Coturnix Chick Care

 

Raising Quail Chicks

Once you’ve successfully hatched or purchased some young quail chicks, you’ll need to carefully care for them.

Chilling or overheating of young chicks can prove fatal, so maintaining the correct brooding temperature is vital for the first four weeks. The temperature in the brooder needs to be 95°F to 97°F at the chicks level. This can be reduced by 5° per week until 75° is reached and the chicks are fully feathered. 

Infrared heat lamps are not the best to use for raising chicks. It is very unnatural for chicks to be in the light at all times. The bulbs can also cause fires and become too hot for your chicks, as the temperature regulation is harder to control. Another problem is the bulb failing, leaving your chicks without any heat until you notice.

A better solution is to use a heat plate. Although they are more expensive to buy, they mimic the heat of a mother hen much better than a lamp, and the power consumption is far less. They have adjustable legs so you can raise and lower the height to produce the perfect temperature for your chicks.

If you do use a heat lamp, check how hot it is directly below it. Ensure it is well secured to prevent fire and take a thermometer reading regularly. Your chick’s behavior is a good guide for temperature control. If the chicks are all crowding underneath the heat source, they are too cold. If too hot, the chicks will try to move away from the heat source. Comfortable chicks generally scatter about the brooder box.

Choosing the correct brood box is also essential. It must be dry, easy to clean and heat, and be adequately ventilated. It should offer good protection for the chicks, keeping them safe from cold, rain and any predators.

Glass vivariums and large plastic storage boxes can be successfully transformed and used as brooders, with a few adjustments to ensure good ventilation.