hazard).
- If chicks are cold, they will huddle under the lamp. If they are too warm they will stay away from the lamp. After two weeks they may stay away entirely and then you can turn the lamp off for times during the day. Make sure the lamp is on before you leave.
- Observe the quail's behavior. It is the easiest way to tell if they need more/less heat.
- Keep two thermometers on the ground (one away from the heat and one under the heat lamp).
- After a few weeks, the chicks will start to fly. Place screen or netting on top of the box and staple it. This will prevent the chicks from escaping.