[Clarebelle]

Hi everyone,

My quail chicks went outside over the weekend. They are in an Eglu Go on grass in my back garden. They are fully feathered but I am still a bit worried about the drop in night temperatures so for the last few days we have been herding them into the Eglu house when it gets dark but they are very reluctant to go in!

Last night I ended up having to get into the run myself in my jim jams which subsequently got covered in bird *hit. So, I was wondering if they will be ok not being shut in at night. I'm not worried about predators, just the cold.

Thanks everyone!

[taz08]

i got chicks out ,, there ok  so would imagine quail will be ok too

[in the hills]

Hee, hee, sorry your post made me giggle. I remember the "joys" of trying to shepherd the wee things indoors. We had our first lot just before those bitter winter nights of a couple of years ago. Mine were in a relatively long run and had to use a pole to try and reach them ..... one in, two out, kind of job. 


In my opinion, they will be fine left outdoors at this time of year and you will probably do more harm than good trying to catch them .... quite stressful for quail. As long as they are feathered and 4 weeks or so of age then they are quite hardy things. My adults survived -20 outdoors .... though I did cover the runs and coops at night.


Real danger would be predators. My runs are wired on the floors. Rats etc. WILL dig under and take them.

[Clarebelle]

Thanks for that. I can see how it would be stressful for them and might do more harm. I think i'll leave them and see how they get on. We have a cover we can put over if it does get cold.

The run has a skirt around it to prevent predators getting in, fingers crossed this applies to rats too, if not, hopefully my cat will get the rat while its busy digging! 

[in the hills]

Oooooo ..... take care. We have never had rats until this year. They can dig surprisingly long tunnels in a short time. Seen them digging right under our quail pen in the daytime. We are talking some distance. We have a cat, a good little hunter.


A friend of mine built an aviary for her layers and the rats dug their way in. At first they just took the food and she thought they weren't interested in the quail but one day .......  . She has 3 rescue feral cats ..... all hunters. Happened to someone else I knew with quail in an ark, too.


Sorry to be doom and gloom but would sooner warn you than you possibly lose them.