Intro to Quail Brooders
What are quail brooders?
A brooder is a box, bin, or cage that is a nursery for your chicks.
You can buy a pre-built brooder, or you can use a ventilated plastic bin or box. They are usually kept indoors in a climate controlled environment.
What should quail brooders do?
- protect chicks from predators, including family pets
- keep chicks from jumping out - they can pop up and fly at 7-10 days!
- protect chicks from drafts, but also be well-ventilated
- keep chicks warm (see below for heater options)
- include space for feeder(s) and waterer(s)
What are some examples of quail brooders?
Here are three common types of brooders. They range in price from $15 (DIY bin) up to several hundred dollars.
How many chicks can I put in a brooder?
You can put six chicks per square foot into a brooder for the first 2-3 weeks. Be sure to subtract the space your feeder and waterer take up when you are calculating your total square footage. You'll need to give them a bit more space as they grow. As adults, they can be kept at three quail per square foot in a cage setting.
Can I raise quail chicks and chicken chicks together?
Coturnix quail are so much smaller than chickens, which makes them vulnerable to being accidentally injured. Chickens can bully quail or keep them from feed or water. And chickens can be carriers of diseases that quail can get. Your quail will be happier and healthier if kept in their own separate pens!
Learn more about quail brooders in our video-based Quail 101 course!