Proper Quail Brooding
Quail brooding entails keeping new baby chicks sufficiently warm, watered and clean during their first weeks of life. Brooding tips for bobwhite quail work well for other quail breeds as well. However, if you have a different breed of quail, be sure to research brooding for that breed prior to beginning brooding operations.
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Background
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Once hatched, quail chicks are placed in brooding pens until they reach six weeks of age. At that time, the chicks are moved to outside flight pens until they reach 17 weeks of age, when they are mature. Some growers keep quail inside until full maturity. Once mature, the birds can be used for food, eggs or the market. Light, space and temperature are crucial to successful brooding of quail.
Brooding Pens
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A brooding pen is a circular ring 7 to 8 feet in diameter and a couple of feet high that is made of cardboard or sheet metal. It is used to keep the chicks near their heat source, water and food. Pine shavings should be placed on the floor of the pen as a litter. The pen should be cleaned daily to remove soiled litter. Ventilation and cleanliness are important to reduce the chance of disease and to maintain the health of the chicks. When chicks learn to fly at about 8 days old, the enclosure may be removed.
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Light
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Young chicks should be kept in a dimly lit environment containing a mere 1 foot-candle density. A limited period of 10 hours of light per day should be maintained to both reduce cannibalism and to ensure sexual development. The walls should be white or light-colored to help reflect light into all areas of the enclosure. The daily lighting period should be increased by one hour per week once the chicks reach 19 weeks of age. Continue adding one hour of light until a maximum of 17 hours of daily light is reached. Light increases feeding, so increase standard bird feed quantities along with the daily light.
Temperature
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The litter temperature of brooder rings should be established at 95 degrees Fahrenheit at least 24 hours before chicks are placed in the ring. The temperature of the overall enclosure at a height of 2 inches from the floor should be maintained at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Each week this temperature should be reduced 5 degrees per week until a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit is reached. If the chicks are huddling together they are too cold. If they are panting, they are too warm. Adjust the temperature accordingly.
Water
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Newborn quail can live for two or three days without food but water is immediately necessary. Approximately 10 birds per square foot may be kept in each brooder ring with one nipple waterer provided per 15 birds in the whole enclosure. Immediately place water on the beaks of one tenth of the new flock so that they learn to find where the water nipples are located in the enclosure. A vitamin supplement may be added to the water for better growth potential.
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References
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