Brooding Your Coturnix Chicks
If you are exploring the idea of hatching quail for self-sufficiency, you’ve come to the right place! If you discovered this page through our book, the Beginner’s Guide to Raising Coturnix Quail, this where you’ll find supplemental videos for Chapter 5: Chick Care.
Brooder Heat Source Options
Keeping your Coturnix quail chicks warm in the brooder is a top priority. There are several heat sources to choose from. To help you decide which one is best for you, here are some pros and cons for each:
Heat Lamps
Heat lamps typically have a 250 watt red bulb that screws into a reflector hood. You can hang the lamp or clamp it onto something so it’s positioned above your brooder floor.
PROS
• They give out lots of heat instantly
• Red light doesn’t interfere with chicks’ sleep
• You can easily see/monitor chicks
• They work well outdoors, even in a cold environment
CONS
• They are HOT; can cause burns or fires
• They draw a lot of power, so they are more expensive to run than other options
Ceramic Heat Bulbs
These 100-150 watt bulbs are designed for reptiles, but they are becoming popular as a safer alternative to the red heat lamp. They are best for indoor use where temperatures are a minimum of 50-60° F.
PROS
• Lower fire risk than heat lamps
• They don’t draw as much power
CONS
• You may need to use more of them
• They don’t emit light, so you may need to provide another source of daytime light for your chicks.
• Because you can’t see when they’re on, many people plug them into a controller with a high/low alarm, like the Inkbird, to maintain a specific temp in the brooder.
Heat Plates
These plates mimic a mama hen. Chicks go under the plate to stay warm. Heat plates work best indoors, where room temp is a minimum of 50-60° F. (Check manufacturer specifications for minimum temps.) These plates put out radiant heat, meaning they heat objects underneath, but not air. For best results, always put bedding under the heat plate.
PROS
• They are the safest heat source, especially for kids
• They are the cheapest to run of all three options
CONS
• They are the most expensive of all three options
• It’s not as easy to see chicks/monitor chicks
• You may need to adjust the plate height daily
• You may need to add more heat plates as your chicks grow