Thursday, May 17, 2007
Raising Quail and Brooding
When raising quail and incubating eggs or purchasing chicks. You will have to learn proper brooding techniques. There are many different methods used for the brooding stage. You can purchase a self contained brooder with feeding trays and watering devices incorporated into them. You can also make your own brooding device.
The whole idea of brooding, is to provide your new chicks with enough heat, water, food and ventilation. The ventilation should be provided without any drafts. The temperature for your new chicks should be kept at around 100 degrees, one inch above the floor for the first week. It should then be dropped by 5 degrees each following week until down to 70 degrees. Depending on the breed of quail you are raising, your chicks should be fully feathered out at this time.
You will also have to make sure your quail chicks have enough room. It is recommended, 3 chicks per square ft. the first 10 days and 1 chick per square ft. from 10 days on. I highly doubt that any quail breeder's follow this recommendation but overcrowding can cause a lot of problems when raising quail.
During the brooding period, quail chicks are very prone to picking. It has been found that using colored lighting, such as red or blue will help in preventing this. Some breeders say just to give them enough light to find their food and water.
Be sure to provide enough feed and watering devices spread around in your brooding area. You will also want to make sure the brooding area does not have a slippery surface. The chicks legs are very fragile and any slipping can cause straddle leg. This would result in culling the chicks.
Before you start raising quail be sure to have picked out the proper brooding technique that will work for your situation.
About the Author:
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To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
The Beginners Guide to Raising Quail
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The whole idea of brooding, is to provide your new chicks with enough heat, water, food and ventilation. The ventilation should be provided without any drafts. The temperature for your new chicks should be kept at around 100 degrees, one inch above the floor for the first week. It should then be dropped by 5 degrees each following week until down to 70 degrees. Depending on the breed of quail you are raising, your chicks should be fully feathered out at this time.
You will also have to make sure your quail chicks have enough room. It is recommended, 3 chicks per square ft. the first 10 days and 1 chick per square ft. from 10 days on. I highly doubt that any quail breeder's follow this recommendation but overcrowding can cause a lot of problems when raising quail.
During the brooding period, quail chicks are very prone to picking. It has been found that using colored lighting, such as red or blue will help in preventing this. Some breeders say just to give them enough light to find their food and water.
Be sure to provide enough feed and watering devices spread around in your brooding area. You will also want to make sure the brooding area does not have a slippery surface. The chicks legs are very fragile and any slipping can cause straddle leg. This would result in culling the chicks.
Before you start raising quail be sure to have picked out the proper brooding technique that will work for your situation.
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find out more about Raising Quail visit:
The Beginners Guide to Raising Quail
Copyright © Gary Ortlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------
# posted by Gary Ortlieb @ 5:20 PM 
